OHH Ahhh A Waterfall!

The following morning, after having slept around 10 hours, I was feeling as though I could do anything! The group of individuals traveling alone.. kindly asked if I would like to join them. They were hiking to a waterfall that was "near" by. I contemplated what the best move was. I couldn't say no.. I had been dying to do this waterfall hike, and figured this would be a good way to determine if I would be able to hike the volcano.

About 5 minutes into the hike, I realized this was probably not the best decision I have ever mad. For basically the entire hike, I had never felt more out of shape and on the brink of dying in my entire life! I was about 5 minutes behind the group the entire time. Kindly some of the guys would take turns being slow with me and talk with me. In my head I kept going they have no idea how sick I am! They just think I am being dramatic!

We reached the waterfall and thankfully it was a beautiful sight. Not much shade... and not much of a swimming pool to swim in... but it was worth the hike. I was pretty much sure that I was just going to live at the waterfall the rest of my life. I did make it back down. The views were incredible and I was ultimately happy I had joined them.

This is how sick I was... I had to ask the guy walking next to me, to please wait to talk to me until we got to the waterfall. I could not muster the strength to physically talk.

This is a picture of me.. with the boys mooning me in the back ground!!! I made my accomplishment.. this was my climb of the volcano.. since the waterfall is on the volcano anyway... We hiked a total of 5 hours that day!! WOO HOO YEAH!!!!

One of the guys in the group.. hated when people would said "woo hoo yeah!" He felt it was a very american thing to do and it would just ruin the atmosphere... I had never heard any american ever say this before.. but if you get a good amount of energy into that woo hoo yeah.. you just feel soooo good!!! The rest of the trip we couldn't help but say it all the time, which ended up being very american as we would shout it down the streets. Just try it.. wherever you are sitting WOO HOO YEAH!!!!!!!!

Hacienda Merida

After my very bumpy taxi journey and just long day of traveling around the damn island... I arrived safely at my destination of Hacienda Merida. I got set up in a dorm and went out to the dock to relax. I sat on the dock for an hour or so watching the sun set. I met quite a few people on the dock and turns out they were staying in the room with me. It so happens that this group of six individuals.. were all from different countries.. all traveling alone.. and had joined together!

That night everyone at dinner at the Hacienda Merida.. they had a buffet of variety of food ranging from pasta to traditional rice dishes. That night believe it or not.. I was feeling so incredibly ill that I excused myself and went to bed at 8 p.m. I am pretty sure I have never in my life been to bed so early... I also have never traveled alone with a fever going on 3 days.

The place was nice and accommodating. The only real problem I had, which I am to this day not sure if it was because I was sick or not and naturally found things more irritating, was the pure isolation of the entire island. Meaning no matter where you went, you were practically forced to eat at that hotel or one restaurant.

The place itself had beautiful land and beautiful views. It was amazing to get to sit and watch the breath taking sunsets from the dock. You miss the sunsets on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, or at least where we are situated in Cahuita... it was nice to get back to those beautiful colors and the realization that a great day has ended and another one is getting ready to begin.

YES .... please touch my leg!

After spending time at the pharmacy and sending a quick update home.. I sat and debated what my next move would be. I decided that I would take my chances and head by bus to the other side of the island, where the volcano I was hoping to climb sat waiting. I figured that this was the best move to make and would allow me to see a greater part of the island, even if it was via bus.

Of course knowing my luck, one simple task turns into a nightmare. The bus turned out to not be very successful, as the guy next to me felt the need to constantly be touching my thigh. The guy would sit with his hand on his leg but so it touched my leg the entire time. Then one time, he slid it under my leg and I am pretty sure I have this guy a look of death. He removed his hand immediately upon making eye contact with me.

After this wonderful display of being molested on a public bus in Nicaragua, I decided that upon reaching Altagracia that I would be taking a taxi the rest of the day.. My need for adventure having died!

The taxi ride was rough and I have never been filled with more dust in my entire life. The landscape.. thank goodness was incredibly beautiful. Those roads were pretty much the death of me.

Pharmacy?? RIGHT THIS WAY!!!

The next morning, I asked the man working at the reception desk where the nearest pharmacy was. He of course made it sound so close and sooo easy... All I had to do was walk for about 15 minutes and there it was.. Except no, it was not a hop, skip and a jump away.

