Random thoughts and observations

*Seatbelts are optional and often not available.
*$5 is not enough to bribe a police officer, but $5 and a piece of chicken is. (or so we are told)
*added in August 20th*Doug found out first hand phone a friend who speaks Spanish and $10 is enough to bribe a police officer when borrowing a friends motorcycle to run an errand yesterday.
*The bus may not be going to the stop you think, even if you asked and they said “Si”.
*licenses are optional if you stay off the main roads.
*Lemons in Nicaragua are green, what we would call limes in Canada. “Fernanda you were correct.”’
*We are pretty sure “to code” does not exist down here. When it comes to the electrical and plumbing we have seen.
*Cold showers are all we have had but usually the water is “tepid”.
*I have yet to have a “good” cup of coffee down here. The search continues.
*August 20th good coffee found !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Bring the big package of Imodium.
*Pizza and subway are the closest thing to North American food we have had down here.
*The girls never want to eat at Tip Top Chicken again. The McDonald’s of Nicaragua.
*Loose dogs are common but tend to be harmless.
*Loose chickens are also common.
*Muffin tops are alive and well. The tighter the pants the better.
*Bars and locks are common on windows and entrances. A necessity it would seem.
*You never know what might be in a backyard. Beautiful pizza place found beyond an unassuming gate. Pizza is really good down here but does not replace our desire for deep dish pizza from Chicago. (our stop on the way home)
*Nicaraguans take carpooling to a new level. Back of trucks loaded down, motorcycles carrying families of 4 and their groceries, bicycles with 3 people at times.
*Horses and carts do travel everywhere with the rest of traffic.
*A mototaxi can and will overtake a taxi cab.
*After sucking back major exhaust we are thankful for clean air emissions testing in Ontario.
*People are generally friendly and helpful.
*Our Spanish sucks.
*With uncertainty come many more questions from one’s offspring.
*Remember to bring your passports when checking into a hostel.
*People speak English at a hostel. We are the only family we have seen there.
*Hostels have cool names lazy bones, monkey hut, surfing turtle and many others.
*Frozen chocolate bananas are awesome.
*Gallo pinto can and will be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner some days.
*We are all tired of Gallo pinto.
*Nicknames include Gringos and Chele.
*Being the minority makes spotting each other easier in crowds.
*People like to touch my hair (Elizabeth), but I hate that.
*Malaria pills can turn into full out drama, and test a parent’s patience.
*People sell beverage pouches without the drinking straw, just bite off a corner.
*People use machates to cut grass, trees branches and whatever else needs hacking.
*At home we take for granted the ease of jumping into one of our 2 vehicles.
*Couches are rare and funky smelling when found.
*Plastic lawn chairs are the furniture of choice.
*Hammocks are awesome. The kids want to purchase one for home.
*When calling the taxi to go to Laguana Apoyo it is important he understands that you don't want to go out to eat poyo "chicken".  Miguel our taxi driver is awesome if we haven't mentioned this yet.