As Tim explained in the last post, Maria really does keep us busy! You may wonder how it is we came to be so lucky as to know someone like her. Here's the deal: Maria grew up in Managua but moved to Madison, WI when she was 17 years old. She has connections to Wisconsin because her dad is originally from Sheboygan. I met Maria a few years ago when she was my coworker at the hospital. She departed for her big trip around Central and South America almost exactly one year before we took off. It just so happened that she would be visiting her parents in Nicaragua around the same time we were there and she and her family were kind enough to invite us to stay with them. Maria's experience traveling made her such a great hostess because she knows the kinds of things you really grow to appreciate when you travel. Like what, you ask?
Well, for one thing being driven places in air conditioned vehicles. Here is Maria driving us to yet another beach, Pochomil, the day before Christmas Eve.
It was very hot and sunny at the beach when we got there so we decided to make a sun shelter. Our white skin is no match for the strong Central American sun. We hunted for sticks and used sarongs to make the shade.
After mass, we spent some time rocking in the rocking chairs and sipping on drinks before enjoying dinner around 11pm. We finished our meal just before midnight, which is when all of Managua set off fireworks. It was very comforting to be with a family in such a comfortable place for the holiday. This is Yalile's famous Christmas stuffing. It was her mother's recipe and is incredibly tasty!
On the 25th, we relaxed during the day and made plans to meet Maria's friends out for drinks that evening. We had a couple out at a terrace bar and then decided to change locations. Where did we go?
But don't worry, we weren't there to gamble our travel budget away. We were there for the karaoke! It was an incredibly fun night out singing and dancing until 4:30am! We really brought down the house on a couple of numbers.
All in all, our Maria Adventures were nothing short of fantastic. Thanks to Maria and her family for being such fantastic hosts!! We owe you one...
It turned out to be a useful little shelter!
We spent some time in the water and searching for seashells. We even found a couple of sand dollars! After a few hours of enjoying cold beer and the rolling waves, we decided it was time to get some food.
Before leaving, we had to deconstruct the shelter. Here we have Tim returning a rock we had used as a support.
Before leaving, we had to deconstruct the shelter. Here we have Tim returning a rock we had used as a support.
The restaurant was about 10 minutes down the road and we decided to share two red snappers between the 3 of us.
We tied up Maria's awesome hammocks as we waited for them to prepare our meal.
The fish arrived. They looked beautiful and tasted even better! Maria explained that she usually eats the fish eyes. Tim took this as a dare.
Here you can see him cautiously eyeing up his fish eye.
It took him a while...
But he eventually managed to take one down. He describes it as "gooey... it was almost like a mucous." (because you are really eating the eye socket as the actual eye is like a marble)
It was a great day at the beach and was capped off by a gorgeous sunset!
The next day was Christmas Eve. In Nicaragua, Christmas is generally celebrated on Christmas Eve and then you rest on December 25th. We spent Christmas Eve preparing dinner and relaxing. We also went to mass at a nearby community center where they have a very cool mural.
After mass, we spent some time rocking in the rocking chairs and sipping on drinks before enjoying dinner around 11pm. We finished our meal just before midnight, which is when all of Managua set off fireworks. It was very comforting to be with a family in such a comfortable place for the holiday. This is Yalile's famous Christmas stuffing. It was her mother's recipe and is incredibly tasty!
Maria's dad carving the Christmas pollo/pavo:
Our festive table:
On the 25th, we relaxed during the day and made plans to meet Maria's friends out for drinks that evening. We had a couple out at a terrace bar and then decided to change locations. Where did we go?The casino?
But don't worry, we weren't there to gamble our travel budget away. We were there for the karaoke! It was an incredibly fun night out singing and dancing until 4:30am! We really brought down the house on a couple of numbers.
All in all, our Maria Adventures were nothing short of fantastic. Thanks to Maria and her family for being such fantastic hosts!! We owe you one...
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