Off the road again...
If I could, and who knows maybe I will, I would make a travel guide of cheap, beautiful weekend trips from Managua. There doesn’t seem to be a short supply. Sarah and I have been marking off destinations from our ambitious list like nobody’s business. This weekend we got ourselves to Matagalpa, a place we have been dreaming about for quite some time.
Our adventure started on Friday when we played hookie from work and boarded a bus bound for a bus bound for a bus to Matagalpa. Actually we were going “on business” so were we really playing hookie? Yes, you know, we were. Anyway, we got there a little past 1pm and immediately located a hostel. We had gotten a recommendation from a Pat and Kathy to stay in Hotel Bermudez, a “cheap, comfortable place that always has running water.” We find it (after walking in circles for quite some time) and get a room for the night. Cheap? Well kinda (US$3 each). Comfortable? Not particularly, the room was small with two beds, moldy walls and a window (without screens) out to the courtyard where the laundry pilas were located. Whatever.
We started walking around the beautiful mountain town. Sarah has all the digital pictures as I toted around my SLR and took film pictures, so you are going have to go over to her blog and see the sites. Anyway, Matagalpa is very beautiful. Located in the Dario mountain range, Matagalpa is a bustling town full of campesinos, young people and only an occasional gringo. The two streets connecting the two main parks are lined with cute shops, comedors and cafetins (cheap restaurants), and LOTS of thrift stores. We were in heaven just walking in the cooler mountain breeze and popping in stores to look at the old Gap shirts, Old Navy skirts and Banana Republic pants. We found one store that Gap and WalMart defects for c$10 (about 50cents). We were very happy digging in the bargain bins and then we realized these were sweatshop produced apparel that didn’t make the cut. That put a damper on things.
On Friday we had an informal meeting with UNAG, the Nicaraguan department of small farmers. This was allowed us to put the business in “business trip.” We talked to Jose and Consuelo about the Campesino a campesino movement and the possibility of Sarah working in the campo after I leave Nicaragua. Overall, it was a very positive meeting with UNAG and I left a little jealous Sarah would have such an amazing experience! Oh well, maybe the next time I come to Central America.
Our second night we secured a room in the Hotel La Plaza, located right across from the park. The building was bright pink and the inside was painted the ubiquitous bright turquoise. The room was a bit cleaner, a bit nicer and the bathroom was a lot better. The price was the same. The only downfall was the rambunctious neighbors who got in late, and were up-and-at-em at 5:30a!! Oh well. At least the coffee in Matagalpa is great and there is alot of homemade yogurt and granola.
Our adventure started on Friday when we played hookie from work and boarded a bus bound for a bus bound for a bus to Matagalpa. Actually we were going “on business” so were we really playing hookie? Yes, you know, we were. Anyway, we got there a little past 1pm and immediately located a hostel. We had gotten a recommendation from a Pat and Kathy to stay in Hotel Bermudez, a “cheap, comfortable place that always has running water.” We find it (after walking in circles for quite some time) and get a room for the night. Cheap? Well kinda (US$3 each). Comfortable? Not particularly, the room was small with two beds, moldy walls and a window (without screens) out to the courtyard where the laundry pilas were located. Whatever.
We started walking around the beautiful mountain town. Sarah has all the digital pictures as I toted around my SLR and took film pictures, so you are going have to go over to her blog and see the sites. Anyway, Matagalpa is very beautiful. Located in the Dario mountain range, Matagalpa is a bustling town full of campesinos, young people and only an occasional gringo. The two streets connecting the two main parks are lined with cute shops, comedors and cafetins (cheap restaurants), and LOTS of thrift stores. We were in heaven just walking in the cooler mountain breeze and popping in stores to look at the old Gap shirts, Old Navy skirts and Banana Republic pants. We found one store that Gap and WalMart defects for c$10 (about 50cents). We were very happy digging in the bargain bins and then we realized these were sweatshop produced apparel that didn’t make the cut. That put a damper on things.
On Friday we had an informal meeting with UNAG, the Nicaraguan department of small farmers. This was allowed us to put the business in “business trip.” We talked to Jose and Consuelo about the Campesino a campesino movement and the possibility of Sarah working in the campo after I leave Nicaragua. Overall, it was a very positive meeting with UNAG and I left a little jealous Sarah would have such an amazing experience! Oh well, maybe the next time I come to Central America.
Our second night we secured a room in the Hotel La Plaza, located right across from the park. The building was bright pink and the inside was painted the ubiquitous bright turquoise. The room was a bit cleaner, a bit nicer and the bathroom was a lot better. The price was the same. The only downfall was the rambunctious neighbors who got in late, and were up-and-at-em at 5:30a!! Oh well. At least the coffee in Matagalpa is great and there is alot of homemade yogurt and granola.
- Alyse - 12:50 PM
2 Comments:
hey! looks like you are coming back with enough experience over traveling there that you can make a documentary for travel channel. hope you are enjoying that, i mean all your experiences, soory i did not write nothing for a few days.
juan
Can you bring back a beautiful hammock like the one Sarah is in at the beach house?
Also, I would love to buy some tiles, no?
Love, Momma
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