Tulsa Part II

Some more photos from Tulsa!

This is downtown looking northwest down South Boston Avenue towards the BOK Tower.

Here you can see the large neon sign for the Atlas Life Building. The building is a historic twelve-story office building completed in 1922. On May 19, 2009 it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The next series of photos are of the Boston Avenue Methodist Church. The church was hailed as the country's first church designed in a strictly American style of architecture. Credit for the building's design is still debated in Tulsa. One account credits Tulsa art teacher Adah Robinson, while others credit her former student, Bruce Goff.

Here is the church from another side. It is said that the church technically has no back side to it.

A view of the entire building.

The soaring tower of this church is 225 feet tall.

The original Route 66 concrete bridge (on the right) over the Arkansas River in Tulsa was built in 1916 and carried drivers until the 1970s, when a newer bridge (on the left) was built beside it. The City of Tulsa kept the old bridge and turned it in to a pedestrian footbridge leading to a Route 66 monument seen in the next photo.

Route 66 monument showing the flag of each state Route 66 traverses.

Along the Arkansas River is a long and beautiful riverfront park and trail that runs 10 miles along Riverside Drive.

A pedestrian footbridge over Route 66.

This building fascinated me the minute I saw it. This is the University Club Tower - a residential high-rise building completed in 1966. The building rises 377 feet and contains 32 floors. It currently stands as the 8th-tallest building in the city. Get this: The University Club Tower also holds the distinction of being the first major building in the United States to be designed by a computer!

A view that shows its scale and presence among the surrounding neighborhood.

Tulsa

I spent the past weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma visiting my friend Scott. I wanted to get away as soon as school had ended and have never been to Tulsa or any part of the central plains for that matter. It was a short trip but I managed to see quite a bit of the city. I was even able to drive down to Oklahoma City Saturday night for gay pride! I stayed in downtown Tulsa at the Crowne Plaza which I will be reviewing in a later post. The weather during my stay was incredibly hot - it hit 100°F every day and made being outside unbearable for any extended period of time. This coming from someone who has spent hot summers in Brazil and Nicaragua!

I did not get to do as much as I had planned - the trip to Oklahoma City Saturday night was a bit spontaneous and that took up time I had set aside for other things. Still, I was very glad I went and spent Saturday night bar and club-hopping and meeting all kinds of locals. Unfortunately I did not get to see much of Oklahoma City outside of the small gay district (known has the Habana district), but I was happy I was able to at least see that.

While I was in Tulsa I went to a winery for the first time and did a wine tasting. I bought a couple bottles of delicious wine and can't wait to drink them when I get home! There are some pics that will follow at the bottom. I went to several restaurants, tried some local ice cream at Braum's Ice Cream (incredible!), and even checked out a shopping mall. As much as I dislike malls, I've become interested in checking out malls wherever I go. I like to see the different peoples that shop in the malls, the types of stores, and the ethnic makeup of the employees. For example, in Tulsa, I was really surprised by the number of Mexican employees who manned the kiosks and stores. I see what people are wearing, if there are any gay people around and how comfortable they feel, and even talk to the employees as I did in Tulsa (and made a friend in the process).

Enough about malls though... I spent Sunday morning taking photos around the city, where most of the photos I took came from. I did not get to take as many as I would have liked, but I feel that is always the case no matter where I go and how much time I have. I would definitely like to come back - maybe as part of a larger road trip across the country. My flight to and from was uneventful, and overall I had a very good trip - even made a couple new friends. Below are some of the photos from my trip. Next trip is Florida in less than a week!

Here we have the BOK Tower, built in 1976. At 52 stories and 667 feet, it is the tallest building in Oklahoma and all five of the "Plains" states. It is headquarters for the BOK Financial Corporation. If you notice, it is built in a style similar to that of the former World Trade Center in NYC.

On Sunday I spent the afternoon doing some photography of Tulsa. Here you can see the BOK tower amongst the other buildings of downtown.

This is the Holy Family Cathedral on 8th Street. It is a Gothic Revival church, built between 1912 and 1914, when it opened. It was the tallest building in Tulsa until 1923, when the Mayo Hotel was built. It recently underwent extensive renovations and is listed on National Register of Historic Places.

This is downtown from South Main Street.

A view of downtown from South Boulder Street. This is looking north.

One of my favorite photos: Here on the left is the Mayo Building, built in 1910 and expanded in 1917. It is one of Tulsa’s early 10-story "skyscrapers", and is being transformed into loft apartments with the help of the Vision 2025 Downtown Housing Fund. Construction began in 2008, with the first apartments available for occupancy in late 2009.

