Las Isletas

We had 6 members of Raul's family visiting us over Semana Santa (2 of which were Isabel's cousins so you can only imagine how excited she was to see them and have someone to play with!).  While they were here we took a tour of "Las Isletas", which is a collection of around 360 islands in Lake Nicaragua (also known as Lake Cocibolca by the locals, it is the largest fresh water lake in Central America and 19th largest in the world).  Many of the Nicaraguan elite have purchased one or more islands and have built homes where they come for holidays or sometimes weekends.  There are currently several for sale, one with a small house already built for only $130,000 :-).  There are also a couple of hotels and several restaurants that you can visit.  We rented a small boat ($20 for the hour with guide) and took a tour.  Of course we had to get to the lake via horse and buggy carriages...

(note: I had some technical difficulties with the photos below--sorry!)

Isabel in the carriage on way to lake.

Isabel's aunt, uncle and cousin's on way to lake.  Are in front of Parque Xalteva, an historic park that we go hang out in the evenings to cool down and let Isabel play.

Lake Nicaragua. It is so big it looks like the ocean.  Lots of locals come here to swim though in this area it is a bit dirty.

Lake Nicaragua with Mombacho Volcano in the background.

The boats and the "pier" to get to them.

Yes, Raul and I are the only two on the boat wearing life jackets ( I was not a fan of the big waves and Raul is just safety conscious).

Andrea, Luis, Ira, Pedro, Montse and Cecy,

Our guide.

One of the island houses for sale.

One of four monkeys that live on a protected sanctuary island.

Isabel and Montse enjoying the water.

"Walking the plan" to get off the boat.

Isabel's new roomate and friend

Some of you know that when we were in El Salvador a couple of years ago, Isabel befriended a Spiderman pinata and played with him until he pretty much dissolved and ultimately suffered the unfortunate fate of most pinatas of death by beating.  Raul was in the market the other day getting a mosquito net for Isabel and found a new Nicaraguan Spiderman pinata and brought him home for Isabel..  She was thrilled and  proclaimed that he is her new friend and that she is going to play everything with him.  She spent about a day playing with him and now he sits lonely, waiting for her...

Semana Santa Celebrations

The week leading up to Easter (Semana Santa) is a very special and holy week in Nicaragua and is a week of vacation and celebrations.  The kids are out of school, the churches are having a variety of services, and lots of families travel to the beaches and lakes for several days.  In the evenings, there are a variety of "processions" through the streets celebrating or remembering different aspects of Jesus' life and death.  Over the past couple of nights two have come down our street--the first was the 12 Stations of the Cross and we are not sure what the second was representing.   They are proceeded by loud fireworks, have a live band accompanying them, carry (either by hand or car/truck) a statue of Jesus in different scenarios, and are followed by a large group of people.  Isabel has become fascinated by these processions and asks if she can go to "the Jesus party" and wonders when the next "Jesus party is coming."

12 Stations of the Cross.  A group of men carrying on shoulders.

The group stops at 12 different "stations" and a prayer or other reading is done.  It then picks up and moves to the next station.

Live band accompanying the procession.

Lighting of the fireworks preceeding the procession.

Didn't get a good picture, but this one had the statue of Jesus on a truck.

As the week progressed, we saw several more interesting celebrations of Jesus' life and death.  I don't fully understand them, but thought I'd add the photos.

This was a very large parade that came through.  I think it might represent Jesus being carried to the grave.

This statue and the one below were inside thatched "rooms" made of palm leaves.  There were three rooms representing the different stages leading to and including his death.

Dead Kindle

Apparently my Kindle got crushed on the flight over--the screen is just a jumble of images. Very sad as it was going to be one of my best friends while here...

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Attack of the Mosquitos

I literally don't think I've even seen one mosquito (it is the dry season), but obviously they are around and after Isabel. For some reason, mosquitos always seem to get her and she has such a bad reaction to their bites. Of course, in addition to the reaction, she then scratches them like crazy making it worse. The bites in these photos aren't even half of what she has on her body. We think maybe she had one in her room and it just snacked on her all night.

