The Weekly Photo Challenge is Street Life. Ometepe Island, Nicaragua is a rural, agricultural area with colorful street (or volcanic path) life. Join me on a trip into Moyogalpa with our favorite moto taxi driver.
“People who lack the clarity, courage, or determination to follow their own dreams will often find ways to discourage yours. Live your truth and don’t EVER stop!”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
This is a great opportunity for the right people. If you are searching for a new lifestyle, this may be for you. Eleven years ago, my husband and I followed our dreams by answering an ad for a manager of a hospedaje on Ometepe Island. Although, managing a youth hostel was not our thing, it led us to revamp and rewire our lifestyles and we’ve never looked back.
The Corner House on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
“Peace begins with a smile..”
― Mother Teresa
Nicaragua makes some strange lists, but here is a happy list. According to Instagram, Nicaragua is ranked #2 for their overall smiles making it one of the happiest countries in the world. Happiest Countries in the World.
Wouldn’t you agree?
But, wait. You must see the smiles.
“Life is a perspective and for me, if a human being has access to school, clean water, food, proper health care, that is the basis of human rights.” — Gelila Bekele
Every human being has a right to clean water. Today, as we celebrate World Water Day, watch this video to see how Nicaragua is addressing the needs for clean water.
Other Resources:
During that summer–
Which may never have been at all;
But which has become more real
Than the one that was–
Watermelons ruled.
~ Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle,
John Tobias
The Weekly Photo Challenge is Reflections.
The season of watermelons is upon us in Nicaragua. My neighbor gifts us with a watermelon daily.
Read on. More reflections.
Saturday, March 22 is World Water Day. I am reblogging this post about the gift of water in our lovely community in Los Ramos.
The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.
~Saint Teresa of Avila
The first time we visited the tiny community of Los Ramos, at the base of Vulcan Concepcion, Francisco’s mother gave us a bottle of Coca Cola and a watermelon. She knew that walking a half mile down the steep and rocky path to their village parched us. Sipping on the warm Coca Cola, we watched Francisco’s grandfather unloaded two large, worn plastic water containers from the back of his horse.
“We don’t think your bodies are accustomed to our well water, so we bought you Coca Cola and a watermelon,” Francisco’s mother replied. We graciously accepted her gifts, hoping that we could eat the large watermelon at her house, because it was a long, steep uphill walk back to the main road to catch the bus.
Francisco’s mother explained to us that…
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“You can only chase a butterfly for so long.”
― Jane Yolen, Prince Across the Water
From a very early age, butterflies and moths have been my totems. I have always been enchanted by their graceful movements and their vibrant colors. Although they symbolize different things to different cultures, universally, they represent change and transformation.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
C. S. Lewis said, “We read to know that we are not alone.” Red Oak Elementary School students in Shakopee, Minnesota understand this need, and are graciously sharing their lives and their joy of reading with my tiny La Paloma Elementary School on Ometepe Island.
The Weekly Photo Challenge is Inside. Our trip to the Corn Islands in Nicaragua provided me with many opportunities to get the inside scoop on Corn Island.
From inside one island, to another. Looking out the ferry window. Adios Ometepe.
Keep reading. There’s more scoop.
“If God had wanted us to be concerned for the plight of the toads, he would have made them cute and furry. ” ― Dave Barry
As of today, call me the Cane Toad Buster. I walked into my casita to clean it for guests and instead witnessed a scene right out of Hitchcock’s The Birds, except with Cane Toads. Piles of warty, tough-skinned, bug-eyed, poison dripping, big lipped, ugly monsters stared at me from every corner of the room daring me…taunting me…teasing me to bring it on!
Keep hopping to the next page. More Cane Toad facts.
Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua 