My view of Granada was a rather different one from what Granada really looks like, as I was sick for both days we were there and have even had to get antibiotics to help aid the recovery process, which meant I only saw Granada for an hour or so before we left. Trust me to get sick in the only place we have visited where there is a huge festival taking place, hostel rooms are limited and we have to take a room with a constant leak in the bathroom and a toilet that backs up into the ´shower´ when it flushes..........NICE!
Needless to say the 4 hour ferry ride to Ometepe was a little bit tense for me, but everything was okay, by that I mean no throwing up or being locked in another lovely bano for the whole 4 hours. I was actually able to enjoy the fabulous views of Ometepe as we approached (an island with twin volcanoes) and watch the sunset over the horizon.
No rest for the wicked and after one rest day, during which we still moved locations in Ometepe, so that we were at the foot of the Maderas volcano, we climbed Maderas. Now, a couple of things I have learnt, climbing volcanoes after being extremely sick for a few days is probably not a wise idea, especially when coupled with extreme period pain, unless you are a saddist, or into extreme torture! There was some hardcore mental strength required for the 3 and a bit hour climb to the top, but I survived and enjoyed the sense of achievement when we returned to the hostel 7 hours later....at least that is what I am telling myself.
We met a young aussie who climbed the volcano with us and he completed the climb wearing flip flops tied together, as well as to his feet, with electrical tape and string, which was highly entertaining and a spectacle in itself.
From Ometepe we took the 10 hour ferry ride, during which I slept on top of our backpacks on the floor and Malc had the seat, to San Carlos which is the gateway to the Rio San Juan. After a 5 hour wait at San Carlos we hopped on a panga down the river to El Castillo, passing pristine rainforest and river side villages on the way, and prepared for a day hiking in the rainforest in search of Macaws, Toucans, Monkeys and Caimans.
We say lots of Monkeys, a Caiman, some Tree frogs and two Toucans (hurray), as well as learning loads about the rainforest from our guide Orlando. We even spotted a few Jaguar tracks, but sadly no Jaguar or Macaws.
The journey back up the river to San Carlos a day or so later and the border crossing to Los Chiles in Costa Rica went without a hitch, despite the 5 hour wait for a panga to cross the border and we managed to make the two buses we needed from Los Chiles to get to La Fortuna, during which time we met the lovely Alex and Helene, a Norweign couple who we are now travelling with for a few days.
The hot springs at La Fortuna represented the first real hot water we have had in weeks, so I now feel a little cleaner and it was so nice to relax in a natural hot river! Especially as the last day or so in Monteverde has been rain, rain and more rain.
We´re booked on a night tour of the forest so I have to dash now and I haven´t even mentioned the Tarantula that was in our room in Ometepe......
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