Yesterday was a day where Adventures in Mission was truly an “adventure”. We finally made our way to the lagoon. However, it was not an easy task, and who wants that anyways. We have been talking about going to the lagoon our entire time in Nicaragua, and the third time was a charm as Elisa and I were able to make our way there.
Here is what our day ended up looking like:
– The director of the ministry drove us to the “lagoon”, which ended up just being a lookout spot to see the lagoon. Elisa and I were determined to still be able to swim in it so we took off down the path.
– After about 30 minutes on the slightly declining path, we took a much smaller path downward. We turned around about 10 minutes in as the animal noises were increasing the farther down we went.
– We decided to continue on original path until it came a paved road where we found a restaurant. Elisa and I stopped and asked for directions, and a teenage boy informed us that the fastest way to the lagoon was about an hour walk along the road.
– Elisa and I were ready for adventure and we were already an hour into the trip so kept going.
– After walking along the road for about 20 minutes, we took a local bus as far as they could take us. We resumed our walk for a little longer until we found the official sign for the lagoon. At that point, smiles definitely started to come out even more.
– We started the increased decline along the road until a tuktuk offered to drive us down for $2.00 each. After we bargained him down to a quarter of that price, we hopped on for speedy ride.
– Our new chauffer dropped us off at what seemed like the bottom of a mountain in the middle of the road, but it ends up that we actually had successfully arrived at the lagoon.
– Elisa and I realized this once we saw a sign on one of the handful of driveways that was for the Monkey Hut Hostel. The sign welcomed us to push open the door to our new haven.
This was the view from the backporch of the Monkey Hut.
We spent the next couple of hours enjoying the Monkey Hut, where we adventured out on the kayaks, swam around in the glassy water, paddled out to a hot spring, floated around in the inner tubes, and hung out on the dock. This all came for a nice sum price of about $7.00. [So not worth it]
Our adventure back to Jinotepe included three modes of transportation. Not as adventures as our way there. We started out with a taxi ride that we shared with three people for Israel and continue on an old yellow school bus that is now brightly painted back to Jinotepe. Then our final leg was on a 15 passenger van that dropped us off right in front of home, Nueva Vida.
Lucy,
Great to see your walkabout spirit continues to thrive! Wait, you are on a Mission Walkabout. Boy, what am I forgetting. People, places, and memories are certainly what life is all about. Your team has had quite an experience in Nicaragua and I am sure the next two stops will unfold even more treasures.
Love, Dad
What a great adventure! Sounds like you had a blast 😀
LAGUNA DE APOYO IS MY FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD!
it’s so beautiful! I’m so glad you found it 🙂 I’ve done my fair share of walking for hours down that same road. one year i had a rolling suit-case…. not fun.
but the water is so beautiful, isn’t it?! you can see forever 🙂
do you know they’ve never found the bottom of it in the center?? it just keeps going and going because it’s a lagoon formed from the crater of a volcano. so cool….
next time you go, you should stay at a place called La Abuela. There’s a big dock to jump off of.
love you audrey! i know the Lord is working through you
This is my kind of day Audrey! I wish I was there with you and Elisa. I love your adventurous spirit.
You’re doing an amazing job leading your team. God spoke so clearly to all of us when He called you by name to love and direct your team. He’s so proud of you… and so are we.
Praying for you!
Glad that you finally got INTO THE WATER!
Uncle Bob