12/01/15 Granada to Ometepe Island

After breakfast we learnt of Diana's condition, the surgery had gone well and as this crime involved tourists the case had already come before the courts and we were told the young offender's had received 10 year sentences. We had a new tour leader for the morning Britt, we packed up and bused to the Catarina lookout with views of Laguna Apoyo. A phone call was made to the ferry to Ometepe and it was determine due to strong winds we should make haste. The start of the ride was downhill through a small village and narrow paved streets. The trip notes mentioned all the things we never stopped to see. Such as the white washed houses of Pueblo Blanco, the birth place and statue of General Sandino, the larger town of Masatepe, missed the coffee plantation, never knew we passed the continental divide. We joined the Pan American highway with all it's traffic, we put our bikes back on the bus after 10 miles (instead of 17 per trip notes) and headed to the town of San Jorge to catch the ferry to Ometepe Island, on the way we dropped Britt off as he had his own tour leaving shortly.
The ferry ride was bumpy dues to the winds and hot, Ometepe is a large figure eight shaped island in lake Nicaragua formed by two volcanos, Concepcion and Maderas. We had lunch on the island then rode another 10 miles to our accommodation "Charco Verde". The ride started at the Lake and finished at the same level, but felt all uphill with the wind working against us. The accommodation itself was very pleasant with a wonderful setting by the lake.

Laguna Apoyo

Lynette ready for the days ride starting from Laguna Apoyo

In the coach on the way to the Ometepe ferry

On the Ferry - Karl in front

The Coach on the ferry to Ometepe

Lynette and I enjoyed a local dark rum

Charco Verde restaurant bar area lakeside

11/01/15 Cycling around Granada Nicaragua

We had booked this 14 day Cycle tour through Intrepid, although it is run by Exodus. We travel through Nicaragua, Costa Rica and into Panama.

This morning after breakfast Diana our tour leader gave us a full briefing, safety instructions and trip notes. The group consisted of 17 riders, 15 from the UK and 2 Australians, 1 tour guide and 3 support crew (Paul the mechanic, Alvaro support rider and Nano our driver). We started by walking around the corner to get our bikes. Those who had custom items such as seats and pedals had them fitted by Paul very efficiently, we test rode round the shed before setting out. We biked through the centre of Granada and headed down to the shore of Lake Nicaragua, the 10th largest in lake in the world, and the only one with fresh water sharks.  We were heading to the Asese Peninsula recreation area, we had been riding about 45 mins, the group was spread out quite a bit, with Paul (mech) taking the lead, Alvaro in the centre and Diana bring up the rear. One of the riders Ollie had had a bit of debris caught in his derailer, so he and Diana were some way back from the main group. Ollie was in front of Diana when 2 men ran out of the bushes and pushed her off her bike, she managed to get out a scream as she fell, which alerted Ollie. He dropped his bike and started to run back, they pulled out knives, holding one to her throat and one to cut away her backpack and ran off before Ollie reached them. Diana was bleeding from her elbow, from a very deep gash, and couldn't move her leg.
We found out as one of the passing drivers drove ahead to alert us that something was amiss and Ollie rang his father. We all rode back to find her in considerable pain, there are 5 Doctors in our group of varying specialities. Jane and George took control, we had just managed to her into the back seat of a utility truck before the paramedics arrived and transferred her to hospital with George accompanying.

After much debate we decided to continue on our journey. We headed to Villas Mombacho restaurant, where we had a welcoming drink, gave our lunch orders then took a short lake cruise, seeing exotic bird and other wildlife. We shared a Guapote the fresh fish caught from Lake Nicaragua, it was delicious! Rode back to town, dropped our bikes off, had a short break and the hotel. Throughout the day we were getting updates about Diana and the police were dropping in and out to speak to Ollie. At 2pm we headed off in the bus to Volcan Masaya National Park the site of Nicaragua's most active Volcano. The volcano itself was steaming sulphur so we couldn't see into the vast crater, if we could we may have seen the parakeets that make their home there.  We drove back to Granada for dinner and an early night.

Throughout the day we learnt Diana had been transferred to a private hospital in Managua, she had X-rays to determine that the ball of her right femur had been sheared off. She was to undergo an operation that night to pin it. Ollie went with the police in the afternoon to positively identify the suspects the police had apprehended. As usual they really caught themselves, one was trying to sell her mobile phone, and once caught he gave up his friend.

