Increase Your Creativity: Live Abroad: Scientific American Podcast.
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Monthly Archives: August 2011
Protecting your Electronics in the Tropics
Living in the tropics has many advantages; for one, I’ll never have to shovel snow again. However, living on a tropical island poses many problems for electronic equipment. There is high humidity, dust, sand, and a variety of heat-seeking bugs that would love to invade our TV, computers, and surge protectors, and make a new home for their eggs.
I’ve removed thousands of ant eggs from my surge protector, my neighbor discovered a family of lizards nesting near his sound component in his TV, and once, a rat peed on my keyboard frying my motherboard. It’s a never-ending battle, one that requires vigilance and constant cleaning. Oh, one more thing to bring to the tropics, ant traps that you can buy in Lowes. They are really helpful. The ants go into the little boxes, and take the liquid back to their nests. It has reduced the ant problem significantly in my house.
My biggest problem is guarding my electronic equipment from electrical surges, spikes, and brownouts. If our neighbors are welding, our electricity is low. If it rains, we can usually expect a blackout until the storm passes. Brownouts cause a quick death for electronics, so I had to research the best protection.
Cyber Power..note voltage is 109v, neighbor is welding.
Meet Cyber Power CP1500AVRLCD, my constant companion in the electronics world. It is a Universal Supply System that displays real-time system vitals, protects against brownouts, and offers battery backup in the event of brownouts or total power loss. As soon as I turn it on, it displays the voltage, which is hardly ever 120v. in the campo. Today, our neighbor is welding *sigh* so our voltage fluctuates between 105v and 110v. But, I have no fear, because Cyber Power regulates the voltage with its built-in battery and keeps the voltage at a constant 120v. The Cyber Power System is the king of the campo.
Inexpensive cool tray that my laptop sits on.
Another helpful gadget for the laptop is an inexpensive cooling tray. When my laptop is on, the cooling fans are always running. My laptop tends to run hot anyway, so it helps to keep it cooler. In addition, I clean the fan filters of the laptop regularly. They get clogged with dust, dirt, and stray ants.
Next post, I’ll discuss other handy household items to bring that are unavailable in Nicaragua or poorly made.
Monkey Business
Is this La Mona? Her baby is above her while she is peeing.
Seven years ago, I asked ten-year old Luvis, “Have you always lived in La Paloma?” Her answer included wild gyrations, chopping motions with a mimed machete, and deafening monkey howls. Then, she told me this tale about the monkey lady.
“When I was a baby we lived on the other side of the island, but we had to move far, far away because a monkey lady attacked my Papa while he was sleeping,” she recounted. To my surprise and utter astonishment, La Mona (the monkey lady) is alive and thriving on La Isla de Ometepe.
According to the accounts of many local islanders, La Mona is a woman by day, and a revengeful Howler monkey at night. She can change into a monkey at night so that she can torment her unfaithful husband. If a woman does not have the power or the correct spell to transform, then she calls on the local Bruja (witch), who will gladly attack her friend’s machismo husband. A sharp machete is her weapon of choice and many a man has been known to change his wicked, unfaithful ways after a night visit from La Mona.
Without a doubt, the monkey in the middle is definitely not La Mona!
One day when I was walking with Francisco to get water, he stopped suddenly and whispered, “See that woman over there? She is La Mona.” “Francisco,” I asked,” is there only one La Mona or are there many?” “There are many Las Monas on the island. Every village has at least one woman who can change into a monkey at night.” he responded. “All people know the Las Monas on the island. They are very popular.”
I’ll bet they are popular, I thought to myself. I don’t know one faithful husband on the island. Every man I know has a dozen kids with different women. This accounts for the successful monkey business. All the women on the island are desperately seeking the services of La Mona at one time or another.
Desperately seeking La Mona. Could this be La Mona?
A local Bruja attacked Luvis’ Papa. She was doing her mama a favor. Luvis said in a serious, hushed tone, ” My Papa moved us to La Paloma after the attack of La Mona. He was very frightened.” That’s one for La Mona. You go girl….or monkey…or whatever! Machismo is really going out of fashion and the men need to take responsibility for their unfaithful ways! The women take their monkey business seriously on Ometepe Island.
