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Where We’ve Been
Granada and Jinotega, Nicaragua plus a bus ride through Honduras (we didn’t even get off, so it doesn’t really count), and one day in San Salvador, El Salvador.
The Highs
- Making friends with our neighbors during a blackout on the first night in our apartment in Granada. Good people :)
- Touring the amazingly beautiful coffee farm in Jinotega and getting to visit with my brother in law (hooray family!)
- Practicing yoga daily on our breezy rooftop. Who needs a heated studio when you’ve got a setup like that!
- Discovering that traveling in the off season is awesome. I’m not sure how well this will hold for other countries, but there is no reason not to visit Nicaragua in rainy season.
The Lows
- Grappling with a little boredom. There wasn’t much for me to learn or explore around Granada, and we didn’t stay long enough for me to get a gig teaching yoga or join a volunteer project. So as pathetic as it sounds, I found myself looking for ways to keep myself occupied. I look forward to doing some Reiki or massage training next month.
- The lack of vegetables in Nica cuisine really started getting to us at the end of the month. I love rice and beans and plantains as much as the next girl, but after a while I just needed something green and leafy. Hopefully the produce will be more bountiful as we move north.
Things I’ve Learned
When we discovered that San Juan del Sur wasn’t the place we wanted to be, I was a little bummed. Initially I felt a little guilty about bailing on it so quickly, but in the end I’m happy we did. We learned a good lesson about trusting our instincts about a place, and that we should never have to settle for somewhere that we don’t like. Moving back to Granada was a smart decision.
I also learned that Papayas can be used as substitutes for pumpkins in a jack’o'lantern related pinch. Not that this will ever come in handy again, but its good to know. :)
What’s Up Next
We are bussing from Nicaragua through Honduras and El Salvador on our way to Guatemala. For the month of November we will be staying at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Greetings from Virginia, T. C. !
Have appreciated the time, and effort made by you to provide your views and comments on Nica, and Granada in particular. I am a 60 Y.O. Gal whom has been on her own all of her adult life- except for 8 years. Well, except for my best two friends… my Daughters- in their Mid- late 30′s now.
T. C. I am most interested in your candid thoughts and observations as to the pros and cons of a single (mature) woman as a full-time expat in Granada. I have other web sites that I follow, but they are all written by married guys. I am single, and am not looking for relationships. It is me, one sorce of finances, and only 2 hands. I’m a tough – ol; Gal, lived in Panama for 6 years growing up ( yes, I rmember Chicken Busses ) and have also lived in WPB – FL as an adult. I like the tropics, and prefer a simple life, and volunteering- which is what I am doing now here in Virginia as of the end of April 2012. That’s enough I think from me. Again, I am grateful for any comments or suggestions you may have. Happy Healthy travels! ( PS; did you notice sulfer odors in Granada, at all? )
Humbly,
Rhonda