Monthly Archives: November 2015

Isla de Ometepe

Monday November 30, 2015, 48 miles (77 km) – Total so far: 13,173 miles (21,200 km)

We left Granada after a wonderful one week stay at the home of Carla and Julio while enrolled in our Spanish class. The room and meals, talking with our hosts and their friends was a very enlightening introduction to Spanish. Plus Granada is a beautiful colonial town to just walk around and explore. But we were anxious to get back on the road and we cycled the 48 miles to San Jorge and the ferry to Ometepe Island, the island of two volcanoes. Onboard we met Jacob from Denmark who is driving around the world in a Toyota pickup. What an adventure he has had! We also met a German, Hans, who is motorcycling around the world. After Argentina Hans plans to fly to New Zealand then Southeast Asia and back home to Germany. The one hour ferry to the island took 1 hour and 15 minutes because the wind was blowing hard and the waves were up. Lake Nicaragua is huge! We arrived in Moyogalpa right after sunset and soon found a home stay for $16. We don’t like riding after dark and this find was really convenient and cheap. After a nice meal next door we settled into our beds after another great week discovering the world.

November 28, 2015 22 miles We left Moyogalpa early and cycled around Volcan Conception to the other side of Ometepe. Heading west we had great views of the other Volcan Madera. Madera is more wooded than Conception and swampy at the top with a lake in the middle. Hostel Little Morgan, outside of Santa Cruz, Ometepe was our choice and we arrived there and settled into a fine cabin for two nights. Tomorrow we will hike up Volcan Conception. At 1,670 m it looks like fun.

We had a nice homestay and great meals with Carla and Julio and Francesa the dog.
We had a nice homestay and great meals with Carla and Julio and Francesa the dog.
Riding out of Granada.
Riding out of Granada.

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A bicycle path!
A bicycle path!
San Jorge.
San Jorge.
The Ometepe Island Ferry.
The Ometepe Island Ferry.
A very fine ferry! I like the name.
A very fine ferry! I like the name.
Bikes secured onto the stern.
Bikes secured onto the stern.
An island that consists of two volcanoes...
An island that consists of two volcanoes…
...Volcan Concepcion on the left and Volcan Maderas.
…Volcan Concepcion on the left and Volcan Maderas.
Volcan Concepcion at 1,610 meters (5,282 feet). On the lower right you can see the airport runway. What a cool spot to fly in.
Volcan Concepcion at 1,610 meters (5,282 feet). On the lower right you can see the airport runway. What a cool spot to fly in.
Looking back at San Jorge.
Looking back at San Jorge.
A good drawing of Ometepe.
A good drawing of Ometepe.
Lots to do here. Full of hostels and backpackers from around the world.
Lots to do here. Full of hostels and backpackers from around the world.
The only road around the island crosses the airport runway.
The only road around the island crosses the airport runway.
To the left of the runway is Volcan Concepcion...
To the left of the runway is Volcan Concepcion…
...and to the right is the lake.
…and to the right is the lake.
Local island traffic.
Local island traffic.
Another look at Ometepe.
Another look at Ometepe.
Opening day of little league baseball.
Opening day of little league baseball.
More traffic.
More traffic.
A nice spot for a beer.
A nice spot for a beer.
A CD jukebox.
A CD jukebox.
In rural Latin America people gather cooking wood and haul it home. Sometimes by bike or just carrying a large piece by hand. This guy is doing well because he has a horse.
In rural Latin America people gather cooking wood and haul it home. Sometimes by bike or just carrying a large piece by hand. This guy is doing well because he has a horse.
Volcan Concepcion last erupted in 2012.
Volcan Concepcion last erupted in 2012.
Volcan Concepcion.
Volcan Concepcion.
Heading towards the south of Ometepe. Volcan Maderas in the background.
Heading towards the south of Ometepe. Volcan Maderas in the background.
Our room for two nights at Little Morgan's Hostel.
Our room for two nights at Little Morgan’s Hostel.
Complete with mosquito netting.
Complete with mosquito netting.
The open bathroom surrounded by bamboo and open under the roof.
The open bathroom surrounded by bamboo and open under the roof.
Little Morgan's Hostel.
Little Morgan’s Hostel.
These leaves look like they were hand painted.
These leaves look like they were hand painted.
I like big leaves on tropical plants.
I like big leaves on tropical plants.
Down the path to our room.
Down the path to our room.

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Finally there!
Finally there!
We stopped at a local pulperia (small store) for essential supplies.
We stopped at a local pulperia (small store) for essential supplies.

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