Nicaraguan Adventure - Day 1: Arriving into the country and to our first stop, Las Penitas (12/27/10)

Luis and I get into Managua after a normal, relatively short for international standards, flight. Get through immigration and realize L's bag didn't make it somehow (direct flight, don't know how you mess that up and just leave it in Houston). We arrange with customer service to deliver it to our hostel where we will be the next couple days and then head out to the bus station via a taxi (20$ - I read later that there are cheaper taxis elsewhere at the airport but we got to our bus in time so that's what matters I guess) that decided to break down on our way to the station (twice – first time locals helped get it going again, second time for good where our driver got another one for us). At the bus station we get in a large van (~12 of us) and head to Leon (~2$pp) where we get a cab (50C) to the bus station to get to Las Penitas. That bus was a yellow school bus (as many of the future ones will be) for 20C that took us to the coast, through El Poneloyn, to our hostel's town of Las Penitas. The beach community seems to be very laid back and friendly with people hanging out outside along the road and on the beaches in bars. When we get to our hostel (Hostelito y cafe Oasis), the driver signals to us to get out (good thing cause I couldn't see our hostel's sign, which was on the wall somewhere that you have to know where to look) and we check in. Turns out the reservation that I made was not received, but they had a queen room open anyways thank goodness – I think options were not too many in this area. We grab some beer to celebrate our arrival and the start of our adventures, however when I go to pay, I learn they just keep a tab and you pay for everything as you leave. 

We are on the bus on our way to the hostel. Has been years since I have been on a yellow school bus. Luis looking like a badass.

Cheers we made it to our hostel! Getting this trip started off right!

The people running it were incredibly friendly and patient as I would try and practice my Spanish on this trip with L helping out occasionally when I was in a rut. We check out the hostel and chill there for a bit while having some drinks (beers and some local rum, Flor de Cana) and dinner (double cheeseburgers and fresh fish ceviche). After dinner, we get some drinks and go out to the beach with some chairs to watch the water crash into the shore under the starlight. 

Our guide book and a local rum on a beach just hanging out. 

Us enjoying the relatively private beach of the hostel with a couple glasses of rum.

Luis and I enjoying a beer on the beach before going to explore the neighboring area. 

We finish our beers, and head down the street where we found another hostel and a taco shack. After trying to communicate to the taco shack people unsuccessfully, we go into the hostel (Playa Roca) to have a beer on their top deck and then head home around 10pm to turn in for the night.

Hanging on a hammock at the end of the night cause why not?