Nicaraguan Adventure - Day 12: Take a hike! (1/7/11)

I woke up early to join Don and Emily for a hike up Apante, a mountain right next to the city which supposedly only takes ~2h. I planned on doing this walk, then grabbing our bags and L and heading out; plans are frequently ruined/changed when traveling. We went without a map, which was probably a mistake, so we ask people and they keep telling us to keep going. After not being near the top after 1.5h, we ask some construction workers, and they tell us to go up a different road, and right then a truck pulls up and lets us jump in the bed  as he takes off down the road. He tells us to go down the road to the right, so we do, and we wind up in the middle of a group of people picking coffee beans, one of which tells us not to keep going down the road we are on. We listen and head back up where we found a guy selling food (empanada type thing, ice cream and plantain chips) for the workers. We get back to where the truck dropped us off and the guy who told us to turn around was up there waiting for us and pointed us back towards Matagalpa. We eventually get back to our hostel (4.5h later instead of 2) and find out the trail was at the beginning of where we started; we were doomed from the beginning.  We eat lunch once we got back to the hostel and then L and I head out with a taxi taking us somewhere where L can get his bracelets and then to the bus station where we get an express bus to Managua. 

That is one of the buses responsible for bringing people around the country. As you can see, there are people inside, on top, hanging off it, etc. They do not let a seat keep them from getting from A to B. They also have a bunch of cargo strapped in everywhere.

Even though we didnt get to the top of our goal mountain, we did get some nice views and happened upon a group of coffee workers who just went about their job as we walked through what I am assuming is an area of the woods they dont normally see other people (based on their looks given at me)

Our hostel had a bunny hanging in the lobby area so we tried to play with it. Nevermind bunny's devil eye; I am pretty sure that was the camera since it did not attack me.

Once we arrive, get a cab to our hotel (Mansion Teodolinda) and check in. We shower, and have the shuttle take us to a nearby bar/restaurant area which was pretty cool and really safe. We have a nice dinner overlooking the water to celebrate the end of the trip, get in one last FdC shot. After dinner, we went to a nearby bar, sit outside while enjoying a beer while waiting for the driver to get back and find us. Get back to the hotel to watch some TV before heading to bed.

Christmas tree on the way to the waterfront dining area. A little blurry but you get the idea.

Luis sending the trip off right! With some rum and coke action with a Tona beer on the side. Chances of a good night? 100%

Having some lobster for our last night in Nicaragua. I felt it appropriate to pretend to be a lobster right before eating it.