Travel Talk

Getting to Know Granada, Nicaragua

Greetings,

Sit here inside an Oasis of sorts from the busy streets of Granada, Nicaragua. This ancient(ish) colonial city has much character and it fits well with the theme and lifestyle of this particular character. One is walking through busy streets often filled with garbage but all I see is gold, “out with the new and in with the old” one proclaims from the walls of an ancient building sure to be hiding some mold. This is a great place but one must keep safety on the fringes of their frontal lobe, or so I’ve been told…

Did you like the video updates? Apparently, as we’re spiking in repeat visitors again. What always makes me scratch my head is how many of you can visit daily and fall into the “over 25 times” category while still not even saying “what up”? If you go about your life like that, you’re missing out on so much but I’m not here to tell you how to live your life, simply suggesting you stop being so mute in these hallowed halls.

Since this is trip 2.0, things are different. On the first night went out with my friend, met these ladies I had made a comment to at breakfast regarding a lackluster continental breakfast and one thing lead to another. Then comes this gregarious gentleman from Scotland and next thing you know it’s late and Sir SHABL is dehydrated. So you know, dehydration is incredibly easy to get here, it’s a non stop battle to keep hydrated, late egregious evenings do nothing for the cause.

Suffice to say Mr. Scotland reminded Sir SHABL of his trip when he burst into the Thai scene in late 2009. Now, it’s a more peaceful trip where all that “I’m so free and it’s frosh week” youthful exuberance is but a fleeting memory. Have traded in a party hat for a construction cap of sorts where I’m building a new direction for this site but most importantly, going full pedal to the floor in other ventures, hence no long lengthy updates where I discuss in depth the delicious delectables that I dive into and divine encounters with deviant street dwellers in a wine cellar near you.

Suffice to say, Granada is a beautiful place and so far C. America reminds me more of Africa then it does S.E Asia or anywhere else. The old colonial buildings stand firm and strong but the thought of say applying a fresh coat of paint or removing mold from old buildings is simply nonsensical. Also regarding safety, don’t feel safe. I don’t feel as though I’m about to be ambushed by a machete yielding maniac but definitely not a place to walk with your nose deep in your guide book and go about your day being gullible.

Have heard a few “stories” already but it was mainly from this one lady who seemed to be a real magnet of negative energy, the energy was so odd and turbulent that I nearly vomited after we talked due to motion sickness, luckily I was casually sipping on a delicious cup of lemon ginger water. This drink offers a refined taste that has been enjoyed by gentleman and ladies around the world for centuries, ginger is also a great herbal anti-nausea medicine and one of my most favorite tastes on this planet but that is neither here nor there, yes?

For the most part the people I’ve met everywhere appear to be genuine. That said, much like Occupy Wall Street complains about that pesky 1% ruining their lives, the same is true here only the 1% aren’t “rich” they’re downright “menacing”. The composition of the area changes drastically in the evening, at 9PM its a ghost town of iron gates. I’ve done some walking around here and there to get say a foot long hot dog(typically resent all forms of hot dog) for a buck or a $0.50 burrito type deal but that’s about it. The first night I did walk home late and the streets were baron, in Asia you’d have people everywhere but unlike Africa, there are street lights.

At any rate, to say that this voyage will be slow travel would be a lie, we here at SHABL do not pigeon hole ourselves, the reality is that as of now, I’m very happy, in a very good place and half the time I’m not even in C. America. My mind is in a deep theta state and I’m driving a navy blue Bentley with a lady who has long wavy blonde hair wearing large black sunglasses (no brand name) with her legs crossed in shotgun. We’re motoring across Poland’s prolific countryside at mach 5 on our way to Krakow while my monkey butler prepares peanut-butter banana smoothies in the back seat.

It’s 7am, I’ve been working in my room / office. Having flashbacks of my teenage years where I never sleep and am never awake. Working where you sleep is lethal to proper sleep, you always wake-up and are checking things if you’re cut from the same cloth as my custom made cargo shorts. To remedy this one must move the “office” aka laptop to a different, more social location because I’m not sure if I’m tired or dehydrated or both but not revving at full vibration and that is simply not acceptable.

This update will have gone live later, one is not ready to start the day.

Tips hat (colonial style, use your imagination)

Leave a Reply