Breakfast and briefing

Concerned about Diana

Paramedics have arrived

Paramedics attending to Diana

At Volcano Masaya

Paul drinking where he shouldn't

Relaxing back at the hotel.

The police line up.

7th to 10th - Lynette in Granada

I arrived late on the 7th, after the long haul from Australia, clearing customs and changing planes in LAX was hassle free, the 2 1/2hr layover was sufficient. Onward to Miami with a 45 minute layover, which was tight, then a couple of hours flight into Nicaragua.  Once landed in Managua, went through the infra red camera to check for fevers, cleared immigration which cost $10 USD. Collected luggage, by this time it was about 9pm local.  After customs was an awaiting maze of people waiting to pickup loved ones or taxi drivers trying to get a fare. Stopped at an ATM to get some money, the first 2 didn't work, the third one did. Negotiated a $50.00 fare with a taxi driver for the 50 minute journey to the hotel, Patio del Malinche, a lovely colonial style hotel. Had a cup of tea by the pool upon arrival, then hit the bed.

On Thursday the 8th, I enjoyed a lovely breakfast on the patio by the pool, then headed out to explore Granada. I walked the couple of block to Central Park, the town square where people were relaxing, having coffee and spending time with friends. Visited the Cathedral of Granada inside and out, wandered around found the local markets where you could buy anything you would ever need.  Next stop was the Chocolate Factory museum , then Mi Museo which hosts a collection of pre-Columbian ceramic artefacts. Then went back to hotel where I enjoyed the company of others staying there and got some recommendations for dinner. Went to a lovely cafe El Garaje.

Friday the 9th, I slept in past breakfast time at the hotel, my sleeping patterns were still suffering from jet lag, so headed out and had breakfast at The Garden Cafe. Then explored some more of Granada by foot, came across the San Franciso convent with its lovely gardens, after this found a coffee shop suggested to me, which was opposite the Xalteva Church, on "Calle Real Xalteva". Sat and spoke to a very fascinating man for some time, then when back to the hotel for a swim. Diana our tour guide for our upcoming cycle tour had arrived at hotel, I went to dinner with her and other guides, had a few Tona's (local beer) and pizza on the Pedestrian street, Calle La Calzada.

On the 10th relaxed around the hotel, had a massage and met some of the others joining us on the cycle tour. Went to the airport in evening to pick up Paul and a host of other in the crew bus with Diana. He had arrived from Ghana a day later than planned due to work commitments. Thankfully they were all arriving on the same flight some Houston, they all passed through customs quickly. We greeted them to the country with a bottle of water or beer and a banana. Then when directly back to the hotel as it was quite late.

Cup of Tea by the Pool on arrival in Granada

Central Park Granada Town Square

Cathedral of Granada

4/12/14 Kalibaru to Tanah Lot

Left Kalibaru at 8.00 about 1.5 hrs driving we arrived at the ferry. Left the van and walked onto the ferry, I heard some shouting over the side, there was a snorkeler in the water asking us to throw coins so he could retrieve them, it amused me for a while. It  took about an hour for the short voyage as we had to wait for a berth. Once ashore we piled into two vans for the long journey to Tanah Lot. It wasn't far but at 40km/hr average speed it was long. Our hotel was at Tanah Lot so we dropped our bags then headed down to the beach for the spectacular sunset over the temples, that least that was the plan, the reality was it was raining, it happens.
Tanah Lot is a strange place to stay, it is full of tourists and has a packed market place until just after sunset, then it empties fast, the shops close and it becomes a ghost town.

3/12/14 Kalibaru

Visited the Glenmore plantation this morning. This plantation was started by a Brit, sold to a Dutch family, overtaken by the Japanese and since the war owned by the government. The main industries are coffee, cocoa and rubber but also includes pepper, cinnamon, cloves. The machinery hasn't been upgraded since colonial times and it was good to see working antiques. Steam driven motor running a line shaft assembly, some with wooden pulley made with teak.
We sampled many of the locally grown fares, saw what Kopi Luwak looks like in the excrement stage and still tasted it later. The coffee has a bad name has since it is so expensive it has fostered a whole forced fed caged animal industry, so quiet rightly it isn't the most expensive coffee in the world anymore. We didn't really enjoy the taste that much as they put too much coffee in the cup.
After the tour back to Kalibaru where we wandered the streets for a while, swam for a while, slept for a while, watched TV for a while etc.. Lynette had a full contact massage with the bruises to show for it.