Easter in Nicaragua
This Easter was very special and felt more like a summer holiday to be honest, bu it was incredible! Tina came to visit me from Norway, and together with Olle, Anders and Stig we rented a car. Together we went on a road trip around in Nicaragua, an adventure we will never forget.
We started in the north of Nicaragua, Esteli. We slept in Mariflor with a Nicaraguan family on a café plantation, and saw how they made the coffee. The next day went for a horse ride for 4 hours, exhausting but very nice and great fun!
The next stop was Somoto (also in the north). There we went the "cañon de somoto", which was absolutely amazing. Tina and I thought we were going by canoe (because of the name), but we were actually walking in the water. It was such a great view and we felt like we were in the middle of a "lord of the rings" movie.
Stig and Anders wanted to go up in the mountains, and Tina, Olle and I wanted to go to the Caribbean side of Nicaragua. And so we split the last weekend from Thursday to Sunday. So "party-sueco" aka Olle, Tina and I took a boat over to Bluefields, and from there over to "Laguna de perla" (Pearl Lagoon) and Key perla (Key pearl). It's the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. 
The ocean was so clear and green/blue, and the sand was the whitest ever. I really recommend the Caribbean side of Nicaragua. If I ever get married, it will probably be on the beach in Key pearl. It was so nice having Tina here visiting, and it was really a perfect road trip.
Hope everything is fine with you and now it's only a month left of my stay!
Hasta pronto!
Anita
It was a normal day on Las Peñitas (the beach where we have Spanish classes).. I was studying a bit and talking with Antonio and "Chele" (both of the lifeguards are called Antonio, so one of them has the nickname "chele" which means light skin/hair).
All of a sudden Chele noticed something crawling on the beach. His instincts thought it was a person drowning, but no... it was a TURTLE. She was crawling close to us, and started digging to give birth. After about 15 minutes she started laying eggs. This in it self is not normal, because normally they give birth in September/October, and in nightime. So I think this was a young, confused mother (aka "teen mom").
Did you know that the turtle goes in to a trance when giving birth? She was also crying, lots of tears falling down from her eyes. We could go close because she didn't notice us when she was in this condition. It was amazing. She laid 13 eggs, which is less than the average. For me it was a gigantic turtle, but according to Antonio and Chele it was a small one. As they live here and have seen other turtles, you should probably trust them.
So it was probably my first (and last?) witness to a turtle giving birth.
And of course, I normally always bring my camera, but this day I didn't.. Fortunately Joakim took some pictures for me as well, so pictures are coming :)
Friday nigh
t it was time to sing karaoke, which is the big karaoke night in León (seriously, it's karaoke in all the bars around here) And guess what, I sang in SPANISH for the first time. And this is the song I sang (click on the link) : Bulería .
Silvia and Elin sang a Shakira song. You can see the sweet sugar pies singing on the picture ;)
Sat
urday I went out with Carolina and her friends. A birthday party for her lovely friend Flor. We went to a local place with great Spanish music all night. We ate some light food, drank some "Nica libres" , and had some really good conversations. They are so beautiful and warm, and I find it very strange that all of them are single.
On the info meeting they told us that 70% of the women in Nicaragua are single. My next question is, what's causing this? I am trying to find out what this is all about, is it something cultural? Is it true or a myth that "Nica guys" can't stick to one woman at a time? Is infidelity a bigger problem here than at home?
Sunday I was actually intervied by a woman from New York doing her thesis about foreigners in Nicaragua. Asking me of my opinions around the social differences here and in my country. How I think women and men look at me here. She aslo asked me of my view of having a relationship down here, and if it was most probable that it was with a local, somebody from my course, or another foreigner (from another country). And what would be the main differences between dating a guy from Nicaragua and Norway ect. It was interesting to reflect around her questions. And also the fact that many boys around here are "waiting" for us. They know that a big group of Norwegians are coming twice a year, and maybe look at us as a "easy target". Some guys here even speak some Norwegian, and in my opinion that is a turn off. It means that he has been with one, or many Norwegian girls. So girls, watch out!
Anyway, have to go to bed. Hasta pronto!!!
Thanks for all the b-day wishes from around the world. I had a wonderful day and even better night that I'll never forget. My family wake me up (at 7!), with cake and birthday song in Spanish from a CD-player. Very cute!
A special thanks to my friends here that made my day so special, with roses and b-day drinks all night. Also greatings to family and friends in Norway, it's strange not to celebrate with you guys, but I want you to know that I had a great night with restaurant, "bar to bar round", concert AND disco :) Can it get any better?
The only negative thing now is that I got a stomach ache.. Almost everybody has been sick the past weeks, but I guess it was my turn now :/ Could be the food, or the water... So today I will do next to nothing, and hopefully I'll get better.
