Early morning. Just managed to get a couple of pancakes and bananas when the breakfast started at 7:30. Our driver picked us up at 8, took us to the office down town for payment, then we headed to the lake shore and were dropped off for the kayak trip.
It was only Malene who decided to stay home this morning, her arm being a bit sore and not feeling ready for kayak. So she stayed at the hostel while we left.
The introduction to the kayak was a prime example of Nicaraguan efficiency. We got our life jackets, a very young guide took us to some pink, clearly home made kayaks and we were pushed off from the shore of the lake once we got into the kayak. Sink or swim. No questions about our abilities in terms of swimming or kayaking - just "go". Then our guide caught up with us and led the way along the shore towards the first small islands - Las Isletas. It was windy as usual and the waves were a bit big for our small kayaks, Mikkel having the best kayak of the day, since he managed to get the only "sit-on-top"-kayak which was self draining. The lack of spray hoods meant that the others had to use their hats or whatever they could find to drain the kayaks from the water coming into them from various holes in the kayaks. In Nicaragua they don't believe in sponges.
Once at the Isletas the waves disappeared and it was a lot more fun to kayak in a quiet pace, our guide starting to talk a bit about the rich people living on the different islands. We sailed around in the canals for about one hour, looking at houses, mansions, wildlife and just enjoying the relative quietness in the area. After stopping at a small island with 5 monkeys on it, we asked the guide to take us to a bar and had mid-morning beer and rum coconuts. And a lot more relaxing.
Then we headed back towards Granada with plenty of time to spare. We stopped at the island where there is a small fortress from the time when pirates were attacking Granada and to our great surprise we met Malene. She had decided to go on a tour with one of the small motor boats so she was heading towards the monkey island we just left.
The kayaking party made it safely back to shore except for Michael who wanted to surf the big waves close to the beach, nearly hit another kayak and decided to capsize his kayak and sink. At 40 centimetres depth. We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out at the hostel, hiding from the afternoon heat which is really blistering in Granada. For dinner we found a nice place serving Mexican food. Ready for more action tomorrow - hiking the Mombacho Volcano. Pick up at 8 AM. As usual.
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| Watching daybreak outside our hot and crowded room |
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| Ready to kayak Lake Nicaragua |
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| Volcano Mombacho |
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| From the top of the fortress |
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| One of the Isletas - this one presumably owned by the "Flor de Cana" family |
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| Visiting monkey island |
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| Heading back to Granada |
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| Lazy afternoon |
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