My stay at Managua was a bit rushed on my way to Corn Islands. I did managed to get some affordable paperback books including Azul by Ruben Dario and Bananos by Emilio Quintana. I had very little sleep as my taxi to the airport arrived at 4 a.m. sharp. So as I manage the strength to get up and drag myself to the taxi, I realize that this was going to be a rough morning. The taxi had not gone more than a couple of blocks when two cops on a motorcycle instruct him to pull over. People make a big deal about Managua being dangerous, but I can probably assure you that it is not as bad as the rest of the CA capitals. But the rush you get from getting your taxi pulled over by two guys on a motorcycle at 4 a.m. is enough to slap you awake. So they pull us over, instruct us to step out and begin taking out everything in our packets... literally digging their hands into our pockets. They also begin to check under the seats. My first thought was that they toughs we had a gun...Once the taxi driver had convinced them we were going to the airport and that we had just left a hotel, they let us go. The cop then said to me "subase chele" which is the word for gringos here ha ha! So, I have been called moreno, indio, and chele. Nicaraguan needs to make up its mind about what label they want to use on me. As we drove off into the pitch black night illuminated only by the silhouette of Sandino at Loma de Tiscapa, the taxi driver told me that they stopped us because they thought we had purchased some drugs. Appaerntly they were for sale near my hotel. And get this... the domestic flights terminal didn't even open until 5! and then they took their sweet sweet time checking people in.
The flight was so fast and convenient. Well I am not sure how long it was, I slept most of it. But it beats the hell out of having to travel by land and boat to the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. Although my budget did get dented by about $180. Loks lek we a gonna it kukunut brid for a wik... ok that was a bad simulation of Caribbean English which is spoken by the majority of native residents of the Corn Islands. After landing, I took a brief boat ride to Little Corn Is. Which was a good idea because it seems so much more charming. What can I say, Lonely Planet gets it right one out of three times.
So as I spend the next couple of days indulging on coconut bread, other meals I can't afford, Victoria beers, the temperad water of the caribbean sea, the sunshine of the tropics, and the poems of Ruben Dario, let me not forget... I forgot.
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