El Doctor por Favor

We woke up at about 8:00.  It was hot (I know, right?).  So we got to packing since we had to check out at 9:00.  A note on that, in the US check in and out times are pretty strict.  Here there is what is known as ‘Nica’ time.  It could be an hour or more from what time you’d arranged.

We got out to the front porch at about 8:30 and watched the market.  I wandered out a few times for photos, and we just enjoyed ourselves as we watched the Granada market come to life.

The trash collector

A bus passenger buys bananas

Too poor to afford school - these boys spend their days in the market

By 9:30, we were thirsty and wondering where Allan was.  Not like him to be late…  I walked to the supermarket and bought diet Pepsi for Marci and an H2O for me (we both have diarrhea).  On the way back, I stopped in the market and bought for handmade tortillas (corn) for breakfast.  It was amazing to see them being made.  The woman was taking balls of a corn mixture and flattening them into patties.  These were then put on a wood fed ‘oven’ (like a grill in an American park).  The top was very flat and hot and the tortillas cooked in seconds. Hot off the grill and into a plastic baggie.  I paid 4 pesos (less than a Cordoba ($.05)) and walked to the Hostel.

I should also note here, that most of the Nica’s don’t drink from bottles.  That is a luxury.  For the most part, they buy mixed drinks (like cool aide, fruit juice, an iced chocolate milk, tea, etc in baggies with ice dropped in.  There is a straw sticking out of the top).

Marci and I quickly ate the simple but delicious meal.

9:50 and still no Allan.

Jorge started to get worried.  He asked me if I’d paid Allan in advance, and I said that I’d paid a $20 deposit for the next stay (I didn’t mentione that I’d paid for a weeks worth of Allan’s ‘services’ in advance).  At 10:00, we figured we’d been duped and walked to the Central Park to reassess and start over.

It was not an easy walk because I had three backpacks and Marci had one plus her Camelback.  The Parque is about 2km from the Hostel – so we did it fine.  All the way there we tried to pick each other up.  We said that if Allan had really taken off – we weren’t out that much money.  Most places would have cost more money just to go to the monkey island than we’d already given Allan.  But the truth was, it didn’t hurt our wallet – it hurt our heart.

At the Parque we found a bench (harder to do than you think – these people do a LOT of sitting).  We stacked our bags, shoed the vendors away, rejected the offers of several ‘brokers’ (like Allan) who were ready to find us a hotel.  Marci said it would be an adventure and was looking forward to trying things on our own.  We recalled the hotel Allan had showed us (to buy) and figured we’d make our way there since the rooms were nice, air-conditioned, and had a nice sala with pool.  I hefted the big backpack, grabbed the other two, and helped Marci with hers as well.  Just then…

El Principe de Granda came walking up to us through the parque.  He was apologizing profusely.  Explaining that his brother brought a girl home last night so he had to sleep on the bed and that although he woke up at 5:00, he fell asleep again until 9:30 and then got in an argument with his mother for not getting him up on time.  We aren’t sure whether to believe him or not.  But – he grabbed Marci’s big pack and started off the to next hotel La Posada Del Sol – or sunset (www.laposadadelsol.com.ni). 

I told Allan that we were very disappointed – and not about the money – about the heartache.  He said that he was so sorry and that he would NEVER let us down.  We will see.

The new hotel is very nice.  It has a small kitchen with refrigerator (a huge luxury here), a a dining area, a nice bed, and a very nice bathroom.  We are on the second floor overlooking the large (hot) swimming pool (these people would probably laugh their asses off at the concept of needing to heat a pool).  Best of all – air conditioning!  We will use it sparingly, but it is still nice to have.  The cost?  Well, I paid Allan a $20 deposit (he gave me a receipt last night – but we had written that off), $30 US per night!   And the clerk took off the $20 I paid Allan.  Hmmmmmm

Marci got inside and promptly headed for the bathroom.  She was sicker than she has been the entire time and Allan got concerned.  He was more worried when I told him I had diarrhea too.  Before we knew it, he was back at our room and said a doctor was on the way.  Great – more money…

About an hour later the doctor arrived.  He was very professional and even had a black bag.  He examined Marci, took her blood pressure and temperature, did a few other doctor things and then sat down at the table and wrote a prescription.  He said that we had what is commonly known as “travelers diarrhea” (usually from a bacteria that locals have grown immune to – we are thinking breakfast Monday).  He gave us the instructions and I paid him ($C 660 – or $30 US).  Seriously, $30 for a doctor who comes to your house???  WOW!

Allan took $C500 (less than $25) and headed to the pharmacy.  He came back with most of the medicine and $C220.  Unbelievable.

So, now we are feeling better, and have decided to take it easy for a few days.  We are going to do some things by ourselves, and enjoy this amazing town.  El Principe?  He’s ok, he feels really bad.  And to him, we are a BIG fish he doesn’t want to get away.