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Friday, 19 December 2008 |
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We enter Nicaragua. The customs formalities are quick despite a queue of trucks due to strikes in Nicaragua. The news we receive from there aren't good because of the fraud during the last elections.
We reach San Juan del Sur where we spend a night: the beaches on the Pacific side of Nicaragua are nice but we don't stay long. The following day we take a boat to the islan of Ometepe where 2 volcanoes are standing right in the middle of an endless lake: it feels like beeing in Shrek! The place is pleasant and we rent a motorbike for a day. We also hire a canoe and take many pictures of the sunset before going back onto the continent 2 days later.
Still heading towards the capital of Managua we stop on the way at Masaya, a town located next to an other volcano that we visit the next day. The clouds of sulfur are amazing! Even more amazing is to be able to drive literally up to the crater. We choose to do a visit by night: we can see the incandescence of the lava reflecting in the gaz vapours at the buttom of the mouth of the volcano… Truly breathtaking!
The following day we follow the remaining strip to Managua where we finally arrive despite another bunch of policemen trying to increase their monthly salary on us. However our training gained in Peru helps us to resist any attempt until the cancellation of "all fines" (and so despite a proposal to buy a pizza during the harsh negotiations…)
Managua is particularly disappointing. The earthquake destroyed everything 15 years ago. I really wonder if there's ever been anything to destroy before… We book a room in a hostel and get in touch in the meantime with the VW club… In the meantime? Just 10 minutes later the President of the club turns up and kindly forces us to follow him to his house where he has a specialized VW workshop! The car will be under restoration for a few days: they paint it and do a few other bits… everything for free!
Mema had to go back early December, by bus to San Jose in Costa Rica and then by plane to Buenos Aires. I am therefore now alone with our new friends Norma and Enrique. During my stay, they take the decision of accompanying me all the way to Guatemala but they can't leave until 25/12. So I will wait whilst working on a website that I offer them as a present to thank them for them hospitality.
I also spend a lot of time thinking about the future of the H2 Project: the news I receive from my contacts are not encouraging: the conversion seems now much more complicated than expected than what we had planned in theory but mostly it won't be such of interest due to the low level of energy carried by hydrogen per volume. I don't quit and start working on how to convert the car to an electric engine. My wish is to combine batteries and a fuel cell. I spend most of my time on internet.
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