Sweet Potato Pie..It’s a Southern Thang
Sweet Potato Pie!
I’ve been in the wine and baking mode recently. In January, one of my friends smuggled a sweet potato into Nicaragua in her luggage. We cut the sweet potato into several pieces and laid them in a shallow pan of water. In a few weeks, we had sweet potato slips, ready for planting.
Ron planted the slips in April, at the end of the dry season. When we returned to Ometepe in August, Ron harvested the sweet potatoes. After Ron dug them up, he had a 5 gallon bucket full of delicious sweet potatoes. We heard that the best time to plant is at the end of the rainy season because the sweet potatoes will rot in the ground during the heavy rains.
Sweet potatoes are not native to Nicaragua. Not one of our neighbors had ever seen sweet potatoes before. We shared baked sweet potatoes, sweet potato chips, and now sweet potato pie with most of the neighborhood. My neighbors are thrilled with our new garden addition. In exchange, they share their wine recipes with me. Next, we need to help them start a garden with sweet potatoes. They are easy to grow and need very little care. I just hope I have another batch of sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving.
Nancite Wine
Our three Nancite trees. Notice the ground is covered with Nancites.
There is never a time when our ground is fruit free. Our trees are always bearing fruit; then, the fruit plummets to the ground like cannon balls, marbles, pea-sized hail, or hand grenades. The seasons come and go; when it rains, it pours fruit…literally. Depending on the month, the odors of rotting fruit range from sickening sweet, to musty and moldy.
Nancites
It is the season for Nancites. They remind me of crab apples. The marble sized yellow fruits ping to the ground, then are quickly gathered by the neighborhood kids, vendors, and mothers. The kids eat them like candy, the vendors bag them and sell them at the markets, and mothers make Nancite wine. So, I thought I’d try making Nancite wine. It’s supposed to be ‘Rico’.
Recipe for Nacite Wine
First, gather the Nacites.
1. August and September, the Nacites ripen. Gather a bag of Nacites.
2. Wash them well and let them dry
thoroughly.
Wash them well.
3. After they are dry, put them in a plastic bottle and add lots of sugar.
Put them in a plastic bottle.
4. Cap the bottle and set the bottle in the sun for 3-6 months. When the Nacites start to ferment, add more Nacites and more sugar.
Easy, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to experimenting with the wine in
a few months.
Set bottle in sun.
My Woktenna
My computer desk
I confess that I am an internet junkie. I can’t imagine life before the internet. With reliable access to the internet, I can teach online classes, find online games and activities for ESL, contact my friends and family through Skype, update my blog, check daily news, and post on Facebook.
Seven years ago, we had to walk into town to the internet café because there was no access to the internet in La Paloma. When a rat peed on my laptop and fried my motherboard, it was time for me to return to the states. Even without internet access, I was constantly on my laptop, writing my Nica News, playing Spider Solitaire, and writing a book about our lives on Ometepe Island. Ron commented, “Sometimes, I feel like a computer widower.”
When we returned to live on Ometepe Island in 2010, I was thrilled to discover that Claro sold a dongle that I could attach to my laptop for instant internet access. I purchased an 18 month contract and Guillermo built me a special computer desk. The only problem was that the darn volcano in my backyard blocked the Claro tower, thus I received a weak signal. In order for me to get a stronger signal, I had to take my laptop into the garden and face the dongle toward the Claro tower. Well, that was going to be a big problem during the rainy season, so I had to come up with a creative solution for a stronger signal.
“Hmmm, I need to make a trap or a funnel for the signal,” I thought. One day, I was in my favorite secondhand store in Rivas. I spotted a wok lid under a pile of used sheets and pillowcases. My creative juices started flowing. A wok lid is aluminum, lightweight, and could work as a little satellite dish. I bought the wok lid for 10 cordobas and hurried home to experiment.
My woktenna
I removed the knob of the wok lid and poked the dongle through the hole. Then, using a 12 foot USB cable that Cory brought from the states, I attached one end of the cable to the dongle, and the other end to the USB port in my laptop. I attached a long pole to the woktenna dish with duct tape (Did I tell you how much I love duct tape?). Then, I wired the pole to the bookcase above my laptop.
