Nicaragua by land

Hello friends,

I am very late in posting this event which has already occurred over two weeks ago but the lack of internet opportunities and time and must I admit, a little blasé attitude on my part made it impossible.
Before leaving the northern part of Costa Rica, I arranged a two day trip to Granada, Nicaragua. This excursion is by far my favorite land adventure since we started this journey in October of 2013. Enjoy the pictures.

Wednesday morning 6 am I am very excited about the day.  In the distance I see this tall handsome man walking  towards us. We meet our tour guide Leslie Sanchez from Tropical Comfort Tours, bright eyed, wide smile, colorful Columbia shirt, his walk is eager to meet us. Introductions are made, luggage loaded, Skippers and First Mates take a seat in the very comfortable Ford Expedetion. 

Meet Leslie from Tropical Comfort Tours, this 38 yr old Costa Rican is simply exceptional.  This is someone who knows and understands the business of tourism, knowledgeable, nature loving, very alert and charismatic, he takes care of every detail and shares his expanded knowledge on both countries. If the answer to a question escapes him he immediately googles or calls someone for an express solution.  Usually the trip into Nicaragua is one day but Kay and I decided we wanted an overnight in Granada to slow down time and enjoy everything along the way. When I contacted Leslie it was already 3 pm and I informed him that we wanted to go to Nicaragua the next day. Pleased about his YES attitude I was delighted to hear that  he would do the tour himself because the short notice did not leave much time to dispatch, prepare and make arrangements ahead of time. I had a feeling this was a very good thing! The only condition was that we send copies of our passports before 5 pm. Done.

Exiting the parking lot of the marina, Leslie spots this bird having breakfast deep inside a tree.  Nor sure but I think this may be a juvenile Caracara.

                                                                                       

 Caracara, meat in beak.

            An improvised stop; Leslie wants to show us where Costa Rica ends and Nicaragua
 begins since we came by seaway.

Soon after we see several Caracara falcons on the road.  Remember that Bill and Kay rubbed the neck of a caged caracara in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Leslie and his driver were willing to slow down every time we wanted to take a picture.

Looking at the border Nica/Tica.  Beyond the dark 

area is Nicaragua.

Flower of Poro Poro a common deciduous tree, a national
Costa Rican tree with soft bark used
for twine and showy yellow blossoms
said to be medicinal in alleviating swelling

It is best to drive to the border, leave the Costa Rica vehicle in Costa Rica, walk to the border Post to have our passports stamped and walk into Nicaragua where another chauffeur and van with Nica plates waits for us.  I suppose it is a matter of not standing out in the cities. It was strange to walk from one country into the next.

Checking out of the country, Leslie hands our passports to the official. He takes care of every detail, I had never traveled this way before where all I have to do is stand, sit, smile and take pictures.  No stress!  Pura Vida !

                                              No gate, no agent behind a window, no green or red light, just
                                          two officials on the road not paying much attention to our stepping over into their country. 

So little stress that in fact Skippers feel they will come to life only when action is required. Kay and I in the front seat (behind driver and guide) are enjoying the country side, the faces, the fields, the differences between countries.

 On to the city of Rivas, this is where our chauffeur is from.  Leslie had arranged a breakfast stop in Rivas, a city not touristy at all so we felt the stare of many.  I was surprised how many citizens still commute and go about their business by horse-drawn carts. I felt as if I approved of this mode of transportation, every driver and horse team would get a stare from me, I loved watching their relax demeanor perhaps fostered by the inability to speed or pass.

After breakfast, a pleasant surprise, Leslie signals three taxis to approach the restaurants.  While the chauffeur stays with the van for security, we hop on these two passenger tricycles/taxis for a tour of the city.  Leslie makes his driver sit on the passenger bench while he pedals happy to be exercising, his passenger however displayed an uncomfortable but funny smile when ogled by his peers.

The next stop was in San Juan de Oriente for a pottery class.  As soon as the door of the van opens up two little girls move in in front of us, the one on the left named Laudia addresses us in English: "Hello, how are you?  What is your name? Welcome to Nicaragua".  We look to Leslie and the chauffeur who seemed to be amazed and surprised at their english. Don shakes her hand and says his name is Don and asks them a question that I now cannot remember but she answers: " Hello how are you - What is your name, - Welcome to Nicaragua".  All of us started laughing realizing the ploy that had started with the purest of child charming tourist followed by: "One dollar, One dollar, One dollar".  Leslie warned us that we would witness a lot of begging, he tells the girls that we have to go inside now and we say good bye. This practice of giving money should not be encouraged he tells us, they looked well cared for so we comply with the advice.


Inside we meet this nice family man who carries the tradition of his ancestors. Him and his family
make all shapes and size of pottery according to ancient

techniques employing only natural elements;  from harvesting the clay from the earth, to stomping it like grapes, to shaping, glazing with color giving stones or plants from nature (nothing artificial), to firing, and polishing. I was absolutely amazed at their ability to explain in a very clear and slow spoken spanish all processes that lead to their shop where their livelihood translated into beautiful pieces of art.

Bill motions to me to look up behind the potter.  My exclamation interrupted the "class" and I took a picture of this beautiful bird listening in.  Leslie told me to email him the picture he would find out what type of bird it was.  And he did... this is a Rose-breasted Gros Beak.

Man made kilns - bricks are piled in front of opening to seal the kil

We all bought several pieces, let me show you my favorite

I have shaken the hand of the potter, his signature is at the bottom, it comes alive when I look at it, I see his entire household, his children and even the dog. I was happy to find out the color was a perfect match to the backsplash

To be continued...

Thinking of you...