Posted with Blogsy

Scouting out schools

This morning we had an appointment to visit a potential school for Isabel-the Sacuanjoche International School (see website: Sacuanjoche International School | Sacuanjoche International School – Esquela Internacional – International School Nicaragua – Bilingual Schools – Granada,Nicaragua). It is a bilingual school (English-Spanish), with the majority of instuction in Spanish, and they are using a mix of Nicaraguan and US curriculum. Isabel immediately was off playing with the other children and said she "really likes it" and wants to go back there. They just opened last fall so are still a bit in transition and will open the new pre-school/pre-k building on April 2 (which is where Isabel would go). We got a tour of the new space they are working on and Raul had several safety concerns. They assured us everything would be in tip-top shape by the time it opens and offered for him to come and do a final "assessment/look-over." The Director said they may not be able to address every one of his concerns, but they would welcome the extra set of eyes and do what they could. After only 1 week Raul has already found some helpful and productive responsibilities!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Pizza and Tres Leches

Our Friday night out was for pizza and tres leches (a traditional Nicaraguan "three milk cake).  There was also a concert in the central plaza but someone was tired and cranky so we didn't stay for that.  Yesterday, with the help of the woman who comes to help with the house, I made my first big pot (2 lbs!) of Nicaraguan-style beans.  It was yummy and we will be able to eat off of it for at least a week.

Swimming with the Patos (ducks)

We got a pool membership at one of the hotels in town so that we can go swimming.  When we visited the pool prior to getting the membership, it was quiet, empty and perfect for us.  Upon returning to swim later in the afternoon, the pool was full of young adults drinking and three little ducks swimming around.  We had a fun time with the ducks and will just need to figure out the best hours to avoid the crowd.

To cleanse, or not to cleanse...

So by day 3 we've already been fully anointed into our non-US lifestyle. Both yesterday and today we've been without water in the house for most of the afternoon. Apparently this is fairly normal and just something to get used to--hasn't been too much of a bother so far. The more troublesome lifestyle difference is the way hot water is run into the showers. It is heated through a contraption that attaches to the shower head and that plugs into an outlet right next to it. Water and electricity intertwined. Those of you who've traveled have seen/used these before, but I don't know if you've had the luxury of sparks and molten metal flying at you while bathing, as well as receiving a mild shock when trying to move the switch. Raul and I both were "lucky enough" to experience this over the past couple of days and are now contemplating whether hot water is truly worth the risk (its hot enough outside, the cool water feels nice...). The property management agency has been very responsive and sent someone out to do repairs, but we were a bit worried when we were informed that seeing some sparks was "normal." They have replaced parts on two showers, but since there is no water, we cannot test whether they work... Fingers crossed it will be sucessfull.

UPDATE: After 2 days of vigilance and working with the electrician, Raul was able to ensure that the showers are working safely. We haven't had any shocks or seen any sparks so it looks like we are in good shape. Thanks Raul!!

Posted with Blogsy

Photos of the inside of the house

Stairway to 2nd Floor

2nd floor balcony outside bedrooms

Isa's Bedroom (ours is basically identical)

View of volcano from windows in bedrooms

Our open air kitchen

Our "living room" and in-house garden

Taxi ride...

Our taxi from the market this morning.  Isabel loves the horse and buggy and prefers it to the regular taxi.  For those who don't know, we are without wheels so are walking everywhere, using taxis when we have heavy bags (or a tired little chica).

We've finally arrived!!!

After months of preparation, packing, stress, anxiety, joy, exhaustion and a variety of other emotions and conditions, we finally arrived in Granada on Tuesday night.  Our house is absolutely lovely and large--Isabel has been exploring every inch--and we are very comfortable.  Given the colonial, open-air/garden style of the house we have a variety of roommates we've discovered so far including, miscellaneous insects, a bat or two, a cat, and lizards.  We will anxiously await the appearance of any others that may decide to leave their dormotorios.  We've had to have conversations with Isabel about the value of life and restrain her since she wants to "kill them all" with her fly swatter so that they don't "bother her mommy and papi."  So far we've just been unpacking, going to the grocery (the local fruit/veggie market is on tap for tomorrow morning), eating, and trying to find Isabel a pool to join.  Its still early so we are still reminding ourselves to slow down and relax.  Knowing me, you know it may take a while, but I'm enjoying every second of learning how to unwind and relax.  The strangest/most difficult thing is realizing that we are truly on a year-long vacation and more or less can do as we please...