We've been back home again for almost two weeks. Nicaragua was amazing but just like any vacation, the hotel rooms and restaurants were starting to get old. I'm happy to be back in my own bed, with my own TV (with english channels!!) and my own kitchen to cook in. And of course, my puppies to cuddle and spoil!
This was an especially good vacation for us. Honestly, it was one of the best we have ever taken. Before we made the 'big' move to Belize from Canada we were travelling a ridiculous amount. Life in the north was closing in and it was claustrophobic. It felt like we needed to get away a couple of times a year just to keep our sanity. That was a key sign that it was time for us to move on and shake things up. Then we settled in Belize and we've got everything that we used to travel for! Beautiful weather, incredible scenery, history, nature, and incredible people whom we are still learning about. Everything was new and exciting.
And with all the changes in our lives, we kind of forgot why we travelled before. Now, it's not so much to escape but to see more...new...different! Yes, we live in a paradise but it's not the only paradise out there. I think it's part of our North American makeup...we are always looking across that fence to check out the grass. Not saying that is the best way to be. It sometimes bothers me that we are restless. We have it all, right?
But I will stop over analyzing. Suffice to say that travel is in my blood and I will not go so long again without exploring more of this amazing planet. Travel refreshes and expands a person's soul. Everything is appreciated a little bit more when you can open your eyes and mind to how other people live.
That really is the end of my philosophical rant. Summed up...GREAT HOLIDAY...HAPPY TO BE HOME!
This was an especially good vacation for us. Honestly, it was one of the best we have ever taken. Before we made the 'big' move to Belize from Canada we were travelling a ridiculous amount. Life in the north was closing in and it was claustrophobic. It felt like we needed to get away a couple of times a year just to keep our sanity. That was a key sign that it was time for us to move on and shake things up. Then we settled in Belize and we've got everything that we used to travel for! Beautiful weather, incredible scenery, history, nature, and incredible people whom we are still learning about. Everything was new and exciting.
And with all the changes in our lives, we kind of forgot why we travelled before. Now, it's not so much to escape but to see more...new...different! Yes, we live in a paradise but it's not the only paradise out there. I think it's part of our North American makeup...we are always looking across that fence to check out the grass. Not saying that is the best way to be. It sometimes bothers me that we are restless. We have it all, right?
But I will stop over analyzing. Suffice to say that travel is in my blood and I will not go so long again without exploring more of this amazing planet. Travel refreshes and expands a person's soul. Everything is appreciated a little bit more when you can open your eyes and mind to how other people live.
That really is the end of my philosophical rant. Summed up...GREAT HOLIDAY...HAPPY TO BE HOME!
Now, back to our last few days in Nicaragua. San Juan del Sur and Granada are the typical tourist spots but we added a couple of extra days in Managua. Managua is the capital of Nicaragua and it's where the international airport is located. There are about a million and a half people there and it's like any other big city. It's crowded and kind of dirty with traffic congestion. But they have shopping malls, chain restaurants and movie theatres!!! That's what we went for. I did a stupid amount of research online before we left to find the movie theatres and malls and determine that we could find a film in english! I booked a hotel near said movie theatre and mall and we got our fix! Turns out movie theatres and malls in Managua are just about the same as anywhere else. We used our brilliant Spanish to buy tickets and order popcorn and M&M's. Apparently, I know all the Spanish that I need! Ahhhhh...two hours of air conditioned bliss with a movie on a great big screen, a huge bag of heart stopping 'butter flavoured' popcorn and a bag of M&M's. Happy!