Visitors!

I received my first visitors, Mom and long-time friend of the family Wendy, in mid-October just before the elections.  Luck would have it, however, that they visited just in time for the first tropical storm to hit Nicaragua since I landed in January!  Not to worry, though.  A little hurricane can’t stop a group of eager travelers!

We first visited Granada for some fine dining, massages, and island-hopping.  Being one of only two colonial towns in Nicaragua, Granada is known for its beautiful architecture, its plethora of competing restaurants, and its influx of foreigners (residents and tourists alike).  Granada sits on Nicaragua’s largest lake (fittingly named Lake Nicaragua) which is home to hundreds of small islands inhabited by local fishermen or rich family summer homes.  Some island properties are currently for sale at half a million dollars!

We then visited the slightly less glamorous town of Boaco to unload the 50 pounds of gifts that my mom and Wendy had brought from friends and family in The States.  Clothes, home decor, cleaning products, homemade cookies, towels, potholders, peanut butter, and chocolate (oh the chocolate!)  I got an Italian home-made dinner, help with my barrel-filling, and an audience during one of my health lectures.

Coincidently, my mom and Wendy not only made it for our first tropical storm, but also the 2011 Small Business Masquerade-Cocktail Party at the Holiday Inn in Managua!  After a fun and eventful night, we headed to the coast.

A great big thanks to those who sent gifts!

Mom

Wendy

Jerry

Katie

Dad

Aunt Denise

Nita

Dr. T

Juddy
Jill!

I tried to stretch the chocolates out as long as possible!