Behind the Mayo Building you see the tall white First Place Tower. It was completed in 1970 and has 40 stories. It is the 3rd tallest building in Oklahoma.

This is the art-deco Gillette-Tyrell Building. Completed in 1930, this building was originally designed for thirteen floors but only three were completed. This building was listed in the National Register on January 21, 1982.

This is Bartlett Square and the building on the right is the McFarlin Building. The McFarlin Building is a nineteenth-century, Renaissance Revival style building completed in 1918. This building was listed in the National Register on December 6, 1979.

And here we have the famous BOK center. So much I can say about this building, but I am going to try and condense it as much as possible. Designed by Cesar Pelli, the architect of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia (which used to be the tallest towers in the world), the BOK Center is the flagship project of Tulsa County's Vision 2025 long-range development initiative. It opened in 2008 at a cost of $198 million and is a 19,199-seat multi-purpose arena and a primary indoor sports and event venue in Tulsa. It has been designed to accommodate arena football, hockey, basketball, concerts, and similar events.

As anyone familiar with my photography knows well, I am an avid photographer of street scenes. This one is of Denver Avenue downtown, looking southeast.

These are the double-towers of the Williams Center. Completed in 1983, Tower II is 23 stories (in the foreground) and Tower I is 17 stories (in the background).

This building really intrigued me. This is the Tulsa Federal Building and Post Office and was built in 1967. Wish I could find more information on this building.

Finally Summer

I finished my last paper for summer school tonight and could not be more relieved. I feel like I've been studying non-stop since September. I know for a fact I received A's in both of my summer classes so my GPA has been maintained!

I received acceptance to Semester at Sea for Summer 2010 and am very excited to have the opportunity to participate! It's a year away still but I know it will come fast, so I have begun planning for the trip and putting money away. I will, of course, be blogging throughout the entire voyage.



Tomorrow I only have work, then Friday it's off to Tulsa for a long weekend with my friend Scott. I'm very excited to see a part of the country I've never been to. I'm not setting any expectations for this trip, however, and have booked my own hotel and rental car so I'll be independent while I am there. I am so excited to be traveling again!!

Last week I went to Providence for Pride and had a fantastic time (the photos on this post are from there). I wish I could visit my friends in Providence more often but I just have not had the time! I've hung out with some fellow GARP majors from school (GARP stands for Geography and Regional Planning) a couple of times and have had some much-needed fun. It's the only time I've left the condo outside of going to Providence!

Let the traveling commence!!

Spring Update

The last day of exams was yesterday though my last exam was last Thursday. Somehow I got it all done and survived a very demanding semester, all while keeping my GPA intact at 4.0. I completed a huge (and beautiful) map project for Advanced GIS that took me an entire week to complete, and am still actually working on an extra-credit project (that I don't need but it's a group project) for another class. I'm quite burned out, though I start two summer classes next week and taking on more hours at work.

Asides from school, I've booked three trips already for the summer, and have one additional one planned. I am going to visit my friend Scott in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 26th, visit my grandparents on July 4th, and then head to Nicaragua for Spanish school on August 1st. Michael and I are also tentatively planning a road trip to Montreal at the end of August, but until June 26th, I'll only be working and schooling.

I spent the past weekend in Rhode Island (where the pictures are from) visiting my friends Michael, Eddie, and Robbie. I had not seen Eddie and Robbie in over six months, and Michael since our January trip to Nicaragua! I went to Northampton Pride a couple weekends prior to my RI trip with some friends from school and had a lot of fun there as well. Two of my professors from the Geography department were there and marched with our group from WSC! Though I've made some inroads on the friends situation, I still get lonely sometimes and am already missing school and the social contact it provides. In time I am sure it will get better.

That's the past few months in a nutshell. Looking forward to my summer travels once summer school lets out and will be updating the blog accordingly!

Inauguration Day

Yesterday I watched the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President. I almost cried during his speech and felt an overwhelming sense of patriotism - something I have never felt before. I was proud, finally, to be from the United States. I have complete confidence in Barack Obama and am excited to see what he brings to the table. They say a President is judged by their first 100 days in office - hopefully Obama will not disappoint.

I watched the inauguration at school and people cheered and clapped once Obama was sworn in. I recorded some video on my cell phone. It seemed most of the world was watching the inauguration, though I know that is not true. I have such a feeling of excitement I really can not express it in words.

School is already kicking my ass. One class alone (Advanced GIS) is looking to be a real challenge. I've been very tired since arriving back from Nicaragua, and I think I am fighting some kind of cold trying to establish itself. My body is fighting it off though, and I haven't felt much beyond lethargy, which I can deal with.

