Cerro Negro - Volcano Boarding, Leon

Behind me is the famous chain of volcanoes that runs along the pacific rim of Nicaragua. The tallest one in the background is the oldest and most active volcano in all of central america, while the one I'm standing on is the youngest, and holds the title of "most recent erruption"! Reassuring, I know, as I stand and look down into its steaming crater... Freaky deaky if i do say so myself. Interestingly, thats how it got its name "Cerro Negro" - it is so young (only 150 years old) and it has errupted so recently (last one in 1992), that no vegitation grows, and the volcano is the only completely black hill on the horizon.

It's wierd to consider the fact that the world is still taking shape. I mean, 150 years ago, I would have been standing in the middle of a relatively flat field, full of vegitation. Totally bizarre.

They say you can get up to 60 km/hour on a volcano board... I wonder how fast this British dude was going?

This is the British dude totally bailing, and getting some serious, uh, volcano rash? all over one of his arms... Nasty!

This is the British dude sliding the rest of the way down on his butt!

Somehow, I reached the bottom without a scratch!

This family actually managed to squeeze another kid on the seat! This is what public transportation is like in Nicaragua.

Me, Sue and Franchelle

Cutie pie here ran through my shot at just the right moment. This beach is about an hour outside of Leon, but feels like 4 hours when your trapped on the monster bus packed about 200 people over capacity...
Anyway, Franchelle, Sue and I decided to make a weekend trip to Leon - partially to accompany the 2 Sues to their construction placement, partially to party, as Sue takes off for Guatemala City on Tuesday!!! OMG thats tomorrow! Crazy. Anyway, Franchelle is Moving into Basecamp, so thats pretty cool. She's into random adventures (hence the volcano boarding, which I'll post next) as much as I am it seems, so we get along well. She's only in Nicaragua for 3 more weeks though, and she's buisy during the week at her internship position at the Santiago Hospital here in Jinotepe.

You cant really tell from this photo, but this is me in the back of a pickup truck which is about to break the sound barrier... Hey, at least we got home fast! (My first hitch hiking experience in Nicaragua.. good times)

This is Lester Perez, a local ceramic artist and painter with a studio in Katarina. We will be having a small exhibition of his work at the Basecamp house in Jinotepe. We hope that by displaying his, and other artists work, it will help spread the word of their business to from town to town, as well as be a beautiful addition to the house. All the art pieces on display will be for sale, with all the proceeds going directly to the artists. For us it's just a bonus to have this beautiful work in our home!

This wood burning kiln is right in the back of a family's house in the small neighborhood right beside Katarina. The front of their home is full of hundreds of unique and beautiful pieces of pottery, all handmade by various family members. They were kind enough to give us a tour of their home/art studio.

I'm absolutely in love with these wind chimes. They're all handmade by locals - usually family run businesses. The land surrounding, Katarina - a town about 45 minutes from Jinotepe, is rich with this beautiful dark brown clay, which is used to make all kinds of beautiful ceramic art. This industry is the main source of income for most people in Katarina, and the town has become a tourist landmark because of it. Katarina also overlooks the Lagunda de Apollo, which I'm hopefully going to visit tomorrow.

Meet Robin, the house cat. Her brother Batman ran away a while ago.

Canopy tour at Mumbacho with my two first volunteers - Sue and Suzanne! It's orientation week right now, then they're off to Leon to work for an organization called Fundapalele. They'll be helping to build permanent housing for families currently residing in shanty towns in communities outside the city of Leon. Fundapalele has helped hundreds of Nicaraguans by building houses, schools, and education centers for women to help teach trades and business development skills to women who have to make it on their own.

Mombacho Crater

Volcan Mombacho - Mariposa Sanctuary

Grenada Cemetary

Basecamp Jinotepe - "La Casa Linda"

I've been living in Jinotepe, Carazo, Nicaragua for almost a month now. I can't even begin to describe how it feels to wake up every morning and realize that, hey, I'm not in Van anymore! It's fucking awesome.

My plan is to tell my story mainly with photos. I think they'll be able to tell you more about what I'm experiencing than words ever could.

This blog is dedicated to Jimmy, without whom this journey, and many others would not have been possible. Thanks cuz! You're doing great things in this life.