Ometepe Island reminds me of a prank birthday cake we gave my father for his 40th. Ometepe is basically a small strip of land with two volcanoes reaching for the sky, Concepción and Maderas.
While only lasting around 20 minutes, the local ex-school bus trip from the ferry terminal to our hotel was raucous…it could have been the three beers Ernie spotted JP and I on the ferry to celebrate being alive…everything seemed hilarious and I managed to paint my fingernails in motion. As you do.
Making the most of Nicaragua’s slogan “Land of lakes and volcanoes”, Jason, Andrew and John climbed for too many hours to reach the summit of Conception, no small feat by any stretch. Their dusty and weary faces on bodies moving at half pace when they returned told the story and the photos and video are unbelievable. Mother Nature sure leaves us spellbound at times. We gave the intrepid hikers a rowdy guard of honour in the restaurant when they go back…it seemed all they could do to plod through.
As I didn’t feel the need to put myself through hell and back, to peek into a gate of hell high in the sky I joined several of the group for a day at the natural springs. Crystal clear water, cans of Toña beer and weak caipiriñas made with rum, not cachaça thank god, patacones and tacos for lunch and several hours to chat, soak and chill out. My kinda heaven.
The evening was one of those times when secrets are told, lifetime bonds are made and anything feels possible through lots of laughter and tears. One of the nights I realise afresh how lucky I am to be traveling in the first place and then miraculously with such a wonderful group of new friends. Friends who cure homesickness.
Leaving our beach bungalow and the soundtrack of crashing waves was difficult. I’ll bet none of us will forget Ometepe.
