More travel-- Thursday, March 3, 16

Thursday- March 3

In Blue Field

We got to La Costena  airport- next door to major airport, still across the street from Mercedes Best Western Hotel about 5 am- checked in at 5:30.  Since the 6 of us are flying together, they weighed all our bags  and figured the overage for all.    Went through security, which was minimal.  

The other people meeting us in Managua from Richmond, Va had a problem flying in on Delta on Wed--- their flight was delayed and they did not get to Managua til 2 am.  Customs was closed, so they couldn’t get their bags.  They went to the hotel, slept a few hours and Bill met us at La Costena to fly out with us.  Steve stayed to rescue their luggage (which included vital parts of the water filtration system we were there to install).   Another glitch occurred when we were told that 3 of our bags would not go out on the same flight we were traveling.  This airline makes the same route 2-3 times a day, so our bags would be on the later flight Steve would travel to get to Blue Fields.  We got on our small plane (about 45 passengers) and  went, we thought to Blue Field.   The plane landed  and “Corn Island” was announced.  Hmmm, we didn’t know our flight  was island hopping, but it was.  Many folks got out at Corn Island, and about as many got on and we left again.   This time when we landed it was in Blue Field.  Sure enough when the luggage was unloaded, the 3 we expected to be missing were absent, along with 2 others.  My suitcase full of teaching supplies was one of the ones we knew were to come on the next flight, but I didn’t realize that my clothing and essential papers and teaching manual  would also be missing.  The folks at the airline insisted that they would all be on the next flight (with Steve). 

Taxis are everywhere—and cheap.  Since there were 7 of us now, we had to have 2 taxis which charged 20 Cordovas per person for anywhere in the city.  One dollar equals 25-28 Cordovas depending on where you get your money changed.   The taxis took us to the Central Moravian church of Blue Field where we were met by the Bishop.  Several people were there to guide us, give us water, allow us to store our luggage, suggest places for lunch/breakfast.   Very hospitable people. I picked up an interesting children's Bible story book to look at and the Bishop gave it to me.  (He said they had boxes of them for the children).  As I read through it, days later, I discovered 2 stories in the book I'd never heard.  That's not a bad average- 2 of 101.  One had to do with a choir in battle (kinda) and the other was about lepers and Syria.  Anyway, very interesting book.

We walked to a nearby restaurant and had breakfast.  Good food, relaxing atmosphere. 

After eating we walked back to the church and waited for Steve (Bill and Harry had gone to the airport to meet him and help him with the extra bags.)   We walked around “shopping” some folks bought snacks/candy.  But mostly we just looked around. 

Thanks Dane for the picture

One particular memory is of the smell of unrefrigerated shrimp and other seafood being sold out of a sidewalk stand.  Not the most appetizing smell of the trip. 

We were finally reunited with ALL the baggage and our group now numbered 8.  We loaded up in taxis for our Panga ride (river taxi)  The cost was 115 Cordovas per person which we paid after being loaded into the boat.  I wish I could tell you more about the boat, but all I know is that 25 or so of us were crammed in, were given life jackets and I don’t think I’ve ever been on a faster boat ride.  

Thanks to D Argentini for these 2 pictures.

The motor was a Yamaha 200 and we didn’t slow down the entire 35 minute trip.  The pilot drove FULL THROTTLE the whole time.  I was on the right side and got drenched on one sleeve and pants leg. 

I discovered later that the community of Kukra Hill where we were for 6 days has NO postal service and if they need something from Blue Field it will most likely come by Panga.  In the midst of constructing the flitration system, another filter was needed.  It had to be obtained from Blue Field and was shipped on the panga.

Kukra Hill Panga dock-- Thnks Dane

Pastor Aaron Bennett picked us up at the dock and we drove to the KH Moravian church.  We saw the “water building” and all the parts that had been shipped by panga – some of the items needed had to be brought from the U.S. because they weren’t available in Nicaragua. 

After checking out the water building, we were taken to our hotel.  We’d been told this  was the nicest place in town to stay and is less than a year old.  The outside color is very restful and typical of other buildings in the town.  The inside was another matter.  I figured the rooms (all identical size) were about 8 X 8 feet square with a bathroom approx. 3 x 5 feet.  I won’t even describe the inside colors except to say that they seemed brighter than the pictures show. 

And those of you who know me, know how I feel about green.  Three of the 6 rooms were air conditioned, one of the un-airconditioned rooms was set up as a double with 2 twin beds.  I was on the end in #6 an un-airconditioned room.    What more can I say, it was a place to put our things, to sleep, to have a COLD shower, and to go for some alone time.  I am sure it was the nicest place in town to stay. 

Our meals were provided by Pastor Arron’s sister-in-law, Debbie.  She is a good cook who is expanding her restaurant and she catered all our meals.  This first night our plate contained shrimp, rice, plantains and cabbage salad.  During the week we saw LOTS of rice and lots of plantains and cabbage salad

After supper, we went for ice cream down the street.  One scoop in a cone was 15 Cordobas (about 60 cents)  

Got back to the hotel early—all of our days ended rather early—about 8  And slept—Until the roosters decided we should wake up..