It was a miracle! I had a strong signal. I can get access to the internet easily and quickly. It is unbelievably reliable. And all for 10 cordobas! Cory paid for the USB cable, which was about $30. I am in internet heaven again, while poor Ron, the internet widower, waits patiently for me to finish my blog posts.
Next post, I will tell you the essentials that you need to bring to a tropical climate for your electronic equipment. A tropical climate and constant brownouts wreak havoc on electronic equipment.
Where There Are Volcanoes…I Take Photos.
Vulcan Concepcion behind Punta Jesus Maria
Cory is able to climb rocks and volcanoes, but I prefer to take pictures instead. Sometimes, I go days without seeing the active volcano Concepcion, which is hiding behind some large trees in our backyard. But, when I do see her magmatic peak, I am in awe of her beauty, power, and alluring presence.
Concepcion in all her glory
Ometepe’s enormous volcano breasts jut from her water-bed exposing her magnificent build. But, in her unassuming way, her peaks are modestly blanketed with puffy clouds of white. Occasionally, when she is in an amorous mood, the wind entices her into a strip tease. If lucky tourists catch sight of this fleeting show, they are drawn to stay longer in anticipation of an encore performance.
Vulcan Concepcion has a thousand faces. One might say that she’s schizophrenic. I have a thousand photos of her constantly changing faces, but here are a few of my favorites.
Vulcan Concepcion
Where There are No Rocks…We Climb Volcanoes
Our son, Cory, is an experienced rock climber. He works in Yosemite National Park as an interpretive naturalist. So, when he says that climbing Vulcan Concepcion is not for the inexperienced, the timid, or those who are not in shape….BELIEVE HIM. In his words, “From my experience, that volcano is not to be taken lightly. It is dangerous.”
On Sunday, a young twenty year old British hiker fell to his death. We are aware of two other deaths on Vulcan Concepcion, and two deaths on Vulcan Maderas. Seven years ago, when we managed the Hospedaje Central on Ometepe Island, a young Salvadorian hiker lost his life on Vulcan Concepcion. He had attempted to climb the volcano in the rainy season without a guide and was ill prepared for the dangerous trek. Those foolish enough to scale the 1610 meter slippery slopes without assistance are usually seriously wounded or lost in the clouds.
Even with a guide, as in the case of Sunday’s death, it is still dangerous. The guides are not certified and generally have no first aid training. Although the guides are all young, strong, and knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, it is still Nicaragua, where the hikers climb the volcanoes at their own risk.
When we managed the Hospedaje Central, I wondered how many times the guides had to rescue thoughtless kids from the volcano and if anyone had died. Berman, the lead guide who also spoke some English told us, “Once a man died with a brain bubble, and we had to carry his body from the peak.” “Oh,” I replied, “You mean a brain aneurism.” “Of course,” he responded.
“Berman, do the hikers have to sign a waiver of release in case of an accident?” He had never heard of such a thing. “Are you held liable for any accidents?” “No, of course not.” he told me. “It is they who choose to climb the volcano.” He couldn’t fathom the possibility of being held responsible for the carelessness of his trekkers. Words such as lawsuit, waiver, and liability were beyond his comprehension. I was afraid to ask, but I knew the answer before he spoke, “Do many people get hurt climbing the volcano?” “Of course,” he said matter-of-factually.
In order to avoid another tragic accident, please take heed when climbing our volcanoes. Always take a guide, be prepared with sturdy hiking shoes, water,food,a light jacket, and a first aid kit. The rainy season is not the ideal time to climb the volcanoes. The trails are wet, slippery, and obscured with overgrown vegetation and a web of roots. If you do make it to the top, chances are you will be shrouded in clouds.
When Cory and his friends hiked Concepcion, it was in the dry season. Even then, when they reached the peak, they were blanketed by clouds. When a light breeze parted the clouds, they were astounded, yet horrified.The view was spectacular; however, they were standing on a narrow ledge of loose rock, with steep ravines on either side of them. One misstep and they would have been a goner!
Yep, Nicaragua is full of surprises. Some spectacular, some tragic. Cory’s expression after the grueling eight hour climb, says it all. I knew I raised a risk-taker, but I’m so grateful he’s cautious, careful, and experienced.