Below is the video I recorded from my school of President Obama's inauguration:

2008

Before I begin my second semester, I wanted to share some thoughts about 2008. I always like to rate my years on a scale of 1-10, and even make predictions about the year following. I don't think I've done it in a while, but I find it fun and amusing.

I would have to rate 2008 as a solid 9 - maybe even a 10. For all its good and bad (but mostly good) 2008 was a year of growth, experience, and realization.

2008 did not start off smoothly - I had to prepare for a hasty move out of my condo and abandon what I had worked very hard to attain. I did not have even enough time to unpack my car before I was being shuttled down to JFK airport to catch a flight to Brazil. It all seemed so fast, exhilarating, and magical. It only got better.

Brazil helped me to put things in to perspective. I began to thoroughly understand the meaning of happiness, and the difference between "want" and "need." I bonded with Eric and Sidnei, through both the fun and not-so-fun times. I experienced serenity I had never felt before, and took lessons on how to enjoy life from a two-year-old Coton de Tulear named "Dude." I traveled to cities I never though I would see for decades, if ever, and met wonderful people along the way; I made new friends and became a better person myself.

I came back to the United States with a new sense of purpose. Armed with an acceptance letter to Westfield State and newly focused priorities and goals, I sold my car and prepared for a second round of travel, taking myself to Texas, Florida, and eventually Nicaragua. I was able to help my grandparents and spend a trenendous amount of quality time with them; visit San Antonio - a city I love, and work through some old emotional baggage in Managua. All of it was amazing.

School started and my first semester was nearly flawless, finishing with a 4.0 - something I had never achieved. I met a great roommate and was finally able to move out of my mother's basement. I ended the year far from "home" but closer to myself. I've strived and have made great progress towards becomming a better human being - one I know I am capable of being.

2009 I predict will be only a continuation of the process I embarked upon in 2007 and that gained momentum in 2008. I don't predict as much travel as in 2008, but I've already been to Florida and Nicaragua so I'm not doing too badly. I'm going to continue to pursue a relationship with some lucky guy, and hopefully maintain a positive attitude about school and remain as close to a 4.0 GPA as I can. I want to visit my grandparents again in the summer and take a Spanish immersion program. So much coming up - I am quite looking forward to it.

So, with that I bid adieu to my readers. I need to rest up for my first day back to school tomorrow. 2008 will certainly be remembered as a high point in my life, and it would be a remarkable achievement if I could turn that point in to a long plateau in 2009.

Going Home

I'm back in the cold of Western Massachusetts after a very smooth and successful adventure in Nicaragua. I did not write as much as I probably should have because I was very busy and nearly everything after San Juan del Sur was a repeat of August. Michael and I hung out with Juan on Monday and Tuesday and went to León, Masaya, and Granada. Wednesday I checked out the Spanish school in Managua I want to go to and really liked it. Wednesday night I took Nebiur and Ricardo to dinner and we all went to Hipa Hipa after and had an incredibly good time. The flight back was uneventful though we had an overnight layover in Miami and stayed at Michael's friend Jimmy's house. I finally made it back to Westfield at 2:30AM Saturday morning. I've done little since except sleep and lounge around, though I did start some exercising again today.

Just as with my last trip to Nicaragua, I've been experiencing a bout of wanderlust. I think this is due in part to my expecting this semester at school to be very difficult and stressful. I know I'll get it done, but I'm not looking forward to it. School starts on Tuesday.

The weather has been frigid and snowy. The night I returned it got down to -8F. I've only gone outside to go grocery shopping. It makes me yearn to return to Brazil.

Maderas

While in San Juan del Sur, we decided (Michael and I reluctantly) to drive the rutted dirt road to Maderas. I am glad we did. Below are some photos from our time there:

Ricardo persuaded a very reluctant Michael and me to make a long drive down a rough dirt road to a beach called Maderas, north of San Juan del Sur.

As you can see, the drive was well worth it.

More photos of Maderas Beach.

View of the beach from the rocky cliffs along edge of the cove.

Doesn't get much closer to paradise than this.

The road leading away from the beach and back to San Juan del Sur.

A view from the road again looking towards San Juan del Sur.

A narrow cut through the hill.

Beautiful view from the road.

Amayo Windfarm

After Rivas we stopped at the Amayo Windfarm. Below are some photos and information about the windfarm.. enjoy!

Ricardo drove us to see the Amayo windfarm. Here it can be seen from the road.

