Granada 2

We got up quite early, heading to the central park in Altagracia on Ometepe, where the island buses wait, and quickly jumped on a bus that did not wait at all, running to catch it. We left Ometepe on the ferry to San Jorge under a strong wind.  Many waves crashing against the boat, and the boat was rocking against the rocky wavebreak. Many staff were in the water to move ropes or holding ropes on land attached to the ferry to bring it into position. Once docked and tethered, manual labour also worked to straighten the ferry at times., such as just before they tried to unload any of the large commercial trucks on board.

Manually turning the ferry so the truck can more easily disembark.

We caught a taxi with Santi, our Argentinean friend from the hike, heading into Rivas proper to find the bus station. Unfortunately, he was heading South back home to Tamerindo in Costa Rica and so had to wait at a different station, but invited us to join him there where he lives if we should so wish. When we got to the station we stopped at a comedor (spanish for dining room) to buy an inexpensive breakfast. We boarded the bus riding north back to Granada where we would have to change buses for Managua and then, once there, again for Leon.

Mansion covered islets near Ometepe

In Granada we headed back to La Libertad hospedaje, getting a room in their alternate space with the restaurant and then went to central park to find Jerry, who had previously offered us an inexpensive tour of the islets near Granada. Finding him, we made our arrangements to take a wild tour through the mansion covered islands. Before the tour we finally climbed the church clocktower where Rigel took some hammy photos.

Obstructed view from the top of the church clocktower

A hammy photo on the tour boat through the islets.

The islands had few land animals on them, but many birds and bugs. Fishermen would work the lake between the islands where swallows operated in swarms of thousands feasting the the small midge type insects above the water. Many eagles, storks, and herons were also to be seen naturally living in this exotic extended boundary ecosystem, formed by the explosive destruction of the top of Volcano Mombacho 20,000 years ago.
One unnatural feature that caught our attention, besides the many island covering and even bridging mansions, is the island prison of 4 spider monkeys rescued from the US. The monkeys cannot swim so they are quite constrained, and sadly the island is not of a sufficient size to provide for them itself, so they are reliant for food on visitors and presumably a caretaker. One, the lone female, is very social and came aboard the boat for a visit and moreso a rummage thru our stuff.

Erin giving a banana chunk to the son on the island.

Lucy, the social mother on the island.

Lucy hanging with Kacie.

Note: spider monkeys like beer!

After going to monkey island as it is called, we swam, went for a beer at the pirate bar, watched the sunset, and returned to Granada. In the morning we hopped on a bus for Managua, there to transfer for Leon.

Sunset in the isletas.