Border Run - Nicaragua

Somehow, after a very long week of waiting for that COVID-19 test, worrying that I could possibly get deported, I finally managed to catch the bus to Nicaragua. Yay! Up until now I have spent most of my time seeing large portions of the San Jose area from the back seat of a taxi or Uber, or while walking around my neighborhood. Today, since I left the country in a big ol' bus, I was able to see a lot more of Costa Rica ( I was sitting much higher up than my usual) and I have to say Costa Rica is beautiful! I'm sure that is a bit of a 'duh' moment for most, but I loved the mountains on all sides (I live in Central Valley) and I loved the low cloud cover that covers most of those mountains, I love the flowers that break up the green a bit, and I even love all of the lean-to shacks that dot the side of the road once you leave the greater San Jose area!!

The first part of the trip was clearing the city, then we were in the mountains with some very windy roads. I had to close my eyes through a lot of that part since I was a little worried that we would tip too far and start rolling down a cliff. But the rest of the trip was fine, lots of steep cliffs and trees. Most of the bigger towns we passed through had a very American feel to them...for example, we were in Liberia picking up some passengers, and just a little ways behind us, but still in eye sight, was KFC, and on the four corners of the intersection just ahead of us were Taco Bell, McDonalds, Papa Johns, and a gas station... hmmmm...

I am now in Granada, which is beautiful and has all of these old colonial style buildings with incredible woodwork and wrought iron and terra-cotta tile... the older buildings remind me of the style of buildings in The Mask of Zorro. And the city sits very close to Lake Nicaragua (which is not only the largest lake in Nicaragua, it is the largest lake in Central America).

Lake Nicaragua was a bit of a surprise, actually... we had spent about 2 hours crossing the border and after 20 minutes driving into Nicaragua, suddenly there was water and a shore with these two massive volcanoes sticking up in the middle. It was actually very otherworldly and I felt like I was somewhere entirely different from anywhere else I had every been. And I am somewhere entirely different from where I have been, BUT this was the moment that made me realize that. I loved seeing those volcanoes!

The roads here in Nicaragua are still paved, like the Costa Rican ones (thankfully), but there are mostly grassy plains and some small hills with plenty of trees that fill the view . Plus the sides of the roads are lined with trees, almost like they put them there on purpose, like they do in the South. Just a line of trees all the way through the country, and they cover the road, creating a tree tunnel of sorts....it was pretty great :D

Anyway, I am in my hotel. El Hotel del Posada del Sol. The hotel is very colonial, and I feel like I am doing it a disservice by trying to describe it, so I will post some pictures and let you enjoy!

I thought I would go out tonight to explore some, but I had to take a two hour test...So, more tomorrow!

Buenas Noches!