"Gallo pinto" is rice and beans mixed together. Nicaraguans eat it 3 times a day although sometimes for variety, they keep the rice and beans separated. My latest spanish blunder involves ordering some gallo pinto at a food stand. However, I reversed it and called it "pinto gallo", which means "I paint rooster". Fortunately, I was with Miguel, the guide from Guatemala, and after he was done laughing his ass off, he got my order straightened out for me. Speaking of painting things, I actually have been busy painting a large banner of the Quetzaltrekkers logo that will hang in the entrance way. I´ll post pictures of the project one of these days. A Quetzal, by the way, is a beautiful bird found here in Central America.

Meanwhile, while "working" as a "guide" for Quetzaltrekkers here in Leon, I have been up to the crater of Volcan Telica twice. This is the most amazing volcano hike yet and provides everyone with an opportunity to see lava glowing! This hike begins in the small village of San Jacinto, famous for boiling mud pools, before heading through the lush green Nicaraguan countryside. After climbing for about 2 or 3 hours, we arrive at the campsite; kind of a Garden of Eden looking place with lots of trees, rocks, and grazing cows and horses. The crater is just a short 15 minute walk away. The edge drops off straight down about 600 or 700 feet to the bottom where you can see glowing lava. It´s an amazing place and the pictures will be better than my words. Check ém out when I get them uploaded. Other than that, I´m just enjoying where I am for the moment. More tourists are signing up for hikes and I am staying busy.