I am still alive!

So, have made my way back to civilisation and naturally head straight to the internet cafe! So after a few days lying in hammocks and eating lovely food in Granada, R and I made a break and headed over to Isla de Ometepe which is a lovely island in Lago de Nicaragua essentially made of 2 volcanoes with a flat bit in the middle! Decided to stay at this finca, which would have been lovely except for the bus load of french kids who were staying there and being very excitable. After being woken at some godforsaken hour in the morning by shrieks for the second time, R and I plus 4 other people we had met decided to decamp to a hotel by the beach which turned out to be perfect.....and with a complete absence of school children! So spent a happy day frolicking int he lake and deciding that I want to live by a fresh water lake. Its like the sea without the disadvantages of salty air and swallowing salt water! Also watched the rather dismal england v holland friendly in a bar causing the waiters to think we were all mad!

Unfortunately Rebecca then had to head back to the states due to a family emergency so i bid her a tearful fairwell before heading on to the Archipelago de Solentiname with a couple of other people from the beach. Hellish journey with lots of boats and waiting (the national pastime!) but helped by the fact that I appear to be able to sleep anywhere including under seats on ferries! Definately worth the trip though as we were the only gringos on the islands, which were absolutely idyllic. sunbathed on piers, drank rum around beach fires and went on the most amazing river trip into this reserve where the 6am start was rewarded by tons and tons of the most amazing birds, plus v close encounters with a boa (nearly stepped on this particular piece of wildlife!) and howler monkeys (am trying to think how i can import a family to the uk as am in love with their calls). Think I am in danger of becoming a bird nerd (to quote R) though as the other guys were really into it (one studies ducks for a living!) and got me v excitied. Have decided my new favourite bird is a ringed kingfisher or an egret!

Anyhow, managed to hitch a lift with a boat full of wood at 4.30 am (again, urgh) and then i carried on to what turned out to be an idyllic little town called El Castillo 3 hours up Rio San Juan. Most exciting bit was that I ended up having dinner with the ex minister for the environment!!!! He is starting a palm oil plantation near El Castillo so comes up to check on it! Think he is quite well to do as his grandfather used to live in the casa de leones (rather grand house in Granada which they donated for use as a cultural centre!) and he was asked by the PM to become the minister which he accepted as his father had been killed by the sandinista govt! Not sure about the democratic value of the pm asking his mates to be ministers, but interesting to spend time with him, especially having just come from an island with no cars, electricity or running water and a high poverty level!

Now back on Isla de Ometepe and have just done energetic bike ride to ward off the rice and beans! very low number of bonitas/guapas recently and despite not eating any tortillas, may have to start includin fried plantains into this ratio. In which case i am in desperate trouble!