The Amayo windfarm will be country's first as well as one of the largest in Central America. The 19 windmills are expected to go into operation by the end of January, 2009.

The windfarm is expected to generate 39.9-megawatts (MW) of electricity in Nicaragua.

The $90 million project will be operating at full capacity by the end of January and contribute 6 percent of the country's total energy needs.

Amayo Windfarm.

Amayo Windfarm.

Amayo Windfarm.

Rivas

On our way to San Juan del Sur, we decided to pay a visit to the city of Rivas, which was on our way anyhow. We also stopped at the Amayo Windfarm and took some photos there. I will post them in a separate post following this one.

On the left, Michael and Ricardo are eagerly anticipating breakfast before heading down to San Juan del Sur for the weekend.

Below are the photos from Rivas:

On our way to San Juan del Sur, we made a short stop in Rivas to explore and take some photos.

The cathedral in the center or Rivas, as is typical of Nicaraguan cities and towns.

A street scene from Rivas.

Another Rivas street scene.

Rivas is the capital of the Nicaraguan Department of Rivas, and has a population of about 28,000 inhabitants.

Myself posing for a photo in Rivas.

The center square of Rivas.

Ricardo and myself. I'm really not as short as Ricardo makes me look.

Looking out at Lake Nicaragua with Ometepe Island in the background.

Lake Nicaragua with a close-up of Ometepe Island in the background.

San Juan del Sur

I'm about to head to bed after a very fun weekend in San Juan del Sur. We stayed in a beautiful hotel called Pelican Eyes (at $230/night it was quite a splurge for us!) and enjoyed the beaches and warm weather. We took a lot of photos, especially of Ricardo who wanted me to take "artistic" black & white photos all weekend of him on the beach.

San Juan del Sur seemed to me a part of Nicaraguan paradise already found and maybe a little spoiled by gringos. When we arrived it was rather sparse and quiet, but then later that afternoon a large cruise ship arrived and filled the city with annoyingly raucous college-aged gringos - just the people I try to escape from! It put a damper on the night life (I did not want to hang out with a bunch of drunken straight college buffoons), and Michael and I called it a night relatively early. Ricardo stayed out a little longer.

We drove on a VERY bumpy (and rather nerve-wracking!) dirt road to a very remote and very beautiful beach at at place called Maderas that I believe is north of the city about 10-15km. I was worried about the rental car being damaged but it was well worth the drive and the risk. I wish I did not worry about such stupid things such as the rental car, but I think it is because my financial situation is always precarious and I worry about costs. If I had plentiful money, I would most likely not give a damn (and probably rent a 4x4!).

We had a relaxing lunch/dinner, a couple more beers by the beach, and went back to Managua to exchange our manual transmission car for an automatic. We dropped Ricardo off at his house and attempted to navigate ourselves back to the hotel (which we did successfully). It was my first time driving in a foreign country, and though I was nervous, it really wasn't much worse than driving in Boston! Tomorrow we plan to go to León with Juan.

Saturday night we went to a birthday party for one of Ricardo's friends at a karaoke bar before heading to the gay club "Q." There we had a terrific time, and Nebuir, who is Ricardo's friend I met back in August, joined us and really added to the fun. We danced and went crazy for hours - it was one of the best times I've had in a club. Juan showed up and we talked for a bit as well. Juan will be useful on our trips this week while Ricardo is at work.

So far the trip has been very good, with only some minor, typical bumps along the way. Michael is having a good time as well, and I hope he finds this to be a life-changing experience.

Below are some additional pictures from San Juan del Sur:

It's not often I stay in such nice accommodations, so I did the "touristy" thing and took pictures of the interior of our room. God I become more like my mother every day...

As you can see, Ricardo is pretty exhausted after the long 3-hour drive.

After a brief rest, we decided to head out and grab some dinner in San Juan del Sur. Here's a street scene.

Our choice of eatery.

We decided to eat at a small market in the center of the city. Here Ricardo appears to be passionately explaining something to Michael.

Another photo of the market in San Juan del Sur.

Street scene from San Juan del Sur. Its population is approximately 18,500, comprised largely of families engaged in fishing.

San Juan del Sur.

The beautiful beach of San Juan del Sur.

Sunday morning we awoke to a stunning view of San Juan del Sur from our hotel room.

Relaxing back at the hotel pool after a busy day in San Juan del Sur.

My Managua

I've been up for over 36 hours straight but had an uneventful trip to Managua with Michael, unlike my last trip in August! We arrived around 2:00PM today and are very exhausted. We unpacked, had dinner, and are now going to bed, but even being here just the short time we have, we are already having a great time. I have such a good feeling about this trip - it is overwhelming my senses!

