Nicaragua...here we come!

I have to thank my friend Hadas for planting the seed for this trip...after all, it was through helping her plan her own trip to Costa Rica last month that inspired it! A simple text to Brian was all it took: "can we please plan an awesome trip like this?" to which he responded: "You won't have to twist my arm very hard"...and I certainly didn't have to twist his arm at all! He jumped right in with the travel research and with a little help from Kayak Explorer (www.kayak.com/explore) found some great deals on flights...a few days later we stopped at the travel section of Borders (my favorite section) and camped out while this poor guy tried to re-file books back where they belonged (is that correct library lingo Lauren?). Anyway...maybe it was the weather, the volcanos, the surfing, the food, the people, the path less traveled?...but whatever it was, we kept coming back to Nicaragua. A few days later it was settled. We couldn't wait any longer: we parked out front of Starbucks and stole wi-fi to seal the deal with our international flights from Continental. And the trip countdown begun only one short month ago...

In case you didn't know, Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America...hosting most of the Central America Volcanic Arc, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_American_Volcanic_Arc

Our 8 day trip will be concentrated to the Pacific Lowlands of Nicaragua...Managua, Granada, Isla de Ometepe and San Juan del Sur. We're headed up to Newark airport (thanks Mom and Dad!) and on to Houston for an overnight layover...then on to Managua tomorrow morning. Vida (as in "life) will be personally picking us up at the airport! My friend and colleague, Dr. Hyatt, went out of her way to contact her distant cousins (whom she's never even met!) in Nicaragua. Vida kindly offered to pick us up and show us around. She's even bringing a friend who speaks English to help us communicate...Sounds like she has to hurry off to work but hopefully we'll get to spend the afternoon together...(Thanks so much Dr. Hyatt! We will definitely take lots of pictures!!)

Well, my bags are packed and the anticipation is rising :) I packed light. Truly. I have a small duffel bag filled with tank tops and capris (my favorite fashion choices), only ONE bathing suit (if can you believe it) and of course a variety of potions (have no fear TSA- they are all under 3 oz and in a one quart zipper bag). Can't forget about my new pair of coveted Havianna's and an old pair of running shoes...sunglasses, sunblock, sarong. Check, check, check.

85-91 degrees and Mostly Sunny. My kinda weather. Nicaragua...here we come!

Stay tuned :)