Day 4

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." 

Waiting for the bus in the morning. 

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. 

A view between craters. 

Day 3

Guest blogger Ben:

Hey folks. Here's our 3rd entry into our steamy Niçaragua trip. We woke up around 8 to a delicious breakfast of bananas, pancakes, and  syrup, which we devoured in a matter of seconds. After washing down breakfast with a mug of coffee, and feeling energized, we headed to day 2 of our Spanish classes. In today's lesson, we acted out dialogues between customers and vendors. Laughter and hi jinxed ensued. Feeling confident In our ways,we headed back to the Learning center to pick up construction where we left off. During the morning, we carried buckets of dirt and tied more rebar.

Tomorrow is filled with excursions as we take a break from the work. We will travel to Lake Niçaragua with some local students and the visit a historical prison and hike a volcano!

Neighborhood kids helping move dirt. 

This sewer cover at the edge of Pantanal says "2014". It represents many of the more modern comforts making their way into the community along with electricity, running water and education.

Eliza was a rockstar tying rebar. 

Almost done with the dirt!

After lunch at Ramona's.

Scott clearing the way to set the foundation for the walls. 

Our most seasoned traveller Jim getting dirty. 

Church. 

Case Roja: Amped HQ. 

Dinner at Amped HQ. 

Day 2

Today we started our day with Spanish lessons in the morning before walking to Pantanal.  Jeff gave a history of Amped's involvement in the community, then we moved bricks and rock and tied rebar for the walls of the learning center.  Ramona prepared a wonderful lunch and we finished our work. After some downtime in the hostel (pool!) we went back out in Granada for dinner.

Here's Caroline with a reflection:

Today at the learning center I had my first opportunity to interact with the Nicaraguan children. In walking through Pantanal, the town in which the learning center is located, I was exposed to living conditions that I could never have imagined. This provided me with a different perspective towards the children. We were working and a 6 year old girl came up to me and said "agua". Unsure of what she meant, I asked her and she pointed at the water jug. She wanted a cup of water. I knew that I could not give her one, but it was extremely hard to say no. Purified water is not a bountiful resource for them. Although this is cliche, it made me appreciate the simple pleasures I have in Massachusettes, even water. 

Practicar español.

At the edge of Granada walking to Pantanal.

Jeff narrating the walking tour with Amped's history.

Walking through Pantanal.

Tying rebar was one of our main jobs today.

This historic church was across from the delicious taco restaurant where we ate dinner tonight.

Taco Tuesday!

Day 1

Long and almost flawless travel day. Heather's luggage was lost! But no worries, it is on its way tomorrow. 

After reaching the hostel, we had a brief orientation and then walked to dinner. After dinner we walked to an ice cream shop and practiced speaking Spanish by ordering cones. Then it was back to the hostel for some down time before a long day tomorrow!

Here is first time traveler Liam with some reflection:

Although the day was mostly spent in airports and on planes, the brief time in Granada has been, in a word, incredible. Even just walking to exchange my American currency for the Nicaraguan cordobas was so different from what I would expect for an American or even Canadian city. Seeing the people, places, and things scattered throughout the thin streets was truthfully strange; it was far from anything that I had expected. I'm not sure what to look for in the days to come.  

Here is Scotty with some reflections:

My experience so far in the few hours we have been in Nicaragua has been interesting. The experience started as soon as we walked out of the airport and got on the bus. As we started to drive and got away from the small area built up around the airport the third world part of this trip really set in. The people that live here are in such a different ecomomy that when driving by people's "houses" it was some times hard to tell if it was a house or a storage shed. I am excited to help the community in all the ways possible in the days to come.

Layover in Miami 

The amazing bus ride from the air port to the hostle (as mentioned in Scotty's entry)

Orientation

Some cards before dinner

The whole group at dinner. 

Last meeting recap and carpool details

Thanks to everyone for coming to Monday's meeting!

I have been sending out emails to certain travelers about some of the things that still need to be turned in.  Thank you for taking care of these requirements quickly as we are only a month away!  If you have questions about what is still needed of you, please ask.

The car pool will meet in the front parking lot at Frontier.  Our flight departs 7/20 at 7:02am in Hartford, and it is recommended to be at least 2 hours early for international flights.  This means arriving at the airport by 5:00am which means meeting at Frontier at 4:00am!

We have more than enough seats for 13 travelers:
Brian Sullivan -- 3 seats plus space for bags
Pat Falla -- 4 seats
Carol Pelis -- 3 seats plus space for bags
Satu Zoller -- 5 seats (drop off only!)
Mike Robinson -- 4 seats
Megan Desmarais -- 5 seats (pick up only!)

I will send out email reminders closer to our travel date with contact info for our car pool drivers.


I just got Amped T-shirts for all of the volunteers today.  I'll bring them when we meet to car pool!

July Trip Basic Itinerary

Day 1 (July 20): Arrive in Nicaragua, head to Granada and settle in at the hostel, then Amped staff will give a short orientation and the group will go out to dinner.

Day 2 (July 21): Walking tour of Pantanal in the morning, then the group will start their volunteer project (as of now we're not 100% sure what that will be, but there will be a mix of construction-type work and interaction with Nicaraguan students). The group will go out to dinner again in Granada.

Day 3 (July 22): Volunteering, then dinner at the Amped house aka Casa Roja.

Day 4 (July 23): Volunteering, then a boat tour of Lake Nicaragua and dinner either on the lake or in Granada. 

Day 5 (July 24): Volunteering, then people can choose to go on an optional ziplining excursion, or they can just hang out at the hostel. Dinner at Casa Roja.

Day 6 (July 25): Last day of volunteering, then the group will head to Masaya Volcano and Coyotepe in the afternoon. Dinner in Granada, then everyone should pack up to leave Granada in the morning.

Day 7(July 26): Leave the hostel in Granada early, and spend the day at Apoyo Lagoon. In the afternoon, the group will head south to a beach house on the Pacific Coast. 

Day 8 (July 27): Pacific Coast

Day 9 (July 28): Pacific Coast (pack up to leave for the airport early the next morning).

Day 10 (July 29): Group will leave the beach around 7am for the airport.

July 20-29 Group Meeting Monday 6/15 6pm

Hey Travelers!

Let's plan on meeting Monday 6/15 at 6pm in my room at Frontier to go over final travel details and some itinerary items.  We need to talk about planning transportation to and from the airport.  I can also answer any last minute questions and even go over packing lists!

Things to think about this month:
Vaccines?
Passports!
Paying the balance owed to Amped.

If you have any conflicts, let me know.