Our tramping shoes had been lying airing by the door since we arrived, so we gingerly shook and checked them for any creepy crawly thing that might have decided to make it their new home. We needed them today because we were off to the San Ramon waterfall which was almost half way up the volcano and about a six hour round trip from the hostel. The entrance to the start of the volcano track was about 4km further along the island road. It was possible to kayak ro...

Despite being kept awake by noisy neighbours late into the night, David felt well enough to take a trip to Ojos de Agua today. After some banana pancakes, we headed for the bus stop. We could have rented bikes and arranged transport for about 900 cordobas but we decided to be a bit more adventurous and take the chicken bus. The schedules can't be guaranteed but we thought we should experience an old yellow, American school bus crawling and bouncing along the rugg...

It was decided yesterday that we would get up early to catch the local bus to Ojos del Agua, a popular shady, swimming hole. That all changed though when David was struck down with a fever and had a very restless night. Whilst David remained in bed, Maria started her day with a refreshing swim in the lake to build up an appetite for breakfast. Everything on the menu sounded amazing, there were just not enough mornings to try them all. Today, it was Banana Panca...

The kitchen started cooking breakfast at 6am and we were eating not long after. The standard Nicaraguan fare of Gallo Pinto with scrambeld eggs on the side for David and a healthier fruit bowl for Maria, all washed down with some very good coffee. Last night we had arranged to go on an early kayaking trip on Lake Nicaragua to get to Istian River with a bit of wildlife spotting thrown in. Our guide Simeon got the two double kayaks ready while we finished off brea...

For the second time in a week, we were up and out without breakfast for a walk across town to the bus station. The chicken bus to Rivas was the first of many trips today. The bus was okay although there wasn't much in the way of padding on the seats. As we slowed to enter the market area of Rivas, a bunch of taxi drivers jumped on the bus and started harrasing the tourists about taking them to San Jorge, where we needed to get to next. They told everyone that the...