Nicaragua Nov. 2012

Granada: gas bottles are delivered on bicycles, some have a board on the bar from the seat to the handlebars to set it on.
Forks are so blunt, I have a hard time spearing anything.
All little shops are behind bars, actually, so are the houses. Good business to sell rebar.
Kids have konkers, those balls on a string from long ago. As irritating as ever. Unless it is you doing it.
24 cordobas equal $1.00
Bus ride Granada to Managua: 24 cordobas.
Taxi in Managua: 70-100 cordobas
Popcorn in movie: 60
Movie: 70-170. Special VIP theaters with lounge chairs. That is the 170 price.
Vaho: street food 40 Cordobas for: Chicken, plantain chips, sautéed banana.
Street sellers with towers of cashews, bigger bags to smaller balanced on head or hand.
Water sold to cars in the middle of the street in little plastic pillows. Clever
Movie food court: argentine plate, steak, salad, bread, potatoes and free soup. 90 Cordoba's.
Rap music all over and very loud.
Ride the local bus Managua to Granada. A man got on with a Machete in a leather sheath, ornate with leather wrappings, it went from his mid chest to mid calf. The topper was his look alike Channel sun glasses, all rhinestones.
Horse drawn funeral carriage covered with flowers like in New Orleans.
Second hand store: big bins surrounded by people staking out their spot, piece of cloth over the side to protect their clothes. Then-the signal and they start sorting to get the special sale of 10C. Next day the bins were mounded high. Helpers gave me a basket and when I was done they put it behind a counter where I lined up to pay and get my booty. A bit chaotic.
Church: on Thursdays there is a procession from the altar to the right aisle, across the nave to the left door, out the door, around to enter from the back door, up the isle to the altar, raise the host enclosed in a big sunburst, descend from altar, went left and disappeared. The priest came back to the altar in different vestments to resume mass. The procession had the main priest, 6 men holding poles that held up a canopy, many parishioners walked behind. This accompanied by very loud singing, I saw no choir, assuming it was taped. One number sounded like Andrea Bocelli. Mary is the main focus on the altar with four attending angels, Jesus was behind in the apse.
$1200 for implant surgery with follow up and the parts for the second stage, so they will fit properly, not like the first time I got implants in two different countries.
Wedding: bride looked like she stepped out of Vogue. Took place in a big hall, intimate dining after the ceremony, dancing most of the night. I was privileged to go on my third honeymoon that was not mine. The groom and 6 women went to a sea side resort. Only drawback was I had to leave the morning after I got there.
People are grand. Best part of the experience. One hostel was called Casa de Abuelos, game of grandfather. They treated me like family, helped me get my outfit together for the wedding, fed me, took me shopping, let me help with a craft project. Good fun. Another hostel took me to a wood maker to make a frame for a sculpture I made for the wedding. Another one was $8.00/day, included breakfast, WI-FI, and a big black man for a roommate that reminded me of a lover I had. Weird.
The expensive hotel where the wedding party was held overcharged me, would not fix it and the $10.00/day WI-FI would not work. Go figure.
Volcanos were impressive. The main road coming into Managua from the south perfectly lined up with a volcano dead center. I was impressed.