Picture Perfect

Our riverside view of Mira Flores.  The ocean is within hearing distance and if you look very carefully you can see a wave crashing.  Very picturesque.

The Rio Citalapa, as viewed from the ocean.  The river carves a new path to the ocean each year.

And every evening there is a spectacular sunset.  

December 2014

La Choza - The Shack

It is soo exciting.  We are breaking ground!  Literally.
Construction has officially begun.
This is our 10 foot by 10 foot building to house all of the utilities.   And ultimately it will be our most useful structure in the years to come.  I liken this shed to a provincial park camping kiosk.  We will have a shower and toilet accessible on one side, a solid wall down the middle and then a kitchenette accessible on the other side.

Here is the plumbing all laid out.  The black pipe is for the toilet, the grey pipe for the sink.  I am so lucky that all this is common knowledge for JD.  He can install just about anything.   He has so many talents.







As this is Nicaragua where freezing temperatures and frost are not a concern we don't have to install a 4' foundation.  We just pulled away all of the organic soft soil and will pour a concrete floor on the hardpacked earth.  How easy.

Here's JD and El Fumador back in Managua picking up construction materials.  The police stopped us at one point in our travels and told us we did not have the necessary papers to have out metal racks installed on our truck.  Having bought El Fumador with the metal racks already on, we had no idea that we needed a separate permit.  Solution: the racks came off.  The police were hoping we would pay for the permit and the fine but we just removed the entire structure.  Sadly, the kids no longer have their hideaway haven in the back.  But, just as well, because we need the space for construction materials now. 

The foundation floor has been poured, the walls have been built using the typical concrete Nica blocks and the final finish is parged cement or a stucco look.  We did not do anything funky.  The colour banding is simple the drying effect from the previous rainfall.  The water has dried in the middle but the top and bottom of the structure are still wet.  

And here it is.  Our ever so useful choza.  This is the view of the kitchenette and the overhanging roof so we can sit underneath and keep dry when it is raining.  This of course does nothing to protect us from the mosquitoes, but you can't have everything.  
September 2014

Motorcycle Mama

Instead of heading to the ocean, JD and I made a solo trip into the mountains. When I say solo, I mean without our kids.  First stop:  NicaMoto to rent motorcycles.  A fabulous setup, this company rents out motorbikes for day, week, or month long journeys.  You can find their website at www.nicamotoadv.com

First leg of the journey was from Managua to Boaca.  It was long, we got lost, but eventually we made it.  Such a beautiful town.  Here is just a snipped of the pristine beauty of the hilly terrain. This was a small school nestled into the hillside for the surrounding community.  School was out, so no kids to interact with.  

Next day we travelled to Muy Muy using the backroads through the mountains.  Yes, we got lost again.  Being a novice on a motorbike, but eager to try anything, my skills were definitely tested.  JD found it extremely entertaining to document my trials and errors.  I was proud of my developing talents and accomplishments.  Here's me crossing a river washout.  

And then, here's me on the other side, thankful I made it.  No worries that I ploughed into the hill on the other side.  I was grateful really.   It stopped me from falling over and gave me a moment to rest.  I was breathing pretty hard at this moment and needed time to regroup my thoughts and slow my heartrate down.  JD was enjoying the entertainment.  

Funny, I met the best teacher one could find.  An expert on going slow, living day by day, and always resting to soak up the surroundings.  We all have lots to learn.  How cute is this sloth.    

April, 2014

One Long Siesta

We are back!  It has been a long break.  Sort of lost track of time and space with work and family life.