Nicaragua

 We had an amazing experience in Nicaragua a little while ago. Visited the little island of Ometepe, got to see two active volcanoes, swim in natural spring pools, rent vespas and zoomed around the island, met an amazing very poor local family who really touched us and made us all realize what it means to have a real home, with windows and doors and beds and water and hydro.  Our hearts broke for them and the best we could do was to give them a bit of money to buy some much needed supplies.  Funny thing is , they were always happy and smiling - we still haven't figured out how they can be living under those conditions.  But I guess when you are born into that type of environment, you don't know anything different.
Other than that, Nicaragua was a beautiful site to see, very poor and third world but the people are so humble and happy.  It was great for the kids to see how different people live, especially people who have so much less than us and are still happy.  This just reinforces our immense need to appreciate and be grateful for what we have on every level - AMEN!  EVERY DAY!!! And be especially grateful for the simple things.


 Below,  our adventure begins with our  family friends, the Martinsens,  by walking across the boarder from Costa Rica to Nicaragua with 7 kids, all of our baggage on our backs, and in a party of 11. What an experience !  Cars and trucks driving by, 105 degrees and police checks , boy it was something!!!!

Then, we took a "fairy ride" (written by Nicky hahaha) over to Ometepe island which has two active volcanoes. A beautiful sight to see.  Here is Joe below with the volcano in front of him.

Rented vespas to zoom around with. Of course Nicky loved driving her own.  It was hard to control her however , as she thought she was Mario Andredi.......

Also had the chance to hold a few beautiful green parrots (reminded us of Hailey!!)  The family living in the country side were breeding them and let us hold them.

 Visited a gorgeous volcano, natural cold spring -all surrounded by the forest.

ENJOYED a nice cold nicaragua cerveza by the water !

Cute little pizzaria in town - actually really good pizza and all of us 11 ate and drank for only 20$ each family - very cheap.

This is the house where the Nicaraguan family lives on the island.  Our friends are the ones who met them originally when they first arrived to live there.

 Our lovely "nico" friend .

This is the bedroom on mud floors.

This is her stove - all outside and using firewood.  The roof has holes so during rainy season, it is very wet and hard to cook.  She only has 2 pots.

Nicky and the 2 daughters.

Here we are: the entire gang getting our ferry back to mainland Nicaragua and saying good bye to the family.  They were so sad to see us go.

The last wave.

It's incredible how you can meet someone and have an instant connection.  We wanted so much to build them a concrete floor and get them doors and windows.  We are still thinking about how to raise some money and do that for them before we leave.  The cost is only about $3,000 and it would mean they don't have to walk in the mud during rainy season ( which is long and heavy there).