Buenas Tardes (Good Afternoon)

It is currently 4pm on Sunday afternoon here in Granada, Nicaragua and I am hanging out in an airconditioned internet cafe as it is hot outside. Actually it is hot all the time both day and night so please don't complain how cold it is back in Australia as I would give anything to sit in front of a nice warm fire wrather than sweat on a chicken bus with 50 other sweaty people.

Its been awhile since my last blog and I have travelled through a couple of countries as well. Spent less that 24 hours in Honduras. Once we crossed the border we went a visited the ruins of Copan. Was very dissapointing after Tikal as it was a lot smaller and didn't have the same impact. Probably would of made more sense to us if we had done a tour as the site was mostly about hyroglyphics. ANyway we parted with $15us to see this site and only spent about an hour there and then headed to the capital to stay the night before heading to Nicaragua. The capital was ordinary and I cannot comment too much as it was dark by the time we arrived. Stayed in a hostel were we met a nice Irish girl, Sharon who travelled with us the next day to Leon and whom I have been travelling with since.

I decided to leave the comofrt of the airconditioned mercedes in Leon as I was getting a sore back from sitting in the car for so many hours each day and I thought it would be nice to see a bit of Nicaragua which I'm glad I did as it is a fab place and really cheap. It is a lot poorer than other Central American countries and can be seen in the towns by the condition of the buildings and the parks and some roads but the people are very nice.

As you would of seen from my photo's I went Volcano Boarding in Leon. What a blast although I was crap at it and wiped out several times. How I didn't break anything surprises me, just a couple of scratches. Hard to believe that before they brought in the orange suits that girls used to go down in the bikini's - crazy. Oh and trust an Aussie guy to come up with the concept. Apparently they tried out several things to board down on, even a McDonals Tray.

Spent a day at the beach just outside of Leon at Las Penitas. Really nice but the waves were way too rough to swim in and so you could just go in enough to get wet. Had a really nice fish lunch here. Food is not as exciting as Mexico and Guatemal and the street eating is very ordinary, actually I don't think that I have even eaten any street food since I arrived to Nicaragua.

From Leon we travelled to Granada which is another nice colonial town. It is, stuated by the lake which is quitedirty. Have spent most days here relaxing (and one with a hangover so no choice but lay vertical all day. Its not much fun having a hangover in this heat so won't be doing that again. It was however nice to put my party shoes and party top on a have a night out. Big problem is is that it is sooo cheap to drink so you can get a bit carried away, ie. $1 for a rum and coke).

Also spent a day at a crater lake which was great. The sun did't shine too much but it was still warm enough for a swim and go kayaking. The water was a real deep emerald green and it was nice because there were no speed craft whatsoever on the lake so it was very peaceful.

Today I went to Masaya, just 30 minutes up the road to visit the markets. Was planning on getting an odd souvenir or two but came back with nothing. After Chi Chi Markets in Guatemala it is all quite dissappointing, plus with a full backpack it limits you to what you can buy.

The plan from here on is to head out to the Carribean cost to the Corn Islands. Will take a few days to get there. Travelling there with Eddie the 23yo Israely guys who is a hoot. Saying goodbye to Sharon from Ireland as she is heading off to Ometepe (Island in the middle of the big lake). Time is running out for her so she cannot join us.

Will sign off as having problems with typing and I would hate to lose my blog again.

Thanks for all of the messages.

Fi xoxoxo