El Gamalote…The Floating Island
Very little surprises us anymore. We’ve gotten used to the weird and bizarre sights in the “land of the not quite right.” However, yesterday morning there was a view so unique that a crowd of local people followed it from Moyogalpa to our beach in La Paloma. They camped out on our beach for the day with picnic baskets full of food, a gigantic camcorder from the 1990′s, and a dozen broken plastic chairs holding sleeping babies.
We woke up to El Gamalote, a floating island, slowly bobbing south from Moyogalpa on top of the gentle waves of Lake Cocibolca. According to the locals, occasionally during the rainy season, a small island of debris breaks away from the river banks that feed Lake Cocibolca. These floating islands are usually smaller than a basketball court. This morning’s Gamalote appeared, to me, about the size of Rhode Island…Ron says, ” Don’t exaggerate Debbie, it is about the size of two football fields.” Still, it is mighty big. Big enough to draw a crowd of onlookers.
I wondered from where this floating island originated. Jose, my friendly gardener, told me that grasses and rushes grow along the edges of the rivers. These rushes and grasses gradually push their way out into deeper waters, leaving a shelf and a mass of decaying vegetable matter on which other mosses and plants gain a foothold. When well established, other water-loving plants, such as water lilies and shrubs grow along with the moss and grasses. Still attached to the banks of the river, a layer of peat forms a foundation, usually less than three feet thick. The mat becomes firm and eventually small trees will grow on the Gamalote, weaving their roots into the peat and strengthening the foundation.
Then, when the rains come, the water level rises, and the mini-ecosystem breaks off forming a floating island. The local islanders are afraid of these floating islands because the mini-ecosystem lodges itself on Ometepe Island, like a shipwreck. New animals and serpents exit the floating island like stranded survivors seeking refuge on dry land. I often wondered how plants and animals are introduced to an island. Now, one of the mysteries is solved.
They warned Ron not to paddle out to the floating island because it contained many snakes. But, not heeding their advice, he paddled out anyway. He didn’t see any snakes, but he reported a variety of sea birds, turtles, water lilies, and shrubs. I think that secretly he was wishing it would stay afloat in front of our beach because it could be a great new fishing spot.
By evening, the floating island was within 20 feet of our beach. Like at a horse race, the crowd cheered when the Gamalote floated further out in the lake, and booed when it floated closer to the shore. All I could imagine was that by morning, we would have a nest of snakes slithering around our house. I shivered with dread!
This morning, the first thing we did was to run down to the beach to see where the Gamalote landed. It is slowly headed farther south toward Punta Jesus Maria. Sighing in relief, I hope it journeys around Ometepe Island to the Rio San Juan. Maybe they like nests of snakes more than I do….at least I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
I’m not Poor…I Have a Washing Machine
My new lavadora
The other night, Jon Stewart did a segment on the conservatives’ contradictory views about the rich and poor when it comes to deciding how to lower the deficit. Fox News reported their break down of what constitutes “Poor.” According to their break down, “If you have a refrigerator, you probably don’t need any financial assistance.” The Poor’s Free Ride is Over.
I wouldn’t have found that statement so absurd if they were discussing Nicaragua because it’s true…only the rich have refrigerators. Living in La Paloma, surrounded by poverty, I constantly think about what constitutes “Poor.” Ron and I are by no means rich, yet, to our neighbors who live in a little one room shack with a dirt floor, we are wealthy beyond their wildest imagination.
It’s all relative, but try to explain that to our neighbors when we came home three days ago with a new motorcycle and a washing machine. I tried to explain to Marina that Ron sold his Harley Davidson in the states and that’s how we could afford to buy a new motorcycle and a washing machine. Of course, the first question all Nicaraguan’s ask is, “How much did you pay for that?” Our automatic response is always, “It was on sale, so we got a good deal.”
Marina’s family has joined the ranks of the rich, now. We did get a good deal because not only did we buy a washing machine and a motorcycle, we bought a small refrigerator for Marina’s family at the same store. We are learning the art of bargaining! They practically threw it in for free when they saw us with cash-on-hand for the total purchase. Credit and small monthly payments are king in Nicaragua. Credit cards are an unheard of luxury! La Curaçao clerks said we are their best customers. It’s no wonder because it is practically the only place on the island where we can use our credit card.
