I am currently in Rivas, Nicaragua after a long 100km day.
Here's how my day went. First of all, my nice host gets up very early because he has to go to work on a construction site. In addition to cutting hair, he works very hard...
The wind is still there. However, today it propels me 7 km further in 10 minutes. Yesterday, I had covered the same distance in an hour!!! It's nice to have a wind friend sometimes. I meet a nice Dutchman who has been here for three months and who owns a small shelter for travelers. I take the opportunity to have lunch.
I ride, but it's hard. I wonder why I'm torturing myself like this. Why didn't I stay in front of my TV? Why am I not reading a novel? The first days are always hard! I have time to think a lot! After 40 km I arrive exhausted in a small village. I go to a small convenience store.
I go inside and ask if there is a restaurant nearby. No! I tell him I am very hungry, so he asks his wife Giselle if she can make me something. Here is the result.
I am very lucky! I chat with Juan and Giselle, it is interesting. I ask philosophical questions like: What is the most important thing in life? Both answer me after a few seconds of reflection: God.
I get back on the road, because I would like to at least get to the border. After several hours, I finally arrive at the complicated process of crossing a customs by bike. First of all I have to go pay $8 USD at a small green counter.
Then I have to go get my passport stamped in another office. Afterwards I have to go to another building to pay the local tax of $1. I pass in front of customs officers, and I have some difficulty getting through. The customs officer finds it strange that I am riding a bike and asks me where I am going to spend the night. I tell him that I don't know! He leaves with my passport to go tell his superior about it. I wait and wait... The customs officer comes back and asks me for my bike's registration number???? What??? Anyway, after 30 minutes I finally go to the next step, to pay $12. I feel like I'm in an Asterix movie! I X-ray my bags. Everything is beautiful... I get back on my bike and ride 200 meters and I have to show my passport again. Soon I will be free!!! As soon as I arrive in Nicaragua I feel at home. I love this country and I highly recommend it. The prices are very affordable and the scenery is breathtaking.
I meet a Mexican couple who have been away for 8 months and have covered more than 10,000 km. They are making the big crossing, wow!
Wind turbines are everywhere on the shores of Lake Nicaragua.
It's really impressive. Look at the length of a blade.
I finally see the two volcanoes located on the island of Omotepe: it's magnificent.
These two volcanoes are located in the middle of Lake Nicaragua.
I have 11 km left before arriving in Rivas and I'm going to buy a bottle of coke for 12 Cordobas (50 cents CAD)
I have the wonderful encounter with a 9-year-old boy named Derek. I chat with him for a long time, I ask him if there is a place to sleep nearby. The answer was negative. I ask him the same question as Juan and Giselle and he tells me without hesitation:
estudiar (Studies). A little later he gives me some small sweet pieces.
I have to get back on the road. People are nice to slower vehicles.
When I finally arrive in Rivas I find a room for 150 Cordobas (CAD$6). It's not great quality, but for me the answer to my question is to eat, drink and find a mattress.
I'm going to explore the city center, I finally see real life. The central park is full of people.
A beautiful nativity scene.
I'm having a good meal.
Long live Nicaragua!!! Here is my route for today.
David Beauchesne
Life is beautiful!!!
