Day 31

Ometepe! The name of the volcano island is Ometepe!

This morning was a very early morning for Jessie, Esmir, and myself. Brad didn't come with us because his girlfriend is coming to Nicaragua on Tuesday and he wanted to make sure everything was set for when she comes. So we were able to go with Esmir! I am very comfortable with him if not more because he is a native and knows Nicaragua.

We woke up at 6am and had to leave the hostel at 6:45am to meet Esmir to catch the bus. We took a bus to one of the markets in Nicaragua and then we got on a big bus for two hours to come to the port in Nicaragua. Once we arrived at the port we took a two hour Ferry ride to Ometepe island. It is a volcanic island meaning that there are two volcanos that formed the land. It was definitely a long and very crowded and cramped space in the bus and on the Ferry as well. However I enjoyed every bit of it! I want to see what it is like to travel like a Nicaraguan and I love to experience new ways of transportation and in different forms as well. It was long but exciting.

We finally got to the island around 12:30pm and met up with one of Esmir's friends who lives in Ometepe. He took us to get lunch and then we headed to the hostel that we would be staying at. It is very neat because we are right on the beach front and breakfast is included! It is a nice little place and we have nice beds too! I am telling you, being here has made me appreciate the little things in life so much more and for me these things don't feel so little.

We then headed down to the beach and took a hike on a trail in the woods and got to a place where we could see both volcanoes side by side and they were so beautiful! We also saw a great deal of monkeys too! They were so close to us, it was amazing! I am sorry I don't have any photos tonight, I forgot to take my camera! But tomorrow I will make sure to take a picture of everything so y'all can see what I am experiencing here! Nicaragua is so beautiful! There is so much to this little country and it is such an interesting place with such interesting people!

After the hike we went to one of the beaches nearby and were able to swim until it started getting dark. We left before it got too dark because we had to hike out of the woods and wouldn't be able to see if we left too late. The water was so wonderful! Come to find out in that water there are many sharks! So technically I was swimming with sharks! :) But not to worry they are only small sharks not Great Whites or anything like that. But still it was a little nerve racking and Jessie decided to play a prank on me while in the water. Esmir and his friend were talking, in spanish of course, about the sharks and I was listening and Jessie went under the water and grabbed my leg and I freaked out! It was pretty funny but I was scared at first! :) All in good fun though!

After we hiked back to the hostel we are staying in, we got dinner at a restaurant right next to our hostel. The food was delicious of course but I enjoyed the company. I also have been enjoying the constant spanish. I only let Esmir talk to me in spanish and his friend speaks some english but he knows I speak spanish so that is what he speaks to me in, unless I don't understand something he says. It is really great! I can tell that from the first day I was here, my spanish has come a long way! I am so much better now then I ever have been when it comes to understanding and speaking, and definitely so much better than the first day I was here. I now have an ear for how Nicaraguans speak and understand them. I also am learning so many new words, phrases, etc. It is so exciting! Not only do I love to learn in general, but I love to learn about different countries, cultures, and people, as well as always improving my spanish!

Well it is somewhat late and I have to be up early again tomorrow morning because we are going fishing in the morning! I'm excited! It will be my first time fishing! So I think I am off to bed and need to post this before the spotty wifi goes off! Again, apologies for no pictures but I promise there will be some tomorrow! :)

Until next time, buenas noches