Marina loves to cook and we thought that if she had a way to refrigerate food, she could cater to the workers building the new airport down our road. Now that I have a washing machine, Marina needs a new job. The refrigerator is a small one, so it won’t use much electricity.That is when we have electricity! Lately, Disnorte-Dissur, the distributors of our electricity have been in a rationing mode. Like clock-work, we lose power from 6 pm to 8 pm every night.
Our refrigerator is full of food that Marina brings over to our house almost hourly! She trimmed Ron’s mustache and cut his nose hairs yesterday. I am grateful for my new washing machine, and Marina is grateful for her new refrigerator. Things are looking up in our little community of La Paloma.
Ahh...the first load of clothes from our new washing machine.
Hanging my first load of freshly washed clothes on our clothesline, it dawned on me how to fix the debt crisis dilemma. What if all the rich people would buy the poor people new refrigerators? It may be a simple solution to improving the lives of the desperately poor. After all, according to Fox News, “If you have a refrigerator, you probably don’t need financial assistance.”
Princessa and the Twins
Rudy's twins
The Spanish brought the first cattle to Nicaragua in the 16th century. Since then, Nicaragua has successfully been raising beef for export and local consumption. Although the country is suitable for raising cattle with its rolling hills covered with grass, very little attention is given to improving the breed.
Few farmers make hay when the sun shines. During the dry season from January through April, the cattle are left to fend for themselves. In an exceptionally dry season, the Pará and Guinea grasses wither and die, and the cattle starve. Their bones are found scattered throughout the fields and along the dusty roads.
I know I’m a suburban kinda gal, but I can’t stand to see any animal suffer. I never saw a skinny pig before we moved to Nicaragua. It breaks my heart to see some of the pitiful creatures walking the roads. Sometimes I just want to open our fence gate and let them all in to graze on our gringo grass. Instead, I take grass cuttings and dump them over our fence posts. There are usually two or three regular horses and cows that know where to wait for me. Que lastima!
Fences in Nicaragua are made to keep livestock out. When we had to repair our fences after an unusually wet season last year, we wondered why we needed to pay for the fence posts because we did not have any livestock. Cattle surround us on all sides of our property. Apparently, it is common knowledge that property owners build fences to keep the livestock out of their property.
I used to be afraid of large, muscular creatures, but after my love affair with Bullwinkle and almost killing him with my wheelbarrow full of mangoes, I have developed a soft spot for big, fat cows and bulls. Now, I’m like a mother hen protecting them and tethering them to our trees during the dry season so they will have some tasty gringo grass to eat.
Princessa
Julio has a new cow. I was going to name her Natasha, but Julio calls her Princessa. She is Bullwinkle’s sister, so I know that she has the same, sweet disposition as Bullwinkle. Today, I called her to the fence, “Venga Princessa, venga.” She waddled over to me and nuzzled my camera. She likes to be scratched behind her ears, just like her brother. Her smooth, chocolaty brown fur glistened in the sun. She certainly is a beauty.
I’m going to be extra protective of Princessa. Julio is breeding her and they hope to get milk to make cheese. I’ve never milked a cow in my life, or made cheese. Julio promised to let me milk her, and I promised not to feed Princessa any mangoes. I kind of feel like I’ve been thrown into Green Acres, the Latino version. This suburban gal has a lot to learn about country living.
It’s a Young, Young, World Here!
Babies, babies everywhere.
As of July 2011, Nicaragua’s population is estimated at 5,666,301 people. The median age is 22.9 years. Nicaragua ranks 93 out of 221 countries in birth rate. It is a young, young world here! And all of those babies are beautiful!
We returned to three new babies in our community. It reminds me of the Baby Tree lullaby from Jefferson Starship that I used to sing to Cory.
