Dukoral and the Ring of Fire! Nicaragua
Monty’s Surf Lodge http://www.montysbeachlodge.com/ Gracious host and home to some of the most beautiful
sunsets in the world.
Chinandega https://vianica.com/nicaragua/chinandega We
volunteered here and it was a great experience.
eon http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nicaragua/leon-and-northwestern-nicaragua/leon
This beautiful old city has street
vendors and a beautiful cathedral and is also home to nearby volcanoes. We had the most amazing fresh juice and ice
cream in a café near the cathedral.
Granada http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nicaragua/granada-and-the-masaya-region/granada The architecture in this city has a European feel.
Hotel con Corazon http://www.hotelconcorazon.com/ Fabulous hotel
that gives back. I would definitely
recommend staying here and exploring Granada.
Catedral de Granada http://www.nicatour.net/es/granada/granada_chiese.cfm
Iconic and stunning, it is visible from most of the city.
Iglesia de La Merced http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nicaragua/granada-and-the-masaya-region/granada/sights/religious/iglesia-de-la-merced
Please do not ring the bell! Yes, some
people did just that when we were there.
It is worth the steep staircase climb to the top just for the view.
Things You Need to Know
Nicaragua’s volcanoes http://www.wired.com/2015/12/nicaraguas-momotombo-volcano-erupted-for-the-first-time-in-100-years/
Volcano boarding http://www.volcanoboard.com/
Dukoral https://www.dukoralcanada.com/ Enough cannot be said about this must-have
product. DO NOT leave home without it.
Crystal light/purified water http://www.crystallight.com/classics This is for those of us who cannot drink boatloads of water.
Magic Jack App https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/magicapp-calling-messaging/id463926997?mt=8 Free app for calling anywhere in the world, from cell
phone to land line only. Necessary in
volcano territory.
Together Works Society http://www.togetherworkssociety.com/
Please check out this web site. They offer ways to participate through
donations, or if you’d like to visit Nicaragua, arrangements can be made for
you stay.
Being a mature student in Tourism Management at Humber College,
I also have the opportunity to take a Global
Citizenship Certificate free of charge.
The Certificate consists of four courses, one of which is to be
completed abroad. The school offered a
two week service trip to Nicaragua. I
liked the sound of it: “Nicaragua”… it just sounds so exotic. We stayed at Monty’s Beach Lodge in Jiquilillo,
Nicaragua, for the most part and spent the last night in Granada; we also did
side trips to Leon and Chinandega. I
really didn’t know what a service trip was and I had never done one
before. I had never been to Central
America so I was very excited to be able to go.
I liked the sound of teaching English to children, hot weather and
volcano boarding. The school was also
helping to build a house. I was not
really excited about the house-building, but volcano boarding? OMG I was so
excited! I’d never seen a volcano before. I bragged to my friends how cool I would be: I
said, “I’m so fucking awesome and I’m going to go volcano boarding,” let’s just say I sucked on so many different
levels volcano boarding that it isn’t even funny. OK, it’s a little funny… It’s fucking hysterical! The moment you realize it’s not like tubing
here in Canada and you have to carry that heavy ass board up the volcano? Hmmm.
Epiphany. Volcanoes are not nice
and smooth to walk on and if you have asthma, well, the air here is not your
friend. They are also really fucking
big. Repeat: BIG! Thank God I had help getting that board
up. Are you seeing where I’m going with
this? Nicaragua has a very active
volcano range. This was a big fucking volcano. Big, big, big. What comes up must come down, as they say. At first I was thinking, “Ok this is good...”
then, “Are those ants down there?” followed by, “What if it blows up like Krakatoa? Your ass might be blown back to Canada.” But I survived to tell the tale and yes, I’d
do it again. Yes, there were three
eruptions — not big, but still, eruptions
while we were there. It was the only
time I have called home while on vacation.
Yes, it did make the news back in Canada… the volcano, not me.
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| Me at the volcano |
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| Beautiful Leon |
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| Ice Cream in Leon |
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| Home of the most amazing sunsets |
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| Incredible |
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| The dogs at Monty's |
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| Granada |