I walked and walked and walked and there was no pharmacy, there were papeleria's... where yes they sold medicine.. and yes they didn't know what they were selling. This was an unsuccessful trip, that took over an hour.. and left me soaking wet.. even though I had brought my little dinky umbrella with me!

When I got back to the hotel, I was on the verge of tears. I looked at the three men working there and said I needed a town with Internet and a real Pharmacy... where is that?!?!.. They told me Mayogalpa (the town I had come from the day before). I said ok... still on the verge of tears at the realization I had to go back and away from the direction I was headed. I asked if they could call a taxi.

I had such a fever and was feeling so horrible that I just needed to get there as soon as possible. Traveling alone is all fun and dandy until you don't feel good.. then it's the worst!!!! My taxi drivers was very gracious and even waited for me while I was in the pharmacy. It's amazing the kindness that people can show.

I had no idea what drugs I had agreed to take.. but they were cheap enough! I also was just desperate that something would cure me. I was so sick that I even debated returning to Costa Rica.. thinking if I couldn't do the things I wanted to do anyway.. what was the point? Luckily my luck would turn around.

Finca de Venecia

I arrived at Finca de Venecia with relatively no problems. I took my time deciding what type of room I wanted to stay in. I went from wanting a private room, to deciding a dorm would be best. I was going to feel like crap either way, I might as well pay a lesser price for it.

After traveling all day I was starving and was ready for an early dinner. I sat down to some pasta with pesto and with two huge bottles of water. I journaled and went through what I had spent so far. After dinner I walked out and watched the beautiful sunset that was over laying the water. I took beautiful pictures and just relaxed.

After the sunset, I showered, gathered my book and my journal and headed to the dinning area for a glass of wine. I retired that night at ohhh 8 o'clock.. When have I ever gone to bed that early ever??

I stayed in a dorm room with four girls from Germany that were traveling. We discussed their climb of one of the volcanoes. This had been my goal for the past 3 months to climb a volcano! I was very excited and looking forward to this part of my trip, except unsure if I would be able to handle it with how sick I was. I didn't sleep the best but it was a quite evening and all was well and relaxed. I was able to sleep in the next morning and gain a bit more strength.

Ometepe

I arrived on Ometepe landing in Moyogalpa. I immediately took a taxi and headed for Charco Verde. This place had been recommended by a fellow traveler and I figured what the heck, why not see what it's like. I was also in no mood to deal with trying to figure something else out seeing as how my feeling sick was only getting worse and worse. I had to bargain with the taxi driver.. but it worked out and we headed for La Finca de Venecia.

Ometepe itself was very beautiful. I was in awe at being surrounded by two volcanoes.. one that is still active. I can't recall ever being so close to something that is so powerful. Not to mention the overall beauty. It is very similar to Costa Rica but somehow holds a much more rustic feel. It is a poorer country and that was very obvious while on the island.

Cattle roamed the streets!! I took a picture on my way to the first hotel and was laughing.. it was so incredible to just seen tons of cattle right in the middle of the road. I told my taxi driver this would never happen in the states!

The poorness of the country was visible in the country side... where you saw people washing their clothes in tiny streams... you could really see the working to survive and fend for your family. In a way it was sad and in a way it was honorable. How often do you see people especially family members happily working along side each other doing the daily chores?

Adventure 3 - Chicken Buses

After spending the night in Laguna de Apoyo, I decided it was time to head it on out to Ometepe (the island with two volcano's!). I was still feeling very sick in the morning and was trying to decide between taking the public buses and a taxi. The taxi was looking to be a tad to expensive and so I thought oh screw it.. lets take the buses. I took an 11 o'clock bus into the town and then transferred onto another bus that would take 2 hours to arrive in Rivas. I just listened to music the entire time and tried to not get hungry! A kind man on the bus told me to watch my luggage.. which I realized I had to do.. but it's always makes you panic a little bit more when someone else you don't know reinforces the danger!!

After arriving in Rivas I took a taxi to San Jorge and boarded the ferry to take me to Ometepe. The ferry took 40 minutes and was a beautiful ride there. The lake is incredible scenic with the rest of Nicaragua surrounding it.

That picture is taken from the ferry on the way to the island.

I was very proud of my bus transfers and day of transport all on my own!! WOO HOOO Yeahh!!!