El Zopilote en Isla Ometepe

The day of travel to Ometepe was easy and hassle free. Timing worked out and everytime we arrived somewhere it was just in time to catch the next bus/taxi/boat to where we needed to go. The approach to the island was beautiful. Being on the top deck of the ferry was so sweet - wind in your face, waves splashing, with the two volcanoes that comprise the island in the distance. We rode with other backpackers, a few of which we had previously met in Granada. There are these two guys traveling with the chillest, tiniest dog ever. His name is Pablo (or Pablito).

When we docked we got a taxi to take us to the opposite side of the island, which is two volcanoes (Concepcion y Maderas) that create to main islands connected by an isthmus. We stayed on the further one on Finca el Zopilote. We had such high hopes for this place, so that's why we can't be too mad that they fell short. The farm itself it awesome. Set up on the side of the volcano, walking distance from the main road but up a rocky path. One night we returned after watching the sunset and took the wrong path up a little ways. We won't be doing that again without a flashlight. The food here was spectacular. Delish bread, honey, homemade nutella. Our room was cool, too. The loft area of the hammock space, we had to hoist ourselves and bags up the ladder and hope for the best. The mosquito net didn't quite fit our bed but provided excellent comic relief after a day of travel.

No, where El Zopilote fell short was the only place that truly mattered - the people that work there. We have never had such a strange, awkward, negative experience with hostel/farm/hotel employees. It didn't start out total negative, just didn't get good vibes or a warm reception...at all. We constantly felt like we were a burden to the staff that seemed like they wanted to be anywhere but there. We tried not to read too much into the first night with our first encounter, but they never proved us wrong. The other guests there were super cool and we had a great time chilling with them at night, exchanging stories and cooking. Two guys we met are on an epic bike journey all the way from Maine!! Insane!

Basically, after enjoying what the island had to offer - strong sun, Ojo De Agua (the incredible natural pool), and long walks in search of vegetables that apparently do not exist anywhere on the continent, we decided we could move on early without feeling that we had missed anything. Instead of staying for 5 nights, we stayed for three. Not a huge loss but the other a-whole that works there made us pay for two additional nights that we "reserved" and were therefore causing a loss for them (although not really because everyday at least 10 people come looking for rooms and we are sure they are filled by now). That made us even happier to leave, knowing that we didn't have to deal with such issues anymore and could enjoy the rest of the trip away from Isla de Negativa.

We are looking forward to our adventures here in Santa Elena. The ride up the mountain made bus rides on incomplete roads in Greece seems like child's play. The death valley below caused minor heart attacks here and there, but you must remember - these guys drive this road at least once a day. They could do it with their eyes closed, not that we need the extra obstacle. Meanwhile, we continue to figure out what our place is currently in this world. We are in this transient place trying to discover what these other worlds are like, but find ourselves spending most of our time with others just like us. The "Gringo trail" stretches far. We stayed up late talking one night about trying to find the ideal balance of meeting all the other interesting travelers and then trying also to mix with and understand locals. This is when we came to the conclusion that we need to go work/volunteer on a farm or something somewhere for 2 weeks or so. We are open and in need of suggestions. Ecuador? Colombia? Elsewhere?

So we have a new nickname for this packaged deal that we are. It's what our names are when predictive texts decides for us what our names are. So from now on we sign our posts with it.

Love you!
"Sophisticated Koala"