Hello friends and family!
Our first fun day has come and gone in an instant. This morning we woke up at 6, grabbed our sunscreen, swim suits, and towels, and headed out to Masaya (a three hour drive). Most of the glimpsers were rocked to sleep by the sound of the bus bumbling along the road but a few stayed awake to sing and dance their hearts out to bad remixes on the only English radio station since I forgot my iPod 🙁 . Finally the long drive was over and we got off the bus, only to be standing in a cloud bank that stretched for miles. We knew we would not be able to see Laguna de Apoyo but we went down to the look out point anyway. All we could see was a huge white wall of fluffy fog and one of our leaders suggested that we jump right into the seemingly cushion-like air. Since Laguna de Apoyo is a large tourist attraction, we went to the small shops to look for knick knacks and bracelets. While we were shopping, we noticed that most of the items were priced with American dollars which made us think back to our question of the day: Is it possible to use natural resources for tourism while still maintaining and preserving the area? So while we asked what the prices in cordobas was, we also thought about how being a tourist affects the community. Once back on the bus, we rode up to the Monkey Hut to start our swimming adventure. Finally we could look out over a lagoon! We put on our huge life vests (chalecos de salvavidas) and waded in. The water was warm and we found a strange phenomenon: floating rocks!
Some time later we ate our delicious lunches, bought Coca Cola and then went right back in for more swimming. In the last few minutes of our time at Monkey Hut we took some great pictures of us in the lagoon.
After we changed we hopped back on the bus for our second 3 hour drive, for which many slept and only the best few continued our remix-bus-karaoke. When we got back to Hotel Chico we ate (more like inhaled) delicious traditional tamales, had our first CAP Seminar, and a nightly meeting. It was a great experience visiting the natural wonders of Nicaragua and we learned a lot even though it was a “fun day”. We can’t wait to start our research for our CAP project tomorrow!
“Peace out from Esteli 1A, later!”
Molly, what a great blog entry! You really captured all the “fun” of fun day. The underwater picture is great! Sounds so amazing! So glad you decided to take this adventure! We love you and miss you. Love, Mom, Dad, Eli, Zachary and Pebbles
I feel like I was there, what a great post, and great pictures! Sounds like you’re all having a great adventure. Miss you!
Hi Angela,
Seems like a great adventure and lot of fun. Hope you guys enjoyed yourself.
Stay safe and healthy. We miss you.
Love you!
Mom and Dad
Hi Jae. Looks like F.U.N.! Hope u enjoyed the swim & floating rocks! Looks also like there’s lots to see, do, & experience. We miss u like crazy & cant wait to have u back! It will be all over before u know it, but what an amazing trip. We LUB!
Love & Hugs, Mumz & company…
Hey Brianna!!
Looks like you guys had a blast!!! Knowing how much you like to sing, I bet you were one of the students doing karaoke! Pictures are awesome and we are glad you are having a blast!!!
Papi & Michelle
Hi, Kolson.
I love the pictures. I’m glad you’re having fun. Were you one of the singers on the way home, LoL! At least this time I won’t get a call from a teacher about your singing! We miss you so much. Stay safe and have a blessed day.
Lots of ALOFA’S
Kalvin, Nia, Lone, Maligi, Sue, Grandma, Dad and Mommy
Looks like a fun day. Glad to see lots of smiles in the photos. Enjoy each and every moment on this trip. You’ll remember it for years to come. Keep the blogs and photos coming. I love being a part of your adventures. Love you Sammy.
Love,
Mom
Hola Zuleima, que gusto me da ver toda la diversion que estas teniendo, te lo mereces, disfruta al maximo. Te extrañamos mucho. Love you!!!!!
Flynn, Any signature song on the bus ride Karaoke? Miss and envy you.
Molly
Que bueno! You captured “fun day” so beautifully for us. We wish we could have that experience too. It sounded so great. But here we are stuck in the old, but USA where everyone is screaming politics..
We love you and will see you really soon. Papu and Nana
Hola Zuleima, que gusto me da ver toda la diversion que estas teniendo, te lo mereces, disfruta al maximo. Te extrañamos mucho. Love you!!!!! Tu Papà te dice hola y tambien Zayra y Zahid.
Ricky,
It’s great to see everyone having a good time.
Love you!
Briel! I miss you so much. It’s been really slow back at home and hot. Not much has happened since you left. I’ve been hanging out with Beto a lot but it’s no substitute for you. I’m glad you’re ok and having fun… I’m still here waiting for you