NicaraguWHAT?

You might be a little thrown off by this post about my travels to Nicaragua, considering that I am a penny pinching student studying in Costa Rica.  Let me put it this way:  the best way to get a miser to do something out of the ordinary is to make it the fiscally responsible choice.  And thus is the case.  There was a horrendous mix-up with the visa process (I cannot go into more detail or I'll get myself all riled up again) that long-story-short meant I would have to pay a grand fine to leave the country unless I renewed it.  Enter Operation Border Run.  Happily for me, Tori was in the same boat so we went together and made a quick little trip out of.  Two 9 hour bus rides and one free day in the middle.  Phew.  

I have too many pictures, and I realize this, but I tried to get a smattering to show you all a little glimpse of what it was like.  If you want to see more (or get the REAL low down of this trip) you'll just have to find me in real life :)

 This is all of Tori's currency, Colones, Cordoba and Dollars.  I am sad to say that our lack of understanding about the exchange rate got us ripped of by a gleeful taxi driver (another one?  Lord are you trying to tell me something?)

Trend in Granada:  SUPER colorful buildings and balconies.

 One of the allures of Granada (for me especially) is all of the historic architecture.  

 Above:  Not bad for a highschool chapel eh?



"Oasis" was the name of our hostel.  It was recommended to me by my host mom's daughter, Janet so we went in and booked two nights, no questions asked.  I didn't realize it was a co-ed hostel until a 6'4'' German man waltzed into the room and flopped on a bed.  Oh.  My.  

 We asked this boy if we could take his picture. He responded: "Correct!" One was not enough for him.  I think he really enjoyed the attention.  Such a spark plug.  On a more somber note:  the poverty I saw in the children was really hard for me.  When we were eating at the restaurant several hollow eyed children came up to our table, and there I am with way more food than my body needs for survival heaped on my plate.  Man.  This is a problem I can shove to the back of my mind when I'm not surrounded by it.  But this trip forced it to the forefront.  What should I do?

Back to levity.  Yours truly interacting a bit with the city :)

This building looked so gorgeous with the sunset falling on it....of course my camera batteries DIED just as that happened.  Just imagine rose tinged gold filtering through the columns and painting the creamy white arches.  Beautiful!

 This is a picture of the old hospital.  Actually and illegal photo, because right after I took it, a man with a very, very large gun informed me (quite nicely) that I wasn't allowed to be within the gates taking pictures.  It is all battered because Granada is war torn from several conflicts.

Horse drawn carriages for a tour around the city.

  I quite seriously almost got my haircut at this salon.  Look at how old-timey :) 

Isn't this beautiful?  It is a reminder of the destruction of war, which is a very sad thing.  But all I could think about is how Emily Millay Price would have a field day with a camera here.

 We've arrived at the end of the pictures.  Choosing them was a very very difficult task, I have so many more!  For being as close as it is to Costa Rica, Nicaragua (Granada) had a vastly different feel, to me at least.  This last picture is a park in the middle of the city.  Very tranquil, and shaded!  My sumburnt nose loved that fact.