A Pleasant Change

Day 12 – August 5, 2013

I don’t even know how to begin to describe the country of Nicaragua as we saw it.  We saw a bit of it the day before, but missed a lot of it, because it was dark.  This morning, however, we were greeted by the most peaceful, tranquil place you can imagine.  The verse that says, “Come, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” came to mind as we drove along these gorgeous roads (and yes, with exception of a mile or two at either border, even the roads were exceptional.) The scenery just spoke “rest”.  It was such a huge contrast from Honduras. I will try to describe it. 

Two lane roads with shoulders – and then probably 50-60 feet of a grassy slope off each side of the road.  Looked like it was mowed. Large, inviting, friendly trees on either side of the road – but not so close together as to feel crowded – practically calling you to come and lay down in the shade.  Cows in the grassy fields beyond – unless they were rice paddies.  Sometimes a mule or a pig or chickens or a dog or a horse in the grassy area.  Wooden carts being pulled by horses or mules along the roadside.  It was clean, fresh, idyllic, pristine.  It just made you feel good.  I have never seen anything quite like it.  For miles and miles and miles.  And as we drew closer to the border, there were giant windmills like you see in California – but along the lakes edge (a huge part of Nicaragua is a Lake) surrounded by green grass like a park and spinning at such a gentle speed, they seemed to be dancing.  I know this sounds all dramatic – but it was such a feeling of peace and rest as we drove through the country.  It is what I picture when I think of Psalm 23. We will go back there.  Everyone we encountered was so pleasant and helpful.  I believe Nicaragua is the next best-kept secret.

We arrived at the border of Nicaragua a few hours later and had a few more things to do to check out. While Bob was taking care of business,  I bought a darling pair of sandals for $10. and a little coin purse for $2. A “runner” insisted on helping us and kept telling Bob to give him money, and for a short time he did – until Bob caught him getting one of the officers to come check out our car.  Bob made short order of that – told him to leave and got it done himself.

Costa Rica, however, was another matter. 

We’d read that the crossing into Costa Rica should be just a little more difficult than crossing into Mexico.  HA! It didn’t cost us much – only $90.00 (which, really, is highway robbery).  However, it took us 4 hours to get it all done.  HUGE lines of people who had come in on buses waiting to get just their passports stamped, lines of Semi trucks doing the same thing we were, and general confusion about what could be done. Fortunately, this time, the places we could park (dirt) were covered with tall trees that provided some shade for the dogs and I.

Note to travelers:  We are traveling in a car that we are making payments on.  We are licensed in New Mexico and in that particular state, the lien-holder must hold the original title, so we do not have it.  We got certified copies of the title for each and every country, plus a letter of permission from the lien-holder to travel to each of these countries.  Those letters are notarized and certified also.  While we’ve have gone through every border but Panama, the biggest problem has been the car.  Two countries have had us go to an attorney to get a form letter that kind of translates our letter of permission.  In Guatemala, it cost $10 to get the letter – in Costa Rica, it cost $40.  Same letter.  I would suggest that if you can,  get COLOR certified copies, it would be well worth the expense.  I think they would go a lot farther. And be prepared for a hassle at each border.  I once read that in the Latin countries, their first answer is always “no” – so you just keep pushing them until they say “yes”..in a polite way, of course.  Mexico didn’t even look at the papers.

The scenery is different here – as if it doesn’t cross the line from border to border.  Very green and lush – not the same feeling at all as Nicaragua – it feels more crowded, rushed, not as relaxed (and I get this from the greenery?)  However, after we got a ways in – we noticed the trees getting taller, more stately – now they covered the roads, but it was as if you walked into a house with 50 foot ceilings. Dramatic! 

We are now in Baranca, Costa Rica for the night.  We found a hotel that was supposed to have hot water – but as yet, we don’t.  I am really looking forward to that hot shower – and more to come.  My heart can’t take that cold water stuff!

We will drive along the coast of Costa Rica tomorrow and hopefully either get to or perhaps even cross the border into Panama.  I think Bob has his eye on the prize and is ready to be done with this (like he hasn’t been pushing the whole time). 

Buenas noches.