Traveling to Granada

Vida was just outside the double glass doors waiting for us, holding up a sign with our names. We said hello and it was a little awkward at first where we couldn´t decide if we were going to shake hands or hug...we settled on a hug :) I tried to speak some Spanish and introduced her to Brian and then she introduced us to her friend who spoke some English. He said he was glad to meet us and he was going to go get the car and meet us out front. Vida led us through the hectic crowd and we found ourselves on the sidewalk amidst tons of tourists and taxicabs with the taxi drivers preying on the foreigners -or gringos as we are fondly called in Central and South America. I was glad to have Vida be there to protect us from their coersion.

Vida is beautiful! Tall with strong features. Her skin was perfect and she was dressed fashionably in a blue tank top and black capris with strappy sandels and matching blue accessories. She had her braided hair pulled back in a high ponytail and was talking on her cell phone with a wire attached to the earpiece. She tried to explain something in Spanish to me and I thought I understood but all I got was that her car was at the mechanic and her friend was driving us to Granada. I conveniently didn´t catch the part about how he was going to be driving us to the bus station...

The weather report lied, it was what I would call mostly cloudy but still very hot and muggy. Her friend pulled up in a very nice beige car with tinted windows and leather seats. He helped us get our bags in the trunk and we climbed in- thankful to be escaping the airport chaos...

He was playing music that had a mix of Spanish and English lyrics. As we drove we learned that he was from the Dominican Republic and now works at the embassey in Nicaragua. He was wearing a clean, cotton work shirt and dress pants and told us he would take us the whole way to Granada but he had to go to a meeting. Vida told us that her twin sister lives in Granada.

We drove down the main road and hit some traffic...the streets were dotted with palm trees and a variety of businesses including a hardware store that must have been the equivalent of Home Depot stretching down both sides of the road (mom- you would have been in heaven)...when we approached a street light we saw guys with huge plastic bags filled with smaller plastic bags and asked what they were...agua fria apparently, reminded me of freeze pops...

He drove us to a bus depot where we parted ways. He helped us get our luggage out and Vida waited with us for the next bus to back into the stall...we climbed aboard and piled our bags on our laps. It was hot but once we started driving the wind cooled us off quickly. There was a little boy in front of us who insisted on putting his arms and head out of the bus window...he was really cute. The bus filled up quickly after making a few more stops and Vida moved into the aisle seat. A few people were standing...the ride to Granada took a little over one hour. Vida pointed out the volcano and the lake at one point...

The driver came around and asked for our fare and Vida insisted on paying for us...it was about 20 cordobas per person or approximately $1 USD. We got off the bus at almost the last spot...in the Parque Central of Granada. The buildings were beautiful, all brightly colored with stuccoed designs around the windows and doors...we found the hotel were we were staying which was just off the square and there we met with Vida´s sister and her 2 year old neice...

I am getting bit alive as I sit here on the computer at our hotel! Brian wants me to hurry because we have to have breakfast and then meet our taxi who is driving us the hour drive to San Jorge where we will catch the ferry to Isla de Ometepe. I have to run...more later :)