Jefferson Starship The Baby Tree Lyrics:
There’s an island way out in the sea
where the babies they all grow on trees
and it’s jolly good fun to swing in the sun
but ya gotta watch out if you sneeze sneeze
ya gotta watch out if you sneeze
yeah you gotta watch out if you sneeze
for swinging up there in the breeze
you’re liable to cough
you might very well fall off
and tumble down flop on your knees knees
tumble down flop on your knees
and when the stormy winds wail
and the breezes blow high in a gale
there’s a curious dropping and flopping and plopping
and fat little babies just hail hail
fat little babies just hail
and the babies lie there in a pile
and the grownups they come after while
and they always pass by all the babies that cry
and take on the babies that smile smile
take on the babies that smile
even triplets and twins if they’ll smile…..
What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been!
Home, Sweet, Home
Leaving Ometepe Island is never easy, yet after countless trips to and from the states and across Lake Cocibolca, we assumed our return would be routine. If there is one thing we should never do, it is assume that anything is routine and normal, especially when traveling back to Nicaragua.
Our mended arm rest
Everything was going smoothly until I tried to hoist my 40 pound travel vest (stuffed with children’s books in Spanish) above my head into the overhead compartment on the airplane. My travel vest crashed onto the arm rest and snapped it in half! Ron sheepishly waved the broken arm rest in the air. The flight attendant scolded us, even though we pulled out a roll of duct tape (we always have a roll of duct tape handy) and offered to mend the broken arm rest. ” Now we have to call the maintenance man,” the flight attendant sighed. The pilot announced, “Folks, we have about a ten minute delay before takeoff. Someone broke the arm rest and there is a maintenance man on his way.” The flight attendant posed an evil eye in our direction as we slouched down in our seats. Five minutes later, the maintenance man arrived with a roll of duct tape with the US Airway logo on it, and we were happily nestled in our seats for takeoff.
We arrived in Fort Lauderdale minus one duffel bag. It wouldn’t have been so bad other than the fact that all of our clothes were in the duffel bag. After filing a claim and the promise that our bag would be on our flight to Managua, we optimistically boarded Spirit Airlines for our midnight arrival in Managua. Optimistically, we waited for our duffel bag as the luggage circled the carousel. Pessimistically, we left minus one lost duffel bag.
Once in Granada, we delivered goodies to our friends, and played telephone tag with US Airways and Spirit Airlines. It was a good thing that our bag was on the next day’s flight because we were feeling pretty grungy in our sweat drenched clothes. Plus, I found out that my friend on the island had been robbed of her computer and her camera. Always lock your doors!! She forgot! Our duffel bag contained all of our clothes, as well as all of my friend’s goodies from the states. I would have felt horrible confessing that her Maybelline lipstick, sports bras, solar lights, and other items were now on sale at the lost luggage store in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our driver had a BIG night planned
Two days later, with four check-in bags, two carry ons, two backpacks, my travel vest loaded with children’s books, and one of Ron’s former college swimmers, we were headed to Ometepe Island…our home. Paxeo’s shuttle picked us up in Granada. After the driver stopped to fill up the tank and purchased two condoms?? and a romantic pirated music CD, we were finally on our way home!
Sam preparing for a rough ride
At the dock in San Jorge, Samantha downed her Dramamine in preparation for a rolling ferry ride. Ron protected our luggage and we patiently waited for El Ferry to tenderly carry us home.
Ron is protecting our luggage
We arrived at our little casa on the beach minus electricity and water. Apparently they were working on a transformer that blew out, and there would be no electricity or water all day. Insignificant! No problem for us! We were HOME! Guillermo and his wife brought us Tilapia for lunch. Sam casually mentioned that she was rushed to the hospital in Havana, Cuba because she ate Tilapia and got food poisoning. Then, she passed out on the couch in a drugged state of leftover Dramamine.
Ron ate a huge portion of Tilapia and I nibbled on mine because I have always had a fear of getting a fish bone stuck in my throat. Sam was too drugged to eat. Two hours later, after Guillermo and his wife left, Ron became violently sick! OMG! He had food poisoning from the Tilapia. He was projectile vomiting in an old paint can, while sitting on the toilet…well, you know…no need for me to go into a lot of detail here.
It gets dark regularly at 6 pm every day of the year. All batteries in our rechargeable flashlights were dead. I needed to get some coconut water into Ron quickly because he was dehydrated and starting to cramp. Someone stole our machete and the toilet was filling up rapidly! I needed water to flush the toilet, a machete, and someone to climb the coconut tree for me. Julio to the rescue!
