Last week, my host sister Issela, her husband Eric, and I went to Ometepe Island for a four day holiday. It was during Samana Santa, which means Holy Week in English, and people tend to flood the beaches. The island's beaches were no exception.

The three of us had a taste of the island when my mom visited for a week and took us to Santo Domingo, to a nice hotel by the lake. It was a lovely time, but not long enough, so we all wanted to go back since two days that includes travel to and from Managua isn't much to get to know the island. It is world re-nouned for its beauty, and its volcanos: Concepcion and Maderas. The story goes that they represent a couple - the Concepcion is the male, very hot and dry climate, and its vegetation includes a plant with a leaf holding the shape of the male reproductive organ; Maderas is the female and its climate is much more humid and cold containing a lake in the middle, and grows a plant with a leaf with a form the shape of the female reproductive organ. The concepcion is active and according to experts, is due to explode any minute now, the last eruption occuring in 1957, according to wikipedia. A few years ago it started to tremor and everyone was evacuated from the island.

I was especially excited for the trip because we were staying with Erics extended family. He has a few aunts and uncles who live near altagracia, a central town full of history. Also many cousins. In fact, 20 came from one couple! She was young too, 46, and already with 9 grandchildren. I told her she had a strong body. Maybe it has something to do with all the fish they eat--her husband is a skilled fisherman.

We stayed with his eldest aunt, who was somewhere in her 80s. She was so hospitable with us the whole time and surprisingly active for her age. She lives alone (if you don't include her pigs, chickens, dogs, and cats), which is uncommon but seems to work for her. She enjoys the old style of living--without a service room (toilet or shower area). Each morning we made the trek to Erics other Aunt Chilo's house to have a shower and chat un rato (a little bit of time). We also went over to talk each night, which was our hosts custom. Nicaraguans on the whole are very family oriented and like to chat together and relax. Her house was pretty full of people, also quite common. She has 3 boys, two of which are married, all but the youngest with kids.

I like the island style of living--they grow a lot of their own fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which has also creates jobs since thy export a lot of plantain to the rest of Nicaragua, maybe further. Also, they exercise plenty. Many live in a community outside of the central town, which is where we were, and took about a half hour of walking one way. Biking is popular there, and a little quicker. Very near by, was a beach. Its a popular spot not only for swimming, but also washing clothes and the body.

I had my heart set on climbing a volcano since as of yet I hadn't. So that was our Saturday activity. We got up at 3:30 to make the bus at 4:30 in altagracias. Unfortunately our tour guide was late, but payed for a taxi for us. Eric was not sure it was a good idea for him to climb because he wasn't feeling in great shape. They made it half way then turned back, which was a good idea because on the way down they had more trouble and he fell a few times. I went on alone, even though I wouldn't advise doing that and probably shouldn't have. Over all it took 6 hours to climb (normally taking 4). The middle was gorgeous, from what I saw anyway. It was very foggy when we arrived so couldn't see much of the lake. There were a group of kids from a near-by village playing soccer in a field area by the shore. It was beautiful really and if I had known them, would have wanted to join in. The hike down was quicker, taking 2 hours. And I met a Canadian couple on the way, and somehow I knew they were Canadian before they said it. It turned out the guy had gone to the same university as me, and her sister lived in the same city as my mom. Maybe I will meet them again when I return. That would be interesting.

Overall, I really liked the island and want to go back someday. Even without eating Red Fish, which they say seals the deal on your return, at least once, if not forever. However, Erics little cousin wants to bring me some when she visits. It must be good fish.