Henriette left this morning after a great week together. We went out to the salsa night on "La olla quemada" yesterday and danced all night. I took her to my salsa class on Monday and Wednesday and she really loved it as well. Well, now it's only me again in the room, and it's very quiet. Now she is going to Costa Rica for a week, and afterwards to Venezuela. She is a tough girl traveling alone like that. Miss her already.
Now I am just home after a lovely trip to León viejo (old León), followed by swimming in a beautiful lagoon (Laguna del Tigre). It was really an amazing trip. Rigo did a great job with the info about the old city and the history. In addition, all the teachers and students are so laid back and nice that the trip was just perfect!
Here are some pictures, I think they speak for themselves :-)
Weekend in Leon
Short summary of the weekend. Friday Henreitte came to visit me. (She is a Norwegian friend that I met thorugh Valencia.. She studied in Valencia the year before me, but we met in Oslo:) She is backpacking, and came to visit me in Leon for the week. It's really nice having Henriette here, and her Spanish is perfect.
Saturday we went to the beach. I tried to surf for the first time, with my new friend Antonio. He is one of the life guards at the beach, and also a surf teacher. I'm not very good, but not so bad either...:P Not a natural for sure, but I will definitely keep on trying.
Later that night we went to a beach party in "casa de los mangos" ( where my ex-roomies from Buenos Aires live). Crazy night with the best food ever ( Johanna, I love your cooking skills), and dancing in the kitchen + some guitar jamming during the late night. We took a taxi home that night, and checked out the night life in Leon.. Saturday everything closes around 2-3, so it was very quiet. We met some guys outside "Cameleon" and talked some Spanish, and went home.
Buenas!!!
Sunday we went on a trip to "cerro negro", one of many volcanoes situated in León. We were a big group of 40 students. The view on the way up was picturesque, really amazing. It was not so hot either, because it was so windy. We used about 45 minutes up, and then we ran down on 5 minutes :-)
50 years anniversary
Yes, you heard right… 50 year’s anniversary for the “Cortez brothers”. I went there with my “host mother” Carolina and her friends (Carolina in the middle wearing purple). It was a big happening, and everybody was very excited. I was the only foreign person, and for sure the only one who had never heard about the famous “Cortez brothers”. I'm grateful for having had this opportunity of experiencing such a authentic cultural and traditional event.
The music was fantastic and it was easy to like. The front singers were four hot guys that also danced quite sexy, that we all went crazy from the first song. It was not like in Norway that you normally drink before you dance, but straight to the point! Out on the dancefloor. The music was a mix of salsa and combia. Great success! :)
I was a bit tired after the welcome party, but I awoke after dancing for some hours. They asked me where I learnt to dance like that. They had heard that people from Scandinavia normally doesn’t know how to dance. So I take that as a compliment.
The night had a surprising turn when we were middle in the concert more or less. Suddenly one of the singers said: AND NOW, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The original” Cortéz-brothers”. I thought they were already playing, but they were only family of the Cortéz brothers. In came some really old (viejitos) guys and everybody went all emotional. They were so old that they needed help to walk in. For me as a foreigner an interesting experience.
:)
We walked home together, and Carolina and her friends are so nice to me. I feel very welcome here, and they include me even though I don't always understand what they are saying.
I will blog in English from now on...
Many friends have asked me on facebook if I can blog on English so everybody can understand. Well, I can try to do a bit both Norwegian and English. Some of the "hottest" news will at least be in English from now on..( if I'm too tired :P)
Here is a picture of my two brothers, Fransisco (15) and Mitchell (8). I often help Fransico with his English homework. It's pretty challenging explaining English grammar on Spanish, but I feel happy that I can help with something. As well it's good for my Spanish pratice, because I really need to think about the differences ect.
Mitchell reminds me a lot of William, my nephew. He has a lot of energy, so he is out playing with friends all day, or inside with his playstation. Picture of Carolina (my host "mum", but more like a sister), will come tomorrow. I am going out with her (and friends of her) tomorrow to dance some Salsa :-)
Tonight we have a welcome party at the Monkey Republic. I'm sure it will be great fun! I know a local band will play, and later on it will be DJ the rest of the night.
Besos desde Leon,
Ane xxx
Easter in Nicaragua
Stig and Anders wanted to go up in the mountains, and Tina, Olle and I wanted to go to the Caribbean side of Nicaragua. And so we split the last weekend from Thursday to Sunday. So "party-sueco" aka Olle, Tina and I took a boat over to Bluefields, and from there over to "Laguna de perla" (Pearl Lagoon) and Key perla (Key pearl). It's the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. 
The ocean was so clear and green/blue, and the sand was the whitest ever. I really recommend the Caribbean side of Nicaragua. If I ever get married, it will probably be on the beach in Key pearl. It was so nice having Tina here visiting, and it was really a perfect road trip.
