Isla De Ometepe: flip cup and adopted by the navy

My last few days in Granada consisted of door picture taking and drinking with the English girls, which lead to climbing volcano’s and drinking multiple Tonas with six boys.

English Claire, Dawn and I had discovered a strip with a bunch of bars, including one bar that had a special: two for one sangria, and some of the best sangria ever might I add. One evening, after several sangrias, an extremely polite Mississippi boy invited us to join him and his friends. After I witnessed Mississippi get “iced” by Pennsylvania I learned this group of four American boys were also planning to go to Isla De Ometepe the same day as me as well as staying at the same hostel. Gary spoke descent Spanish and all four of them adorably wore Dockers with their button up shirts tucked in so I was more than willing to accept their invite to tag along.

The ferry to Isla De Ometepe offered a secluded spot with a view and later one of the most amazing sunsets ever. And if you have been catching on, I love modes of transportation with a secluded spot with a view. Drew and John unfortunately had found themselves absent on the ferry in that they were caught with our group rum. On the way over Gary, Jake and I solidified plans to climb Maderas, a volcano with yet another lake in the middle of it. We made friends with Rory and Ruben from The Netherlands that decided to come along on the hike and as well as stay at the hostel we had in mind.

Landing in Altagracias port, we were officially backpackers and not tourists. A total of 10 backpackers filed off the ferry in the midst of the locals and together we tried to find a mode of transportation to get to our hostels. We found two, old vans that matched their two old drivers and divided according to our destinations. The group going to central part of the island was a total of eight people. Everyone piled in, myself being the last when the driver stopped me with a loud “No Mas”. Oh No. Luckily the three girls from Spain rescued me with their first language and the driver agreed to let me in when she said “no deiscinco para trienta”. Which made the ride $3.50 each instead of $3.

The drive was comical, the roads on Isla De Ometepe were not roads, but in fact dried up creek beds complete with massive rocks and potholes that deserve a different name for their intensity. The locals were obviously used to the state of the roads in that our driver made it up every boulder without hitting a horse, chicken, cow or human in the dark. Arriving at Little Morgan’s we were greeted by John and Drew our favorite rum bandits! Hugs and high fives were followed by uh oh’s when the owner of the hostel told us he didn’t have any beds. We threw on our headlamps and went venturing into the night to find a bed and food. 

We found Rancho Santa Cruz not far down the road that also served chicken and rice. Amesterdam’s Rory and Ruben along with America’s John, Drew, Jake, Gary and myself accepted our middle of the night discovery and went to bed early in that we were hiking Maderas in the morning. Maderas was quite the day. It took 4.5 to get up and 3.5 hours to get down. Staying with the theme of the paths on Isla De Ometepe, the “path” up the volcano was mainly a creek bed, with an incline where I found myself climbing more than hiking. Although it was the most strenuous hike I have ever done, the 10 hours I spent with those 6 boys and Willy our guide were of the most hilarious. 

The four American boys are all engineers on supply boats for the Navy and had quite a few stories from their time in the Academy as well as other international trips they have had together. Willy kept eating jungle creatures and bugs for our entertainment as well as Gary when I challenged him to a “you won’t”. When we finally made it down the other side, Willy bought us all some type of rice pudding from the chica on the side of the road then we parted ways. We took the local transportation to get back to our home base. That transportation being an extremely old, worn out bus with a huge Nike symbol on the front window. It was about 105 degree in the bus, but we did in fact make it back to where we were staying.

We showered off the 8 different layers of mud and clay and went to Little Morgan’s where there was more of a night life, that night life being three tables and people our age that spoke English. Climbing Maderas we made a rule that anytime someone fell they had to buy a round of drinks and there was a total of 6 round of drinks to be drank and we.. drank.

The next day John and Drew rented motorcycles and were gone until the sun went down. Gary, Jake and I rented bikes and did some extreme mountain biking to Ojo de Agua, a natural spring with a cantina that served pina coladas. Which is the perfect way to spend your day after to hike for 8 hours.

Jake, Gary and I watched the sun set over Volcano Conception and then rendezvous with John and Drew and decided to go find a bar. On the way out from hostel we paused to wait for the infamous Jake and popped each other backs via the traditional crossed arms. A passing Nicaraguan man inquired about the process and John popped his back and in turn he told us about un Fiesta about 2K’s away. We grabbed our headlamps, some to go beers and followed the sound of music until we arrived at la fiesta. We were the only gringos there but as American do, we confidently grabbed a $1.50 liter of Tona. *Seriously these prices are amazing, and grabbed a table. We played what Mississippi called captain dickhead (which is really kings cup). Apparently our Spanish gets better as we drink, and became friends with the Nicaraguans at the bar. Next thing I know I’m saying “ocho baritas por favor y dos mas grande tonas” and we were playing flip cup with the locals. We-taught-them-flip-cup. We played until we drank all the beer that la senora had to offer and walked home, drunk and more than accomplished in that we brought flip cup to the little town of Balgue on Isla De Ometepe.

The next day the boys were feeling manly again and rented two quads and a motorcycle. We were in route to the waterfall outside San Ramon when I noticed a sign that said horses for rent. Being that I have a some what fear of motorcycles, no a lot of fear that half my skin will end up on the road, I was thinking that riding horses to the waterfall sounded more fun than sitting on a back of a quad petrified with fear. I convinced Gary to drop me off at the horse rental place when I discovered no horses and no people were there.

I asked the neighbors when to come back and next thing I know Jose offered his horses after I assured him I knew how to ride. Gary had never ridden a horse and was inspired by Jose offering his horses so he decided to come along. I learned that the waterfall was a round trip of 4 hours and even when I am in horse ridding shape, that’s a long time to be on a horse. Denis, Jose’s 17 year old handy man decided to show use around the farm and take us to a view point of Volcano Concepcion. The ride was insanely beautiful and Denis educated us along the way about the raising of coffee plants, beans, rice and corn. He even shared his secret stash of bananas with us. Amazing. After our excursion we took advantage of the lake to wash away sweat and recharged with the most amazing gallo pinto ever. Solid day.

That evening we choose to walk in the dark to a little restaurant at a hotel down the road, our path lit only by flashes of lighting and the moon. I love that feeling of connection that nature gives you in its most beautiful moments. You're lovely Nicaragua.