This last week we got to spend in comfort and air conditioning! We finally finished off the new website for Hotel Alhambra and as part of the payment they let us stay in their hotel for 8 days. So last Friday morning we spent a while washing all of the towels, linen, couch cover, and all of our clothes (it's taken a while for my hands to recover), we packed our stuff,
walked it into town to the hotel, checked in,
then went back to our apartment to clean and take the rest of the things off the clothes line.
This apartment sure was perfect for us. When we checked out with Jerry and Deborah they wanted a picture and then they prayed with us before we left. They have been such good landlords and we have had some really good conversations with them.
Then we walked away with the last of our things.
We have loved having a swimming pool that we can jump into after our morning and evening walks, and the air conditioning and bed covers have been heavenly. We have felt so spoiled!
This is a picture of our labor day celebration before we moved. We bought stuff for hot dogs and Joe went crazy. I don't think he's been that full for a long time! :)
People around here must know that the rivalry football game is coming up because we have seen an unusual amount of U of U and BYU paraphernalia this last week. One morning I walked out to the lake and saw a guy wearing a white shirt with red print that said "Max Hall Hates Me." On that same walk I saw a red U of U t-shirt and a backpack. Last Sunday when we went to church we saw a guy wearing a BYU hat, and then on the way home from church this guy was sitting out on his porch by the road so we were able to get a picture. It's everywhere! :)
We invited the Whitings over last Saturday to watch the BYU football game, but ended up not being able to get it on our T.V. It was fun to sit and chat with them though. This is their daughter Bella reading the scriptures on our bed :)
They also came over on Thursday to have a swim day with us at the hotel. It's been so nice to have them in Nicaragua. We sure have enjoyed getting to know their fun family and doing things with them!
These are the sisters in the branch relief society on our last Sunday. It was sad to say goodbye. The members here have all been so patient and kind to us.
We have eaten a lot of street food this last week! This one is my favorite - an enchilada - or "rice pocket" as I call them. Fried rice wrapped in dough and fried then topped with cabbage. Delicious!
These pictures are from a morning walk when we actually remembered the camera! :)
We started it off with a doughnut - that's been on my list for a long time. People are always walking around in the morning selling doughnuts and I figured I couldn't leave this country without buying one at least once. You can see the lady we bought it from in the background with the doughnut tray on her head.
We took a road along the lake to the north.
Lady washing her clothes at the hut down there.
Fishermen going out to fish.
A bunch of squatters who have set up their homes along the road.
A better view of their homes.
A guy chopping wood either to help build the squatter homes or as firewood to cook with.
There was an engineering university that we stopped by and walked through.
This is the school's playing field.
On our way back home we passed another school and these kids were outside doing their exercises.
Joe spotted these plants all along one of the roads that close up when you touch them. Pretty cool!
Beautiful views of the central cathedral.
Just another normal sight around here...
I got my hair cut! Once we got to the air conditioned hotel I blow dryed my hair for the first time since coming here and saw that it had grown a few inches and that those few inches were pretty thin and stringy. So I just had those inches cut off. Feels so much nicer!
Well, that's it for now, folks! Our next post will be super awesome cruise pictures! :) I'll end with a list that Joe and I made a few nights ago of great things that have come from our summer here:
Seeing an active volcano
Learning about another part of the world
Learning to love mangos and avocados
Learning more about health and Joe’s digestive system
Joe losing 33 pounds
Being able to help the Whitings when they moved here
Playing the piano in church
Having good conversations with Jerry (landlord) and Dave
(hotel receptionist)
Learning how to cook rice and beans – now we can cycle them
through our food storage!
Learning how to make soy milk
Learning some Spanish
Learning that we are VERY blessed
Learning to wash clothes by hand and appreciating washing
machines
Saving enough money to go on a cruise
It’s been a great place to be in limbo while Joe’s job is so
uncertain
Having time together as a couple
Learning what attracts mosquitoes
Learning to survive without cheese, ice cream, and an oven
Trying delicious street food
Building a website for a hotel
Going on splits with the missionaries
Seeing how the church operates in yet another country
Shopping in an outdoor market
Learning how to bargain
Trying El Salvadorian Food
Living in a place with palm trees
Seeing how DI donations are used in another country
Trying a lot of new fruits and vegetables
Seeing cocoa and coffee plants
Feeding people at the dump
Going on scooter/motorcycle rides
Walks along the beach
Enjoying riding the chicken buses
Learning how they make pottery, cigars, hammocks, and
chocolate
Visiting Ometepe
Swimming in the ocean at San Juan del Sur
Becoming experts at staying hydrated
We have been so blessed to have had this experience!
Heidi and Joe, we're so sad for you to have to leave Nicaragua! We have loved reading your wonderful updates and hearing how blessed we are by reading your experiences. Have a wonderful cruise. We can't wait to see you again! Love you guys!
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