I didn't know horses could speak Spanish.

After a very long - hot climb up the side of the mountain (600 meters high), we stopped and our tour guide gave us a little bit of information at various spots. One stop took us to what used to be the center of the volcano before it blew up the whole side of the mountain in the 70's. We were able to go over to see the fumers where sulfur and steam were coming out -- we could also stomp our foot on the ground and it was hollow! From the very top you could see the chain of volcanos that spanned across the horizon. Sledding down the volcano was so much fun!! It was scary at first, but after a while we got used to the feel of it. Lindsey went down first and only went about 15km/hr and I was going about 30km/hr. Near the bottom, I got the high speed wobbles and wiped out, sliding down the rocky sandy volcano. I got a little bit of road rash on my arm and a nice cut on my leg, so hopefully I don't bring back some Nicaraguan plague when I come home tomorrow!! We looked like dalmatians when we came back, we were covered in black dust -- very similar to Grandpa Kamp after he started the vacuum on fire in the garage!

We took another bus back to Managua from Leon and a different bus from Managua to Muy Muy. The bus had us packed in there like cattle. There was hardly any space to move. It was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour bus ride, but it turned into a 4 1/2 hour ride. We came across a road block on the main highway and Nicaraguans are so impatient, drivers just started driving down in the ditches to get around it. Our bus driver was the same way. We just started off roading in a yellow school bus -- down dirt roads, through tall grasses and trees, before finally popping back out on the main road to finish the trek. Several times, it felt like we were going to tip over. After driving on the main road for a while, we had to stop yet again, this time because we broke a belt on the bus - it took another 45 min for them to get the bus up and running. There was also a man on the bus that was very fond of Lindsey -- he thanked both of us for visiting the country - but really probably could have cared less about me!

In Muy Muy, all the neighbor kids flock to Lindsey's house - every single day. They seem to have forgotten that Lindsey even lives there because they come outside calling for Justin, not Lindsey anymore!! We play soccer, tag, and hide and seek in the street. They are also amazed with my many talents of noises that I can make (whistling in my hands, popping my mouth). I met some of Lindsey's local friends that are her age - they serenaded us with some songs and dancing. We did some "gardening" in Lindsey's backyard -- it is basically a gravel pit. We made an attempt at making a compost pile -- but I'm sure that it was a very sad, pathetic attempt!! I went to some of Lindsey's classes and watched her babble in spanish and then teach an english class -- FINALLY something I could understand! haha! We went horseback riding down to a river - it was really pretty, unfortunately, I got really sunburnt.

Today, we are in Matagalpa - to buy some coffee, cigars, and rum for me to take back home. Lindsey has skype all set up on her computer now, so now we can all skype with her when she has internet access!!

Sadly, I am leaving tomorrow morning to take another crowded bus back to Managua so I can catch my flight back home. I wish I could stay longer - perhaps I'll be able to come for another visit before Lindsey leaves.

It's still so DAMN hot!!

After catching up with sleep in the Best Western in Managua (I was comatose), Lindz and I took a very long taxi ride to drop off the suitcase filled with food at the Peace Corp Office, the smell of exhaust was overwhelming. Then we took another ride to the bus depot to catch a bus for Leon. Lindsey had briefed me on the size and the amount of people prior to getting on the bus...we missed the first one because the lack of speed and dexterity Lindsey and I had fighting our way to the bus. We grabbed the second one though. We arrived in Leon which in Lindsey's sense of direction is Southwest....but in reality, it is Northwest. We got to our hostel -- BigFoot, on the way, we ran across several Festiva's (I really miss mine) and a possible DeLorean -- it looked just like the one Doc Brown had in the 80's!! Then we went off to Poneloya beach on the Pacific Ocean on a yellow school bus that was packed full! When I say full, I mean everyone was touching -- the front and back doors were open, and people were on the top of the bus! After a long ride on the hot bus, we arrived at the beach. It was beautiful! It was extremely windy while we were there so the waves were crashing in. I went out for a swim, surprisingly the water wasn't cold at all! It was quite nice. The undertow was so strong, I couldn't believe it. I met a lot of Lindsey's fellow volunteers while we were there, they are all very nice. We attempted to hitchhike back to Leon, but to no avail, we took the yellow school bus again.

Today, Lindsey and I are off the Cerro Negro for Volcano Boarding. It is basically sledding down a hill at a 40 degree slope, the only difference is no snow, only sand a rocks. You can go to YouTube and see a video about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3ij0HUw350 Hopefully Lindsey and I don't end up with road rash all over the place!

"IT'S SO DAMN HOT!! MILK WAS A BAD CHOICE!"

*Note to readers while Justin is here visiting he will be guest blogging for me, so here's his views and opinions......

"IT'S SO DAMN HOT!! MILK WAS A BAD CHOICE!" to quote Anchorman. I arrived in Nicaragua tonight at 7pm after an extremely long day of traveling, I left Whitewater at midnight and had a 7 hour layover in New Orleans. After I met up with The Lindsey at the airport I had a very nice man carry my luggage out to the car -- apparently it made me look like I was an unaccompanied minor. HAHA! I walked outside wearing jeans and a track jacket and I felt as if I was melting. It was hotter then Hades out there! As soon as we got to the hotel I quickly changed into shorts and tshirt! Much more comfortable! Lindsey and I are eating Cheetos and Pizza Hut pizza right now. She says, "I'm livin' large since I have a visitor!" It is also my last day of American food. I will probably dwindle away to nothing! Tomorrow we are off to Leon for sun bathing (burning in my case) and swimming.

Lindsey and I are already having fun as I attempt to speak spanish -- it is really quite good in my defense, but she thinks otherwise. I guess you don't need to pronounce every single letter you see with a Wisconsin accent?!

Let the games begin!!

The Lindsey says, "thanks for all the contributers for the goodies and snacks!"

Green Eggs and Ham: Nica Style

I do not like rice and bean
I do not like them, Dean
You're mean
I do not like them at every meal
I did not sign up for that deal
I do not like them cold
They lack a flavor bold
I do not like them in a haste
I do not like what they do to my waist
I do not like rice and bean
I do not like them Dean
Why are you so mean?
I will cook soon
and might change my tune
but right now
they make me feel like a cow

I wrote this little diddity a while ago and just found it now. I'm quite proud of my work and now that I'm living on my own....I would actually enjoy some gallo pinto right about now. I've been eating lots of PB & J sandwiches, oatmeal and fruit. I'm eating worse than a college student and if you look inside of my refrigerator you'll find: raisins, sugar, water and mayonnaise. Pathetic I know. So I'm going to break my descansa (break) from gallo pinto and attempt to cook some on Sunday, the only day that I actually have time. I'm sure it will not be as good as if a Nicaraguan made it and it won't prove that I can cook, but hopefully it will be edible. Also, I'll probably make enough for the week and just eat that for the week. HAHA.
Only 20 more days until Justin comes to visit and I'll have a supply of goodies from the US! I can't wait for all the stuff he's going to bring to me.