El Obraje

We are having some trouble sleeping...between the fireworks, the roosters and the church sleep is a scarce commodity around here...I´m a little worried since we are going to be hiking...we´ll manage I suppose.

We were up and ready for breakfast at 6 am again with little sleep...Archie has been sleeping in their kitchen where there is an extra bed while we sleep in his room.
We´re out the door where we catch the local bus to the market in Managua for the express bus to Chinandega connector to Somotillio and our last bus into El Obraje...no man´s land.
It started out pretty good until we found out Andrew´s seat was going to be on the floor of the little combi to Chinandega...someone was getting off right away...but when asked who, nobody was getting off...so off we pile with much talking, us having no real clue what was happening, 2 people got off and suddenly we´re all back on again with me front row and center...actually our driver turned out to be very good and our 2.5 hours to Chinandega were great...amazing views and country side! Somotillio is close to the Honduran border and we took another combi there passing peanut plantations...interesting!
Somotillio is a hot smelly place! We had lunch in some place that was the most edible...it was about 38 degrees...from there we caught the local bus! These old school buses were worn out before they got here...this one was special though...they had to push it to start. Once we got going, all 85 or more of us on the 30 passenger bus were jammed like sardines all smelling rosy of course...The boys stood for the 2.5 hour bus ride on an absolutely horrific road with the bus only able to go 15km an hour...I lucked out with a seat...2 smaller locals squished over and insisted I sit with them...the kids are so cute here and we had fun learning a few words in each others language!
We arrived in El Obraje sweating and dehydrated but were off to an older couple´s home for a quick visit some pictures and hot cafe negre!
Then we set off on our 8 km hike into the mountainous region to the family´s home that is hosting us.
Setting up our tent is a bit of a dilemma to stay out of route of the animals as they are all around...we decide on a spot under the tree only to discover later it is the chicken´s roosting spot...we did manage to dodge the flying poo though!
The tent raising was the event of the year up maybe even their life as no one has ever seen one before...people from all over began to appear and the ¨viewing¨ went on over the course of our stay...a little eerie to be watched so intently but fun all the same.
They loved our ¨pretty¨ house!
We ate beans, rice, some cheese and fresh tortilla for supper a little visit and off for our ¨bath¨ (in the creek) and to bed...we were so looking forward to a good nights sleep, yet again at about 11pm, the rooster announced himself on the hour till morning...