Happy Holidays desde Nicaragua

It's been a couple of weeks since our last update and we've been keeping busy.  As some of you already know, we've decided to head back to Hawaii to have the baby.  It was a particularly difficult decision to make as having our little girl down here was our original intention but, in the end, it just didn't feel right.   The need to be around family, friends, and the comforts of the first world ultimately reigned.  Silently, I know that every day Ian and I flip back in forth in our minds about it but, we are both confident that we've made the right decision.  So, over the ocean we go again!  We leave Managua on the 25th with a four day layover in LA to bid Kellin and Sean a farewell before they head off to Italy.

Puna gave us a little scare a couple weeks ago with a 105 degree temperature.  We took her to the vet in Managua and they had her on an IV all morning to bring down here fever and restore some of her fluids.  They ran a series of tests and none of them came back positive for blood-borne illness so, he figured it was just a flu or infection.  All in all, we had her on a series of antibiotics that did the trick and she's back to her grumbly old self again.  Wow, and if anyone ever needs a vet in Nicaragua don't go anywhere else but Dr. Osley at Veternarios Asociados.  They were stellar.

We spent Christmas eve relaxing at home with fried rice and a key lime pie.  On Christmas Day, we visited Rancho Santana which is another beachfront community, one bay north of us.  They just finished renovating their facilities and the ocean view dining room made for a beautiful sunset dinner.  We went with our friends Jack and Patty who are retired and live down here full time.  Jack is Ian's surf buddy and also the keeper of Panga Drops.  Jack's house has a clear view of the lineup from his front porch and on any given morning, you'll find him catching all the set waves with Ian.  

For my birthday, we decided to head up to the mountains of northern Nicaragua for a little change of scenery.  And change it was!  We stayed at Selva Negra, a coffee plantation high up in the cloud forest between Matagalpa and Jinotega.  It got nice and chilly at night and both of us wished we had brought socks.  We rented a cabana that even had a fireplace.  Puna was in heaven romping around the forest in her days after recovery.  Not to mention, the hotel even made proper lattes.

Other than that, as far as the house goes, we've put a false ceiling and ceiling fan in our bedroom to make it completely sealed off from any gaps in the roof.  This is good news for the baby (and us) as we can officially keep this area critter-free and eventually get a small A/C unit to cool us off during the dog days.  There is talk of La Vista going on the grid as soon as this year which would be a game-changer for this little neighborhood.  As much as we enjoy the simplicity of off-grid living, there is something to be said about a sufficient amount of electricity.  It sure would be nice to have a washing machine.  This is neither here nor there at this point, and when somebody says 'a year' in Nicaragua, that generally means three.  We'll see.  We are getting a ton of cabinetry made for the kitchen which is supposed to be done on the 10th, but as in my afore mentioned example of Nicaraguan Time Elasticity, we're not holding our breath.  We went to go check on his progress a couple of days ago, and young Micho hadn't even started yet.

And that's that.  We just had one of our best Nica meals yet at Yolanda's in Limon II.  (Yes, there is a Limon 1 and a Limon 2 here.)  After lunch we checked out Buena Onda, which is another beachfront resort on Playa Maderas.  Here are a couple of photos from the last few weeks.  Did I mention we got furniture, finally?

Ian with his prized hand-crank blender making us some delicious smoothies!

We can sit!

Some photos from La Vista - Casita de Clint

Slap o' the lap here in La Vista - Casa Blanca - home of Nutz!

First concrete home being built in La Vista

One of my favorite plots of land still for sale.

Punies!

Stan's house - almost done!

Another completed casita!

"The skeleton" - bought last year by Paulo from Florida

Sheri's bday cake!

The Santa Marta boys - dressed as Santa's elves - handed out presents to the kids of Santa Marta!

Our cabana in Selva Negra with Clint and his parents

the path in front of our cabana

  cloud forest!

Seth and Lindsey's Wedding Playa Colorado

Congratulations to our good friends Seth and Lindsey.  Friday evening they exchanged vows on our home beach, Playa Colorado.  The reception took place at the clubhouse and check out how nice everything looked!  Cheers to an absolutely gorgeous and memorable night you two! 

Catered by Yolanda's...authentic, delicious Nicaraguan cuisine.

Proper mariachi band

Not a bad backdrop

Might as well throw in a full moon

...and top it off with some wish lanterns .... 

Love you guys!  Congrats again!

Pray for Sure

Right before we left last year, I had gone into Managua with a friend to shop when I came across a shower curtain that was just begging for my purchase.  Appropriately adorned with VW buses and surfboards, the curtain also had cute little road signs on it that read "Pray for Surf."  Of course, VWs and surfboards are a theme in our life and I bought it without hesitation.  We left about a month later, and I had almost forgotten about our cheery bathroom decor but was again, pleasantly reminded of it upon our return.  Then last week, Ian summoned me to the bathroom as I was busy in the kitchen, pointed to it and said, "Babe, check it out.  The signs say, 'pray for sure.'"  Wouldn't you know it?  The bottom of the capital 'E' runs into the darkened border of the road signs so you can barely notice that the cheap Chinese curtain we bought is clearly spelled wrong.  Every single one of the road signs say "Pray for Sure."  We got a good laugh out of it and it's become even funnier because two days ago, on another trip to Managua, we found the matching bath mat.  Sure as shit, the mat also says, "Pray for Sure."  Clearly, we had to buy it.

We ended up buying a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder on our last venture to Granada.  We're movin' up people!  We have a car made in this century.  It even has airbags, a/c, and a radio.  Driving has become a little less nerve-wrecking for Melly but the dirt road takes a small toll on my jiggly, stretching belly.  Baby doesn't seem to mind it at all.  In fact, I think all the bumps actually put her to sleep.

We took a trip into Managua this week for a doctors visit and a tour of Vivian Pellas Hospital.  Dr. Martha Montenegro is straight out of a Telanovela (spanish soap opera for those not familiar with the term.)  She has wild red hair and thick turquoise eyeshadow.  The appointment was standard - a quick belly measurement and another doctor impressed by little Liv's strong heartbeat.  The delivery rooms are clean and comfortable.  There is a/c and cable and everyone seems very nice.  I'll admit being slightly overwhelmed by it all and, as I love to wear my emotions on my sleeve, I cried a little during my appointment.  Dr. Montenegro told me to, "Stop crying.  This is the best hospital in Central America.  I have friends that make surgery here, instead of Miami.  I have two babies in Miami.  One here.  Here is better."  The hospital is  nice.  She's right.  I'm banking on my anxiety being totally normal and have been chalking it up to relentless pregnancy hormones.  Damn them.  I can't wait until our little chiquita is finally here.  Sometimes I feel like I'm going to pregnant forever.

As far as business ventures go, I am in the process of trying to start a mobile bakery.  I've baked a couple of coffee cakes for Lindsey's family who is out visiting for Seth and Lindsey's wedding.  The owner of the beachfront bar wants to buy some stuff from me as well, so it's a start.  Ian is going to run the Home Owner's Association for La Vista which will bring us a small income too.

Other than that, the surf has been decent.  Ian scored some good sessions at Panga Drops this week.  The winter wind has kicked up and the water has cooled off a bit.  I think we've had our last rainfall of the season.  The La Vista river is getting shallower.  I wonder if the plants and animals are trained to know of the impending dry season.  How do they store enough moisture and energy for five months without rain?  I'm curious to see how quickly the landscape changes.        

The new PF

For my Mama - almost 27 weeks

Ian built us shelves!