Managua y El Sauce

After a delicious breakfast at our hotel this morning of fresh fruit, coffee, rice and beans, toast, and eggs with ham and veggies, we headed to the Plaza de Revolucion to learn a bit about the history of Nicaragua. 

There is a huge cathedral on one side of the plaza that was destroyed during the earthquake in the 70s and remains a shell of the building. 

We took a group photo on the steps of the former Congress building-turned museum and learned a bit about Central America's most famous writer (whose name escapes me at the moment) who continues to inspire Nicaraguans today. 

Then it was off to a view of the city from above as we zip lined over a lagoon. 

After eating pizza for lunch, we stopped at Managua's version of Wegman's to pick up anything we forgot to pack for our trip. Then, it was off to El Sauce, which is about a 3 hour drive from the capital. We met our host families and then went to the Enlace Project office for a welcome presentation including tips on what to expect from our stay. I learned a few key phrases used by Nicaraguans including the use of the word "adios" when you are greeting someone in the street but don't intend to stop and chat. Some of the locals can be heard saying "goodbye" to tourists as they walk by. Unfortunately, the interpretation doesn't work the same the other way!

After the orientation, Charlie (a social worker from HF-L and my roommate for the trip) and I headed back to our host family's house for dinner. There is a Peace Corps volunteer staying with us as well named Conrad. He is fluent in Spanish, so he helps us communicate with Doña Sophia, our host mom. 

Tomorrow morning (Saturday), it's off to the mountain village of Ocotal for the weekend. There is no wifi up there, so I won't be able to update until Monday night. The plan is to visit the two other schools that the Lupisellas have come down here to help build previously, to take a tour of an organic coffee farm, to go horse-back riding, and finally (on Monday) to begin work on the new school. 

There is currently a rather festive celebration going on for el Día de San Valentín, and I have a feeling the music will be going all night. Time to plug in the iPod and try to get some sleep!

Just another fun pic from today - a herd of cattle passing us by on the road to El Sauce!