While Ron was puking his guts out, Julio got two coconuts and I borrowed his machete to get the sweet miracle water for Ron’s dilemma! In the moonlight, I was able to walk carefully to the lake to get a bucket of water to flush the toilet. With machete in hand…I had become the man of the house…protecting my clan…tending to the sick and needy. When I spotted a black coral snake hiding in the drain hole on the porch, in an adrenalin induced rush I swung the machete down hard! Tiwanda! I missed, but it felt so damn good!
The next morning, the coconut water had cured Ron’s food poisoning. Samantha had recovered from her Dramamine leftovers.We had water and electricity again. I sure hope that our Paxeo driver had a better night than we did, because I woke up itching like crazy with hives or a rash all over my body. Welcome home! Life in Nicaragua is always an adventure! You never know what you’re going to get!
Window to an Old World
Hola Granada, mi amor!
Hello old friend, my love. It is wonderful to see you again. I missed your chiming church bells bidding me goodnight and good morning. I missed your intoxicating smells, luring me to the market. I am renewed with the sight of lush green tropical plants and flowers, the chirping of the parrots, and the dinging of the ice cream cart near my bedroom window in Granada, Nicaragua.
We are almost home. Tomorrow we will take the ferry to Ometepe Island and you shall see another window to an old world. It’s wonderful to be back!
My Travel Vest
I have always been a rebel. When I see a wrong that needs to be righted, I go for it. My homemade travel vest was born out of necessity from the airlines’ new luggage restrictions. Plus, it helps because I am cheap and creative.
Once, on a trip to Brazil, I was squeezed between two obese men who both needed seat belt extenders. For nine hours, I sat as stiff as a green plantain barely able to move. Arriving in São Paulo, I noticed my ankles puffed to the size of small watermelons. I could have died! Thrombosis is not something one takes lightly.
Year after year, I watched the bags get smaller as the passengers got bigger. This gave me a great idea. The airlines don’t charge for a passenger’s body weight and coats are free. What if I designed a travel vest that could carry 50 pounds of stuff? What if I layered my body with my clothes? I may need a seat belt extender, too, but for the time being, all body weight is free.
My travel vest before sewing.
When visiting my mother in the states this summer, I found a Liz Claiborne raincoat for $3 at the local Goodwill store. For $10, I purchased sturdy backpack material for the pockets, velcro, and snaps. I borrowed my mother’s sewing machine, and a week later, my travel vest was born.
Next, I had to see if my travel vest passed inspection. I booked a flight from my mother’s house to our house in the states. I layered my body with two dresses, two pairs of pants, two skirts, and four blouses. My travel vest contained my Kindles, a laptop, iPod, all electronic accessories, books, a 5 pound bag of dried cranberries, 5 baby blankets ( for friends in Nicaragua), 2 cameras, a plastic bag of toiletries, a 3 pound bag of chocolate covered blueberries, 2 bags of jelly beans, 3 baby rattles, and assorted plastic bags of tiny things.When I stepped on the bathroom scale I was 40 pounds heavier.
I waddled to the metal detector, heaved my travel vest into the bin on the conveyor belt, and breezed through without one comment! How disappointing! The only people who commented on my size were two passengers behind me waiting to board the plane. I overheard them snickering and whispering words like: inventive, cool, and how much does that thing weigh?
Loaded and ready to go!
On Monday, we return to our home in Nicaragua. Have I mentioned that I am a slightly deranged hoarder? Accompanying us are 4 check-in bags, 2 carry-ons, 2 backpacks, and my travel vest. This time, my travel vest is loaded with children’s books in Spanish. You see, I am starting a lending library on the island for the kids. Books are heavy and I received lots of donations. I figure that if anyone questions my travel vest this time, I can just start wailing, “But, sir these are books for kids who have nothing to read. It’s a humanitarian effort. Think about the kids!”
Wish me luck! I’ll see you in a few days when we return to our little house on Ometepe Island, in the middle of an enormous lake, in the middle of Nicaragua, in the middle of Central America.