We only have plans to go to San Juan del Sur this weekend - everything else is tentative. We are meeting Ricardo for lunch tomorrow to come up with a more concrete plan. I'm leaving the majority of the planning to Michael since he has never been to Nicaragua before.

We just barely escaped a nasty bout of winter weather back home, and it is, of course, sunny and warm here. I am staying at the same hotel as I did in August (La Pyramide), and since many of the activities outside of San Juan del Sur will be a repeat from August, I will not be posting as much on this trip (though I will surly have just as many pictures!).

I wish I had more to write but I am very tired. It's going to be an awesome week - I can hardly wait!

Escaping the Cold

I have not been posting as regularly since school started, mostly because I've settled in to a routine that doesn't make for interesting blog fodder. Since the semester ended though, I've kept busy - the holidays are always a busy time in general. I spent the last week down in Winter Garden (Florida) visiting the grandparents once again, and it was nice to escape the cold New England winter! Unlike my last trip down, this was more of a rest and relaxation trip, so I did not maintain the blog while I was there. Also, I spend a lot of time helping out my grandparents, so I don't have as much time to do recreational activities (though I did play some kick-ass Bingo in the trailer park the other night!). I arrived back from Florida today.

I won't be back here for long - tomorrow evening I head to Providence to rendezvous with Michael, and at 2AM on Thursday morning we drive in to Boston on our way to Nicaragua. We are expecting a snow storm here tomorrow, so I am really hoping that it is done and over with by the time our flight leaves on Thursday morning.

We're both quite excited about this trip. I am especially looking forward to it, since I've been already and so won't feel as pressured to do as much as possible. I can relax and enjoy the country more, and do some things I did not get to do the first time around. One thing I am going to look in to while I am there is a Spanish immersion program for a possible summer activity. Hopefully the country will remain politically stable long enough for me to participate!

I will most likely be bringing my laptop and blogging some while I am there, so check for updates. We will be returning the following Thursday, with an overnight layover in Miami (should be interesting). Then school starts back up again the following week..

So hopefully the trip to Managua will be smooth - at least, better than my last trip down! Of course, any bumps along the way will make for interesting writing later!

Welcome to Westfield

Last night I moved in to a new home owned by my new roommate Brian. I met him a couple of weeks ago off of Craigslist and we hit it off pretty well. I only brought those things I need to use on a near-daily basis, so I was able to do the move in one car load and in less than an hour. I'll move everything else eventually. I have to buy some small pieces of storage furniture for my clothes and shoes before I move anything else in. The condo is closer to school, on the bus line, which is convenient.

Thanksgiving went great. Lincoln and I had dinner at my grandparents and it was excellent. I did not drink much - not nearly as much as I had anticipated. The day was a quiet one - after dinner I took a nap, worked out, and did some homework.

The semester at school is wrapping up and I have been working on all my projects this weekend. I am a little behind in Spanish but catching up. This is our last chapter before finals, and my last shot at securing an A for the semester.

Everything else is going well - just one day at a time. I will need a few days to settle in here and sleep through the night, but I'll get used to it. Living here reminds me so much of living with Jason that it has actually caused me to miss Boston and bring back a rush of memories. Funny how the brain works.

Aprender Español

A couple of weeks ago I went down to Providence to visit Michael for the weekend. While we were out, we decided to shop for some Spanish dictionaries to help us while in Nicaragua come January. The photo to the left shows the wide variety of dictionaries we had to choose from - from slang to swears to "pocket-sized" (apparently pockets have become quite a bit larger since I was in high school) to full-blown unabridged versions. What we thought would be a simple task actually turned in to a daunting experience, and we spend over half an hour just sorting through the options. We did find one we both liked though (Collins Spanish Dictionary, gem version, which is basically a pocket dictionary), and we were happy.

I've been following the news out of Nicaragua recently as they have endured some rather tumultuous weeks following their nation-wide mayoral elections a couple weeks ago. You can read about it in an article from the Washington Post here. Due to the turmoil, Michael and I have become a bit nervous about our trip down in January. It's made me quite sad to watch a county as beautiful as Nicaragua be thrown in to such chaos by a crazy, power-hungry leader (Daniel Ortega) - it is nothing short of a shame. I hope that it resolves itself soon.. for the sake of our trip, of course, but also for the sake of the country.

School has been going well, albeit quite busy as I work on a couple end-of-semester projects that are due in a couple weeks. The weather has been horribly cold as of late, so there's been little else to do but work on school work. My friend Amalia come up for a surprise visit to Springfield this past Tuesday (she had training for her work), and I spent the night with her and her friend. We had a great time, and it made for a nice change from the usual weekly routine.

