One of the most interesting things about travelling is seeing the little differences between where we live and where others spend their days. There are many of these observations in my day to day details but here are a few overwhelming discrepancies.
First of all, the heat. This may seem obvious but the heat and humidity combined was simply...overwhelming.
This was coupled with frequent electrical outages that turned off the rusty fan right when you needed it the most. The best way to cool off was in the showers because there was no hot water. Water was often collected in rain barrels and so heated somewhat by the sun but at most it was tepid, and at the least it was icy. While this felt nice in the middle of the hot day, an icy shower in the morning was a sure way to ensure an efficient bathe. The one hostel that had hot water was heated by an electrical device attached to the shower head. Occasionally the water would just not run at all on the Isla de Ometepe.
The water from the shower often ran directly out into the yard behind the room, which was at times in a courtyard and just open to the sky.
Speaking of the bathrooms, one of the first things you'll notice if you visit a similar country is that the plumbing is rather...touch and go. Instead of flushing anything down the toilet, you must put all your, ahem, toilet waste into a trash can near the toilet. You can imagine the aroma this gives to every bathroom and surrounding area as this sits in the hot sun.
Riding Nica Style was another stunning difference. Nicas would put 2-4 people on one bike and ride to and from work. Instead of sitting on the handle bars or on pegs like we sometimes do, another person and a baby would sit on the main frame of the bike in front of the seat. The rider would wrap their arms around their passengers, helping to keep their balance.
These were a few of the things that stood out the most but read on to the day to day recaps for more!
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