Something Beautiful: Finally...we find out what Lauren has been doing for the past year!!!

As Lauren mentioned below our visit to Nicaragua was a colliding of her two worlds…for us it was an introduction to a new, beautiful, and different world. Neither Ron, Eryn or I had ever traveled outside the US, except to Canada. So passports, customs, immunizations, etc were all new to us. But so well worth it all!

Every single person we met that is involved in Lauren’s life was amazing, I'd love to list them all but I know I'd forget someone. It has made it much easier now that we have seen where she is and the people that surround her while she is some 2,000 miles away from us.

There are so many things I could blog about but I'll choose two things. First I'll share my thoughts on some unique things I observed in Nicaragua, then some of our travels.

Interesting observations:

1. All the Nicaraguan people I met were all so very kind
2. People walk so close to the edge of the road! I am surprised there aren't people hit every day!
3. To pass in a car, you honk and pass them. If its late and no one is around you can honk and go through a red light.
4. There are random skinny horses tied up along the road
5. There are many many stray dogs roaming around everywhere, no cats
6. All young Nicaraguan girls are beautiful.
7. Many of the houses have cement walls and gates around them.
8. A number of people sell food, fruit and vegetables from stands on the street.
9. There are 3 ways to cook plantains and they have them very often with their meals.
10. Rice and beans are another staple.
11. It is sad to see the poverty.

Some amazing things we did and saw:

Here is the Masaya Volcano. It hasn't erupted since the 1700's but at night you can still see a red glow inside! The sulfur smell permeated the area.

Here we are at Lake Nicaragua. They said it is the only fresh water lake that is home to fresh water sharks! We chose not to go in....but the cows don't seem to mind!