I've also finally found a new home owned by a very nice guy whom I will be moving in with next Friday. It is in Westfield, which will bring me closer to school and finally get me out of my mother's basement. I am very much looking forward to it.

That about wraps it up for this post. Below I decided to add in a picture of a "pocket" dictionary I came across at the book store. Honestly, I can't imagine anyone having pockets big enough to fit this, but you be the judge:

Barackabration

The world already knows the significance of November 4th, 2008: It will forever be known as the day the United States of America collectively decided it was time to put aside once and for all old demons, make a strong change of direction, and elect the first African-American President of our great nation. History has been made, and I have never been so excited a witness.

Lincoln and I stayed up as the results trickled in. When Obama was declared the winner, I was literally shaking with happiness and excitement. Two years of long campaigning by both parties had worn on the populace, but in that moment Obama was declared the winner, all the debates, the negativity, the divisiveness, the relentless media coverage, Obama's crazy reverands and Palin's wardrobe expenses, all of it no longer mattered. After last night, everything is going to be different. Things are finally going to get better. The days of traveling abroad and having to tell people you're from Canada are finally over. The United States can stand up tall in the center of the world stage and walk again.

Of course, I may be jumping the gun a bit, but I won't deny being an idealist. Lincoln and I voted for Obama, and for Lincoln, the event was especially signifigant as this was his first time voting. Further, all the ballot questions (there were 4 in our town - 3 state ballot questions and 1 town question) we were for or against went exactly as we had hoped. Massachusetts rejected repealing the income tax, greyhound racing was finally banned, marijuana (less than 1 ounce) was decriminalized, and West Springfield passed the Community Preservation Act. With the exception of Proposition 8 in California passing, the night could not have gone better, and even though gay marriage has been banned in California, it is still legal in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and we embrace it.

I made a short video of Lincoln and I heading to vote. Unfortunately, I could not get the camera to record my choosing Obama on the ballot in focus, so I deleted it. I did snap a photo though (at the top of this post) just before turning in my ballot. I wish I could have framed it.

So, now we wait and see. I think it will be impossible for Obama to live up to the hype the populace has bestowed upon him, but I don't think he will be a disappointment either. No matter what, one thing is for sure: After 8 long years of George W., things can only get better.

November Update

Though there hasn't been much in the way of exciting news to relay, I felt it was necessary to at least give an update as to my latest happenings. There are a couple trips in the pipeline, both of which have been booked already. One is to Florida to spend time with my grandparents once again (December 30 - January 6th), and the other is to Managua with Michael (January 8th - 15th). I am looking forward to both, and especially excited to have a chance to practice my newly-learned Spanish skills in Nicaragua.

School is going well and I am enjoying it more and more. I have been looking in to all sorts of different opportunities, such as Semester at Sea (which I am DETERMINED to do!), a J-term study abroad program, and even a Spanish immersion program in Managua. I hope to be able to do all three within the next 3 years. I would like to do the Semester at Sea in the summer, though the Summer of '09 I would like to go back and visit Eric and Sidnei in Brazil, and try the Spanish immersion program. I hate going more than a year without seeing Sidnei and Dude (Eric comes to visit every now and then). Plus I miss Brazil!!

I am very excited about the election on November 4th. It's the first election I've really been this excited about. It's no secret amongst my friends that I am supporting Obama, and I really do hope he wins. To have four more years under Republican leadership would simply be dreadful. After eight years of Bush, I think all U.S. citizens should be entitled to a lifetime supply of free Prozac. I almost feel as if we owe the world an apology.

Further, around every election there rises the issue of the validity of the Electoral College. I think many people in the United States (and nearly everyone outside the United States) are ignorant of the Electoral system, how it functions, and why it exists in the first place. Basically, it all boils down to the fact that the United States is a Federal Republic made up of 50 different states, as opposed to a pure democracy. After 230+ years, I guess it becomes easy to overlook the fact that the U.S. is really a conglomeration of (now) 50 relatively autonomous states which have a substantial amount of administrative power within the country. However, since I am definitely not a Political Science expert, I found this helpful little article which helps to explain the system in a little more detail (and a hell of a lot better) than I ever could.

I guess that's about all for this update. I'll probably be heading over to Providence this weekend to relax and do some studying - I have an exam and quiz first thing Monday!

The Elusiveness of Happiness

I apologize in advance, but SOMEBODY (I won't mention any names ANDRES) really got me thinking. Happiness is something I have such a strong opinion about but am so hypocritical in practice.

