Puro Nicaragüense

I had a surf topic to discuss as Laura and I have finished our beach portion of this trip and have gone inland to see the sites and sites we have seen.  We arrived in Leon a week ago just before the rain arrived. It kept us indoors for a couple of days but we were able to see the town and go out for nice dinners.  Our overall impression has been great with the town.  Food is delicious (particularly the pizza), people are nice and our hostel 'Lazy Bones' is quiet and comfortable with a pool that is refreshing and not the usual hot tub hot.  We have toured some churches and museums.  We learned about myths and legends and got a good feel for the town.

We had planned a few hikes but the rain stopped us from doing that. We did however manage to go volcano boarding down an active volcano.  All the company said was you drive to a volcano, hike up and then slide down.  What they did not mention was you had to ride in the back of a truck, not a pick-up but a truck that I managed to get on last and did not have a seat.  So...I stood up for an hour down a bumpy jungle road, dodging branches (some hit me) and every branch the truck hit unleashed a swarm of insects on the people.  We arrived at the base of a black volcano, got our toboggans and hiked up the rocky volcano.  It was raining and then the wind kicked in.  View video below and you will see how windy it was.  The hike was fun and then we suited up and slid down.  I wish you could do more than one run but it was interesting and being Canadian Laura and I were naturals at the tobogganing.
VIDEO
Wind Earth Fire Water

Sunday was a whole new experience for the both of us.  3pm we met up with our guide who took us to a cock fight.  AND just as one would imagine, Laura was out of place as it was a man fest of booze, cocks and gambling.  BUT it was a safe and really fun time.  There was a whole lot of drinking and screaming while two roosters fight each other in some organized/unorganized manner.  View a snip-it below.

VIDEO
Beginning of the fight

Today being Monday, we were trying to leave for Grenada but last night after a couple rounds and hanging out with the group that we went with to the cock fight we decided to take a cooking class.  9am to the market to pick out our ingredients.  Laura got her meat and veggies to make her cornmeal stew and I got my veggies and garrobo to make my soup.  We boarded a local transport and crammed in and held on for dear life as we headed back to the same place where the cock fight took place.  We got a local experience for sure.  We started with killing and cleaning our three garrobo also commonly known as iguana.  The owner Don Pedro showed us how to clean one of them and then one of the other guys in our group and myself prepared the last two.  That is as far as I will go with that but it is much like cleaning a fish.  Email me if you are interested in more details.  We then walked off to a tortilla factory and we each made some corn tortillas. Then back to the kitchen.  Everybody helped out in the group and a 'pinch of this' and a 'punch of that' and presto!  Iguana soup and cornmeal veggie meat thing complete.  Both meals were great and I even got Laura to try some soup which has a texture of chicken but has its own taste.  So, cultural experiences can be checked off the list in Leon.  We are off to Granada in the AM which is the competing city to Leon and many say much more liked.  

Before Leon we were floating around a few places. We got kicked out of Chancletas due to not making a reservation and the place was packed.  You know you are at the right surf spot when the Body Glove Surf Team shows up and does a photo shoot (bikini and surf).  The bikini shoot was enjoyed by the 20 Floridians, all good surfers.  The wave itself was epic in epic standards.  Very finicky due to winds and size of swell but steep drop into the tube, then out, repeat and call it a day.  

From there we went to El Coco Loco.  I think there is a Coco Loco every where in the world.  This one was a new place run by two Canadians and an American.  It was another Eco lodge with compostable toilets and solar power, etc.  They run a taxable Canadian charity 'Waves of Hope' that helps in the development of the community and is very well thought out.  We were in a very poor area of Nicaragua and it looks like they are definitely making a positive effect on the community.  We also met many travelers who are along the same lines as Angelina / Mother Teresa like kind of people helping schools and infrastructure around the area.  Good to see people trying to help.  We went with some of the humanitarians up to Jiquilillo to see a new area and went for a canoe in the estuary which turned into a race.  Poor other canoe had no idea what they were up against.  Laura and I being the only Canadians were in the same canoe and later were complemented on our great technique as we left a trail of fire behind our strokes.

I surfed a few times as the swell was once again maxing out.  I managed to score some sweet waves and have since taken the fins and wax off the boards which will be sent back to Toronto.  Laura and I will not be duck diving into the surf for close to a month as we will be venturing around seeing the sites and trying new things out.  I think we are off to a good start but I don't think I will be eating garrobo any time soon.

 

Note to any drivers: Make sure the locals are not pouring gas

 into a diesel as shown here. This led to an afternoon of fun.