Moving on- it all came good in the end!

This morning I left Ometepe and it was to prove a challenging day but all worked out in the end! En route to the ferry, the driver received a call to say my ferry was cancelled and I had to wait for the next one. This happened last year, but this time I was being collected by someone else. My driver tried to call but could get no answer from the school. We wanted to forestall their departure.

I felt in no mans land, so turned on the data switches on my phone to try to make contact. It was an emergency after all. Neither phone calls or e mails would get through, so eventually I used my google address. The response wasn't what I had hoped. It went something like this.

Evident confusion that I needed collection, the driver is running late, now the driver is returning as you are not there, my reply ' am I going to be stranded'. The driver kindly returned for my late arrival but it turned out he had a family commitment which would explain why he broke all records to get me there, in a minibus with only driver seat belts! I had thought I might need to find the chap who had offered to help me get a taxi, when I was awaiting the ferry!

The belligerent side of me was contemplating not going if they had left me stranded, but it didn't come to that. The owner, Paulette was waiting to greet me and the cook, Maricole had saved me lunch. So I was settled in and shown round. It is a most interesting situation, with a large residential building opening onto a verandah and teaching areas both inside and in the gardens. There are also lovely grounds, lots of animals, a dining area and lots of sitting areas. Water and drinks are avaible and there is an honesty system for alcohol. There is hot water, I have a blanket on my bed, a mosquito net and an array of furniture, lights and mirrors and a lockable drawer for valuables. So probably the best accommodation I have had  in Nicaragua so far ! There are a couple of families and a few other single people. Everyone seems friendly and there are activities every day after classes. 

The story is amazing, as the Englishwoman who owns it, sold up at home and set up a project to help the local people by offering employment and by running an organisation on environmental lines. She takes no salary, just her food and accommodation and is continually improving the school. For example she has recently purchased a large area of forest to help protect and replant it, and has a reserve where you can see the wildlife and where the vegetables we eat are grown.

She also has a number of rehoused animals, monkeys, parrots, toucans, some of which will be freed when ready. Yesterday we walked around the garden and also to the reserve. There are also several dogs and cats which great me with enthusiasm when I go to the kitchen to make tea in the morning and, having left my windows open to dry washing yesterday, found a cat curled up on the bed, who was most put out when I removed her to the verandah!

Yesterday, in my spare time, I managed to explore the local area so walked about 20 minutes uphill to La Concha, where there are some shops, an ATM , barbers, mobile phone shops, motor repair shops and some stalls. It's not the centre of the universe!

However there must be some culture here.....

This afternoon, I am visiting a pineapple farm, another day there is a trip to an artesan village and on Saturday we can go to the lake resort for swimming and relaxing. There is plenty to do so fitting in the homework could be a challenge! Plus I have been given books to read and I have borrowed some about Nicaraguan history. There is a once a week lecture on that subject too.