So after Costa Rica in 2012 and Belize last year we decided on another Central American country.
Nicaragua
From VRBO Debra found two houses, one in Granada (city) and one in San Juan Del Surf (surfing town)
First house: Not much to look at from the outside but a small paradise inside, with open courtyard and a pool!
Second house: Views over the pool to the beach in the distance.
We enjoyed the city, nights out in the hot evenings, street side bars, from an Irish pub (expensive Guinness) to the cheap and cheerful IDS bar, with local Tona beer going down very nicely and the kids drinking smoothies made with incredible fresh fruit.
In no particular order, here are some of the other experiences, from very strange experiences, like a ice cream shop full of nun's to an almost constant tricky of stinky water running down most of the street gutters. Climbing a church tower just before Sunday service and being deafened by the bell calling worshipers to service,
Going on a boat tour of the islands in the lake, Juan Bosco (Eleda transportation) as our guide, a chess champion who has 2 ex wives, one in Paris and one in Mexico. He taught the boys to do the rubix cube and was very sweet to Lilly, finding a tree with a strange 'fruit' that opened up to be a flower. He took us to a local's restaurant for a family style whole fish to share lunch.
Each evening I'd take our hire car to the next block were a man had a lockable garage area as it was not recommended to leave the car on the street at night. The first time was interesting as he spoke no English and me no Spanish, we managed it and on the second and third night it almost seemed liked we were friends. All for 50 Cordaba, or about $2. One morning he came banging on our door at 7 am, turned out I needed to move the car to let someone else out. on another occasion, I kept saying that the car was too big to fit in the space, Grande car I said, but he kept calling me on and it fitted but what a squeeze to get out for me!
Sho[[ing (or trying to avoid shopping) was fun, stalls and vendors on the street with the bars, we managed to find a very nice artist and bought some earrings for Debra along with some butterfly bracelets for Debra. The man Roberto Corrales was inspired by petroglyphs and natural stones, with a story behind each piece, we ended up bumping in to him on a few evenings, once on a random street he helped us find a particular store on another occasion he once gave Lilly another bracelet. We were really impressed by the artistry and the genuine warmth the man shared with us.
So many great little experiences from the city but after a week it was time to head for the beach at San Juan Del Sur.
Smaller house, but still 3 bedrooms and a dining room, kitchen, large outside area running the whole length of the house and a large, deep pool with views down to the sea and rugged coastline.
The house came with caretakers family, with two kids, a little girl who became Lilly's best friend and a boy who liked having the older boys around. Very helpful but our Spanish was not up to some of the conversations.
The local town was a short drive away, we did a little shopping and a few nights out drinking but not as convenient as Granada but the sound of the waves and the sand beneath our feet made up for it.
We had storms a few nights, with spectacular lightning, some so close the kids ran out of the pool as it appeared to be glowing with the lightning strikes!
Butterflies aplenty flew around the house, visiting all the flowers that grew there.
We had been told that we could book a horse riding and after arranging it we got met by a girl on a motor bike, we followed her further down the road (away from town) to a ranch just of the road, horses were already saddled and ready to go, Lilly got her own hoarse and was lead by our guide Dominique. We traveled along dusty roads but the horses, all except Nathans seemed keen to go so on the first hill we hit Debra took off, closely followed by me. Wow, they were responsive. Sam spent the whole time laughing about how bouncy the trot was and Nathan spent the whole time trying to get his horse to go. Debra and I ended up out in front and having to wait. We eventually made it to the beach, and this must be what the horses do because they just took off, Debra made a gallop and I was hanging on at a fast canter, what a thrill. After going back and forth a few times we left the beach, we thought that may be it but we just went along to the next beach. We had a quick stop at a beach side cafe, for drinks and fruit plate and a talk to an American chap and a Belgium woman with her baby (teacher) before getting back on the horses and walking along the beach. We walked the horses over the rough stoney head to get to the next bay, and road straight through a surfer beach, with a shack hotel and a whole load of surfer dudes and dudesses. They were as surprised to see us as we were them! Then it was back up the road and soon were were back to the ranch, what a great ride. On to La Conches for lunch, a restaurant on the beach, by the river that has crocodiles.
We booked a snorkeling trip, and set of with our guides, snorkeling gear and 2 fishing rods dangling out the back of the boat. We hugged the coast, seeing the rugged coastline and recognizing the bay we could see from the house, the surfer beach we had ridden through and then the beach we had galloped along. We ended up a few bays further and turned in to a sheltered cove, with a fantastic beach and just a few buildings. The swell was very strong (probably what makes this area so good for surfing) so the snorkeling was not great but Debra and the kids got to see a few things and the boat captain brought back a few treasures for Lilly.
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