We Have Power!!!

WE HAVE POWER! --The power came back on the first floor today. It's been off for a week. God is Wonderful!!

Spanish Church

Went to a spanish church this evening. It took place outside in a cage. I felt like an ultimate fighter singing hymns behind bars, wondering if the wardens were the black crows that keep squaking at us and flipping their tails. Services started around 5pm with everyone really showing up at 5:30. Everything is done "Pura Vida" so we were told. Services were in spanish, lesson was in spanish, and through out it all I found myself saying, "Oh I know that word, oh that one too." Didn't understand the lesson, I'm not that far along, but as the night fell and the sky darkened it really felt like a Costa Rican worship service. Even towards the end when the rain poured down around us, splashing off the ground onto our ankles, and roaring off the tin roof I couldn't help but smile. Outdoor services with its weather and bugs, works wonders on your determination to focus. We slipped and slid back to the car, but smiling the whole way. What a great adventure, experience and way to improve my Spanish. Getting in touch with the community is really a way to experience the country.

Home Again

I made it home today. Caught the Tica Bus at the random bus place, not a bus stop. It doesn't have one in Rivas. Went to my assigned seat this time, and crossed the border in over an hour. The line wrapped around the building and there was only one guy stamping passports. Made it to Liberia where by a miracle Titus and I met up, and by 4:30 we were heading home. Have I really only been gone two weeks? Wow it seems like another life. So I'm Costa Rican back, and will settle back into the routine in no time. Thanks be to God for a safe trip and meeting. Wow what a relief!

Horsies, Rock Carvings, and Amazing Views!

Today was horse back riding. We were both excited to go, and when the jeep pulled up with two locals, we quickly scurried down the stairs. Like a military escort they barley glanced at us, while the driver sucked on a sucker like a recovering chain smoker, the other opened the back hatch of the jeep and watched us get in. Without a word they pulled out, the topless jeep rushing the wind through our hair. We could not have looked more unusual sitting in the back facing each other and smiling with childish glee. Down a road and turning off a dirt path we headed toward the working cattle farm and the adventure tour group called “the flying frog” (Did not ask why so don’t know). We got out and with wordless hand gestures were astride horses before the dust even settled from the tires.

Here I must digress for a moment . . . .

I’ve become one of them. One of those tourist riding horses in sandals. I’m ashamed. With lowered head I placed my opened toed shoe into the stirrup and whispered a plea for forgiveness from all my instructors. What could I do? I hadn’t planned on staying an extra week, or brought pants, or shoes. Instead I was astride my steed in yoga capris and sandals. Oh how the mighty will be humbled. At least I did not have the camera around my neck or the brightly colored Hawaiian shirt.

Okay back on the farm . . .

Gesturing with a branch our guide, Estrular, expected us to know the way, while the horses seemed to silent agree to go as slow as possible. In natural silence we began our travel up a wide dirt road, the horses vying for the best route kept bumping into each other like bumper cars at a carnival. I had uncontrollable laughter from the silliness of the animals and yet again found myself rolling my eyes and apologizing to the other riders. Our first stop was down a cement step path to a large boulder with petroglifs . The designs were beautiful, but I found it strange it was just the one rock. No others have been found and there is no known age or explanations for the drawings. Oh a mystery in the mountains of Nicaragua. Then back on our lumber steeds with names I can’t even pronounce, we headed up the mountain to the top and got a breath-removing view of the whole city of San Juan Del Sur. The bay, the waves, the boats and houses were laid out like a little map in beautiful color and precision. We took a moment to snap pictures like good tourists do and then got back on our horses and headed down, back to the farm. End of the ride, end of the experience. Snapped a few photos of the adorable cows with big ears and road the jeep back to school. Ah horseback riding, always and adventure regardless of the horse.

Enchiladas - so not Mexico!

Today’s activity for class was making Nicaraguan Enchiladas. There are nothing like the ones back at the states which are strongly Mexican influenced. To make Nica Enchiladas you need corn flour, (it came in a back already mixed with spices) and beef. Mixed with the beef is carrot shavings, and onion, tomato (you can also add garlic) White pepper was sprinkled in along with Maggie seasonings.

Water was added to the corn flour mix to make the tortillas of the enchilada and then cheese was grated in for extra texture. Small balls were made with the flour, then patted out into round flat moons before carne mixture was added in the center. Then the tortilla was folded over, sealed around the edges and dropped into hot oil to fry up and get crisp. Once they are a nice golden brown, they’re removed and drained, then topped with ensalda. Cabbage, shredded carrot, and onion soaked in salt water. Oh My! They were delicious and I wanted more then the allotted two. I’m going to try and make them when I get back but . . . . things never taste as good when I make them. Oh well, I’ll cherish the taste here and drool over it’s memory always.

Field Trip

Class then had a class trip to Rivas. Went to the pier where you can catch the ferry to Ometpe, the island with two volcanoes. Saw two monkeys leashed to a tree, and sand blowing so hard it coated our skin. Next we went to a house that makes chocolate, the natural sort which is basically caco and azucar. Got to sample and see it in different forms, including a Caco tree. Bought some, it is good stuff. Learned that all of Central America has a Chocolate competition and the place we visited is ranked number one for best chocolate. Again, good stuff. I like it much better than Hershey’s and milk chocolate. It’s natural too.

Then we stopped at a wall with the history of the indigenous people and Spaniards met. Then onwards to a museum that was coated in dust and mice droppings with a sprinkling of artifacts. There were taxidermy animals everywhere and it was sort of strange to see them, glassed eyed and teeth barred. We were the only ones there, and if the taxi hadn’t taken us, I never would have found it. Afterwards we visited an Artisan’s shop with hand crafted goods, then drove to the park central and got stuck waiting for a parade of kinds in the backs of cars, covered in shaving cream laughing. One theory was they were advertising the new shaving cream, but its possible it could have been something else. We’ll never know.

Monday is relaxing

Today was an easy day. Nothing much new, dropped off my clothes at the laundry, where they will be washed and dried by six. The cost, 3 dollars. Bought my Tica bus ticket home, spoke mostly in Spanish and hopefully got it all right. Will find out on Saturday. I’m going to risk taking the chicken bus on Saturday morning at 7am because I need to be at the Tica Bus stop in Rivas at between 8:15 and 8:30.

We stopped to take a break and noticed that pole with all the lines. Not safe, not usual, and a definate reason for the power outages. Love the freedom in Central America!