You know why happiness is so elusive? Because it's not tangible. It's not a pursuit (despite what our Declaration of Independence may say) or an objective; it's not conditional or subject to fate; it is not that which can be acquired, or learned, described or articulated. Happiness is, in all simplicity, just that: the state of BEING "happy".

Webster's Dictionary defines the philosophical definitions of "being" as follows:
a. that which has actuality either materially OR in idea.
b. absolute existence in a complete or perfect state, lacking no essential characteristic; essence.

Happiness is a state of being. It's not something that can be described, because it is, in itself, an "absolute existence". Happiness is an "idea" of man - a feeling, an emotion, that we, as humans, have attached meaning to. Further, happiness is relative - if I may cite a Brazilian proverb: "Alegria de uns, tristeza de outros" - One man’s happiness is another man’s sadness. How can something that is neither static or tangible, nor material or learned, nor able to be articulated, possibly be attained by pursuit?

The sooner people stop this paradoxical treadmill of pursuing happiness, the sooner people can begin enjoying life for what life can and only offer to us as humans: experiencing and knowing ourselves in relation to all that we are and all that we are surrounded by. As I have begun to grow "more mature" (don't anyone DARE say older!), it's become glaringly apparent as to the speed of which life passes. I have had to learn the hard way that life is not about the pursuit of happiness, but is about experiencing both the wonderful and the miserable (both terms, by the way, are construes of man - only we judge good or bad, right or wrong, unless we absolve ourselves of this burden by submitting to a higher power), and that which makes us happy and that which makes us sad.

And herein lies my point: In developing a sense of happiness in our life by knowing emotions in relation to other emotions (I am not "sad" and therefor must be "happy") we evidence that we are capable of determining our happiness within our own states of mind. A baby is not taught what "happiness" is, just as it is not taught what it is to be "unhappy". The baby creates these states of being though experience and relational constructs in his/her mind. The person does this throughout his or her life, constantly adjusting what it means to be "happy" to themselves. In my case, this ability resulted in an ugly spiraling affect, whereas I believed that the more possessions I had, the nicer things I owned, and the more people who "liked" me, the happier I would become. Unfortunately, the "happiness" never materialized, because happiness is NOT TANGIBLE.

I am not alone in my experiences.. on the contrary, my story is even cliche. Happiness is a state of mind... and there is only one person in control of your mind, and that's you. Everybody on this planet could be happy today, if they only chose to. Unfortunately, most people still believe that they are powerless in their state of being, and it is this powerlessness, this feeling of inferiority, and our dismissal of the incredible potential and abilities we have as human beings that has, is, and will continue to plague mankind for many, many years to come.

Book Review: Lies My Teacher Told Me

This lovely gem I found courtesy of my brother, who left it on the coffee table. I browsed the first couple pages, and after a little skimming, was completely hooked.

The book's main objective is to critically examine the historical content of 12 contemporary American History textbooks against a wide range of topics, from Columbus' "discovery" of America, to post-Civil War reconstruction. It sheds lights on facts and stories that were completely new to me, and that gave me an entirely new perspective on events in the history of the continent that had been fed to me since elementary school.

The book also brings in to light the extreme short-comings of today's textbooks and their affects on learning in our schools. I almost became angry as I discovered the half-truths and biased writing that permeated my grade school education. More, the book invites readers to think for themselves, question, and create their own conclusions now knowing a more complete story of these historical events, something that is seldom done (or even allowed) in our public schools.

Some people will criticize this book as pandering to the liberal leftist radicals, as in some cases it already has been. However, the book is very well written and has something most textbooks lack nowadays: An extensive annotated bibliography with pages of citations and sources. This gentleman isn't just venting what's on his mind - he backs up every point he makes with primary and secondary sources. It's a thick book, and took me over a week of dedicated reading to complete it (though I was reading it simultaneously with another book), but SO worth the time. If you've ever questioned what you've been taught in history class, or are just craving some inner-enlightenment, I encourage you to pick up this book and give it a read. It will permanently change your perspective on American history and the way we learn in todays educational rhelm.

Lies My Teacher Told Me
by James Loewen

Big E

It's been an enjoyable birthday for me today, though I'm now only one year away from 30. Then again, so are Michael and Eric, so at least I'm with good company! (Sorry guys! haha)

Mom and I went and spent the day at the Big E, as is tradition. I did not bring my camera, which is a shame since I would have really loved to have featured it on my blog. Ironic that I have blogged and uploaded photos and videos about places and things thousands of miles away, and then completely overlook things that are literally a mile down the street! There's always next year though.

