BLOGGING ENTRY - TWO.  Our time in Laguna de Apoyo was magical.  Yesterday we decided to hike the Mombacho Volcano tour - an active, but presently dormant - volcano.  Yeah.  We wondered what the heck that could mean too.  The volcano hasn’t erupted for hundreds of years, but is still steaming.  On our hike around one of the craters, we were able to experience a fumerola - an opening in the earth that shoots up sulphur infused steam!  As I turned around the guide teased me, “ Pareces aun mas joven ahora”  - or you look even younger now!  I said - I’m going back!  Fountain of youth or fumerola de la juventud?  Sounds good to me!  

Our guide, Belinda, is 23 years old and has attended the University of Leon with a major in Tourism.  She attended the public university, which is free, and is a delightful young woman with an infectious laugh and light heart.  Anne, Belinda, and I immediately connected, speaking mostly Spanish with some English peppered in when necessary, and have talked about everything from Catholicism to the role of the U.S. in Nicaraguan history to language (her boyfriend is German so she is also learning his language!) and points beyond - plus a great tour of the crater around the volcano.  We rode up the steep paved (like with pavers) road on an enormous double decker truck that felt too large and too top heavy for the roadway, but we made it, up and down without incident!  The views of Lake Nicaragua, the Isletas, and Laguna de Apoyo were amazing and helped orient me to my surroundings.  Bromeliads, orchids, butterflies.  The forest is called “ un bosque enano” or a dwarf forest as the trees are low, green, THICK and filled with vegetation.  Over 35 plant species may live on ONE TREE!  Compact greenness at every turn.

We shared a traditional lunch in Granada at a darling garden patio  restaurant.  Belinda tried to get Anne and I to try the Chicharrones (fried pig ears) but we opted for just a sampling of her Vigoron - a very typical dish with yucca, cabbage slaw and, of course, fried pig ears!  As we said goodby to Belinda, we expressed our gratitude for her willingness to share on so many levels.  Back in Managua, we met up wtih Sara, a lovely medical student from Iowa whose energy and grace will be a wonderful compliment to the PINCC team.

As the bus from Leon arrived with last week’s volunteers, Sara, Anne, and I were practicing Sun Salutations and doing Mudras on the patio in front of our hotel.  :)  The long ride, a supposed 8 hour trek across Nicaragua, headed for Laguna de Perla on the Caribbean Coast. would be an opportunity for us all to connect, reconnect, and rest.  Carol noted that this group contains more returning volunteers than any other trip she has organized.  As I found my seat at the back of the bus, I met Sharry and her daughter, Chelsea.  Sharry is an Ob/Gyn from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin!  It seems that the Midwest is well represented on this mission.

The trip passed quickly for the first 5 ½ hours - sharing stories and pre-ordered gallo pinto (Nicaraguan rice and beans),  At Ramas the road turns to dirt - a formidable task for our air conditioned micro bus, but the amazing scenery offered a much needed and appreciated distraction.  Houses on stilts, seemingly constructed from 2 X 4s, peace lillies growing like wild flowers along the road, birds of all shapes, sizes,and colors......  I put on my headphones and enjoyed the scenery with Counting Crows as the soundtrack.  However, as the sky turned to night and we were still unsure of our trajectory, everyone settled in for the longggggggggg run.  We turned into Pearl Lagoon around 7 PM, after having spent 4 ½ hours on the dirt road and covering a mere 50 km. of distance.  Dirty and hungry we headed out for a quick dinner (not!) and some more camaraderie and team building, Carol style.  

Our team consists of:  Four clinicians - Dr. Pam (and her family), Dr. Sharry, Anne and Jaya.  Four interpreters:  Sally, Patricia, Sue, and myself.  Support:  Joyce, Chelsea, Becca, and Priya.  Pathology student:  Sara  and of course our fearless leader, Carol.