Chicas in Nicaragua!

Hello kids!

just to let you know that we arrived in Nicaragua safe and sound yesterday afternoon, was a bit of a shock to leave Costa Rica and reach the hustle and bustle of Granada!

We are in a lovely backpacker hostel called the Oasis in old colonial Granada on Lake Nicaragua,the place we are staying in is very atmospheric and relaxing,its in a really old historical building right in the centre. Yesterday afternoon when we got here we went for a walk around the town and it really is the most beautiful place, lots of crumbling cathedrals and squares and horse drawn carriages!today we went to nearby Mesaya on the bus to check out the artisan market it was very good, lots of traditional crafts and art,I`ve bought a nica doll tho and victoria thinks she`s a bit scary!

its very different here to Costa Rica, it all looks very different, the people are alot more darker and more indian looking and the street layouts are more eclectic and alot poorer nicaragua is actually the poorest central american country so there`s lots of oppportunity for volunteer placements if only we had more time. its also lots cheaper than costa rica so we are going to get to practise our haggling skills!Ooh and the local beer here is only called Victoria!**insert your own gags we dont do brackets!**

we left Liberia yesterday at 6am and took a bus to the border, it wasnt anything like we expected, for one thing it was down a country lane amidst a load of trees!we just walked in and got our passports stamped then walked thru another dozen checkpoints,paid some american dollars then they opened this metal gate and we were in Nicaragua!the roads were all dirt and the buses all painted in mad colours and jam packed with people and vendors trying to sell you things!we`re going to buy lots of copied reggaeton music for you to enjoy back home lucky you!

we managed to find a bus to a place called Rivas which looked like what we would have imagined mexico to look like with all the chaos and noise then we hopped on a bus to Granada and found the hostel after some other backpackers recommended it-its fantastic, free internet (which is how im writing this right now), hammocks around the spanish garden in the centre and a little pool. we are staying in a dormitory with really high carved ceilings and fans thankgod-its hot! and all for 3 pound a night!we have somewhere to lock our things away and its really quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets, so far so good!

anyway i must dash the shower is calling me i feel really dusty and dirty right now!

lots of love,

Claire and Vicky XXXx

PS photos are coming Peter and Catherine, Victoria is working on them right now!!