Today we successfully dodged rain to pack the day full of enlightening cultural excursions! In the morning we mixed our group with Niçaraguan students on a boat tour of Lake Niçaragua's famously beautiful islands, or Las Isletas. We had a swim and lunch on one of the islands! After lunch, we visited Coyotepe political prison and toured the underground levels with a famous tour guide while thunder crashed. Then we hiked Masaya volcano which had an active episode just 3 years ago. Our guide and friend Geno led the way and gave us invaluable context from a native Niçaraguan's perspective. Finally, we hit the tourist market and practice speaking Spanish while buying souvenirs.
Here is Eliza with a mental snapshot from our tour of Coyotepe:
"Being in a pitch black cell of the political prison, that our tour guide explained to us was used for psychological torture, was both terrifying and eye opening. It was completely dark for maybe a minute total and in that time I had already begun to become anxious and extremely uncomfortable. Realizing that prisoners had actually suffered through that torture and for so much longer than just a minute was disturbing. It's difficult to comprehend that anyone was able to survive for any amount of time in that cell."
Dividing into boats for the tour.
Scotty and Brandyn with the feels.
There are monkeys that live on a small island that are friendly and will eat out of your hand. A little too friendly for Nicaraguan student Ana!
Swimming.
Boating.
Great vantages from Coyotepe prison.
Ben peers as the thunderstorm clears.
The first level of Coyotepe. This level was used primarily for holding prisoners before torture.
Our guide, Rene, demonstrating the torture technique of this particular cell. Visible blood stains on the wall.
Geno educating us on the history of Masaya volcano and those who believed it was a gateway to Hell.
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