MASAYA, NICARAGUA. That is where we travelled to yesterday - our first independent journey to another part of Nicaragua. Not going to lie, it was a slight failure but we didn´t really go into it with high expectations of success. We left at 6 am in the morning and got a drive from Edna´s (my host mom) son, Marcel. Jess and I rode in the back of his truck which was very windy but very fun and Siobhan and Benny rode in the backseat of the truck, inside. We arrived in Tipitapa around 8 am and proceed to catch a 45 min. bus to Masaya. Very crowded and hot but we made it. Arrive in a bus terminal that literally looked like a garbage landfill. There was garbage strewn everywhere and there were small tin roofed markets selling the sketchiest meat I´d ever seen. Just sizzling away on open flames. Ew. We walked through the New Market (aka the sketchy market where you have to really watch your bags) and made our way towards to the Old Market or the Artesanian Market, the supposed tourist attraction. It was a nice market but every store in there was the same. By 10-30am we were ready to leave, it felt like the day had been dragging on forever. The market itself is built within the remains of an old castle that was destroyed by a fire. It´s very colorful and full of fantastic souvenirs that I wish I had money to buy. I did by a bracelt and a nice painting for the fam-jam to frame and hang on the wall. Benny and Siobhan decided to go visit a museum, while Jess and I stupidly said we´d stay behind to look at the market some more. Bad idea. We got SOOOO bored and it was SOOOO hot yesterday that we basically ended up walking around the town, found a park and bought some ice cream. In retrospect we should have gone with the other two because they ended up visiting a Sandinista prison and seeing the volcano from a distance. We thought they were going to a museum. Lesson one learned - always do something, no matter what. Jess and I tried to go see the volcano which we were told was only 5 km away, but no taxi would take us there for less than 60 cordobas each which is a rip BTW: we shouldn´t have to pay more than 30 cord. each. We didn´t have enough time to walk to it but we had to much time to just sit there and wait. We were trapped. So we caught an early bus back to Tipitapa and just waited for the others. Lesson two learned - always bring your guide book and make a plan before going. So overall it was a slightly failed first experience although some good did come out of it. I bought some nice souvenirs, practiced Spanish AND bartered a paiting down from 200 cordobas to 160 cordobas, which I was pretty proud of. And we made it back alive. We now know for future trips to remember our time in Masaya and learn from it. Hopefully though not all of our trips will be ´lesson learned´ trips.

One thing I have come to appreciate is how expensive things are back home. Yesterday, I spent about 220 cordobas (about $13.00 Canadian) and felt like I had broken the bank. But if you think about it, $13.00 would have bought me a movie ticket, and I would then proceed to get a drink or some food, easily spending $20.00 or more. So $13.00 for two bus tickets, a bracelet, a painting, cold water and ice cream is not bad. But it really made me think about all the spending we do back home. I have to constantly remind myself that no, you are not spending $210 dollars. Its cordobas. But still. I think its good that I´ve come to this realization because maybe I´ll be a bit more thoughtful when I buy things(not that I spent my money willy-nilly at home).

I start volunteering work soon. Hopefully. This Friday, the 22nd, Siobhan and I are going to FUNARTE to make our schedule for our work period. Hopefully that works out well. We´ll see shall we.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to everyone for their comments. I wish I could respond to each one of them individually. I really appreciate the love and the fact that you are taking the time to read my blog. It makes me happy and feel like I still have a connection to people back home. I actually got misty when I read them. Please keep them coming and just know that I love and thank you all for leaving them!! Big hugs to everyone. You are helping keep my spirits up.

Lots of love to everyone and miss you all!
Until next post.
Hasta luego :)