Okay, so maybe that isn’t quite an accurate title, but as I write this in the hotel, it sure feels like it. This is going to be a short one, since I don’t have much time tonight. Today after breakfast we drove to an active volcano for some sightseeing. The view was really great from the top, and I’ll write more and post pictures later. Afterwords we have lunch at a really authentic Nicaraguan restaurant. You might have heard of it, Papa Johns? Then we did some shopping and started towards our hotel for the evening. This is one of the nicest places I’ve seen, and it is probably a place most Nicas never see. We have air conditioning, hot water, security, vegetables for dinner and airplane tickets out of this place in the morning. But we did what we came to do, and as long as this day was, I’m very thankful for the opportunity. 

On the way to the hotel, when I was mentally done and my mouth filter had stopped working, we got caught in traffic for a political rally. I could have jumped out of the bus and pushed our way through I was so ready to have a shower. I didn’t want to stop for any more shopping. I didn’t want to be with these gringos who don’t know how to travel anymore. But it was out of my control, and nobody was messing with us. We just sat and had the cultural experience we came here for. We saw the local people excited about elections. We didn’t see police stopping it. It lasted maybe five minutes. Nobody was hurt. Inconvenienced maybe, but no lasting damage. I got my shower. I got my dinner. And the people in this poor country were excited about the freedoms they do have, and I had to respect that. So, adios to my Nica friends. I hope we can be together again soon. Thank you for your great hospitality. I’ve enjoyed every minute, even being stuck in traffic.