The hotel was very shabby and lots of locals stayed in it too: which did not improve the quality of shared amenities. The view of the harbour and main walking “Malecon” made up for it though. We tried to cycle out of town to explore the area but quickly returned finding a nasty gravel road just as you leave the town boundaries. We popped in to a hidden lake front hotel for lovely coffee, and internet café afterwards. The boat to Ometepe was only running two times a week (typical). Next one was on Tuesday afternoon. So we decided to take a boat ride down the river San Juan, which was the part of old trading route, pirate route and never created canal route from Pacific to Caribbean. America owns the rights to build one here, but they did not have the intention to ever do so. Stopping other nations and making good profit out of the Panama canal is good enough for them… (Probably good for the wildlife too, not too sure about region’s economy).
After 4 hours on the bumpy boat ride, seventy passengers arrived in “El Castillo”. The town was built by the Spanish in the seventeenth century to protect the entry route to Granada city (supposedly full of gold those days). The place was constructed at a strategic place above the rapids. There was little half a kilometre train route to transport the goods between boats, hence avoiding the rapids. The train line does not exist anymore, but the old track has been changed in to lovely walking route. The small town has an amazing feeling and beautiful river front houses. Nowadays the flat bottom boats cross the rapids with no major problems. Found a paradise location hotel with a veranda with waterfront views - what a life. Could stay here forever. Birds nesting in the tree opposite, lovely local music spreading quietly across the neighbourhood and happy people were enjoying Sunday afternoon. Priceless!!!! Knocked down couple of “Tona Cerveza” looking at the world go by, and went for a meal in one of the upstairs patio restaurants.
Cycled 4km
After 4 hours on the bumpy boat ride, seventy passengers arrived in “El Castillo”. The town was built by the Spanish in the seventeenth century to protect the entry route to Granada city (supposedly full of gold those days). The place was constructed at a strategic place above the rapids. There was little half a kilometre train route to transport the goods between boats, hence avoiding the rapids. The train line does not exist anymore, but the old track has been changed in to lovely walking route. The small town has an amazing feeling and beautiful river front houses. Nowadays the flat bottom boats cross the rapids with no major problems. Found a paradise location hotel with a veranda with waterfront views - what a life. Could stay here forever. Birds nesting in the tree opposite, lovely local music spreading quietly across the neighbourhood and happy people were enjoying Sunday afternoon. Priceless!!!! Knocked down couple of “Tona Cerveza” looking at the world go by, and went for a meal in one of the upstairs patio restaurants.
Cycled 4km