The weather for the most part cooperated, though it did rain during the last half-hour. We ate like pigs (my favorite thing to do) and checked out all the latest gizmos at the Better Living Center. The State Buildings were the same, but I enjoy them anyways. Overall, it was a good time, though I am incredibly exhausted now.

For next year I am planning to throw a big Latin-American themed 30th birthday extravaganza, with food from all different countries, flags, music, all sorts of things. I'm not looking forward to 30, but I can certainly make the event fun and exciting, or at the least, get drunk enough for forget about it.

I started working at the Registrar's office and really enjoy it. I am hoping they are able to find some additional funding for me so I can work more hours. It really helps me a great deal financially, and it's convenient. I have a 4 hour gap between classes, and I can fit my work in perfectly within that gap so I don't have to go home and come back. Plus the commute is a mere 15 minute walk!

So, yet another year under the belt. The speed at which time flies really blows my mind. Is life really just this quick blink of an eye? It certainly feels that way to me. Ten years ago I was starting at HCC - TEN YEARS AGO!! I feel as if everything in between my attending HCC and now is just a huge blur.. I have to actually make an effort to think of all the things I've done to account for the 7 years since graduating HCC. Though time is still flying past, at least I am enjoying it a whole lot more now.

Waterfire

Last weekend I spent dog-sitting in Providence for Michael, and decided to walk on over to Waterfire while I was there. For the uninitiated, Waterfire is an award-winning sculpture by Barnaby Evans installed on the three rivers of downtown Providence. Evans created First Fire in 1994 as a commission to celebrate the tenth anniversary of First Night Providence. In June 1996, Evans created Second Fire for the International Sculpture Conference where it became the gathering place for thousands of participants from all over the world. In 1997, WaterFire Providence expanded to 42 braziers, and attracted an estimated attendance of 350,000 people during thirteen lightings. Evans received the Renaissance Award from the City of Providence for his work as an artist and his role in revitalizing downtown Providence.

In response to growing attendance, WaterFire expanded in size to 81 braziers in 1998; and 97 braziers in 1999. The 1999 season culminated with 100 bonfires in a special WaterFire lighting for the December 31 millennium celebrations. Hundreds of volunteers devote thousands of hours and join with the fulltime staff to create WaterFire.

Waterfire is free and well worth a stop. You can park cheaply at the Providence Place mall and walk from there (though I would recommend getting there before nightfall to avoid heavy traffic, and leave before 10PM). For a schedule of lightings and more information, be sure to check out their website here.

Here is a video I made of last weeks Waterfire. I apologize for the poor quality - I don't have professional video equiptment (alas, all I have it my trusty digital camera!). For better quality, click on the video once it has started and watch the video in high quality on YouTube itself.

Unusual Milestone

Today marks a milestone - I have gone one entire year without working a single day, and have survived to write about it. I did not think it would be possible to accomplish such a feat, but it's amazing what living for the moment can do. Anyhow, it is nothing I am throwing a big celebration for, but I am claiming it as a small victory. A year ago I would have thought it to be an impossible dream (unless I hit the lottery), but somehow, it has happened.

I am heading to Providence tonight to dog-sit for Michael. I plan to check out Waterfire tomorrow and make a movie about it for the blog. Otherwise, my only plans are to study and read.

I think I did well on my first Spanish quiz today. I won't know until next week, but I feel good about it. I am still waiting for two books to arrive, one of them being my Spanish book. If it does not arrive next week, I am going to have to buy another one from the book store.

School Days

My first half-week of school went quite smoothly, and I've adjusted quite well. Without any distraction, I've been able to hunker down and study and read my ass off. I've been cramming Spanish on a daily basis, picking up between 10 and 20 words a day, which is seems just about par for the amount we need to learn per chapter. I've been trying out some new study techniques that I wish I had learned in High School, using my digital voice recorder to listen to the words in English and Spanish, and flash cards to practice in addition. It's been working for me very very well, and has provided an unexpected boost to my confidence.

Unfortunately, I'm still waiting on two textbooks to arrive, one being my Spanish book! Being without the textbook is putting me at a huge disadvantage, but hopefully I can persuade my professor to photocopy some pages for me to work off of.

In other boring news (I know this is not nearly as exciting as a trip to Brazil), I'm itching to get out of this basement and am planning to have an apartment by October. There is often a lot of tension in the house, specifically between my mom, step-dad, and sister, and sometimes my brother, though he is living on campus now (lucky guy). When tempers erupt, I just camp out in my basement hideaway, and usually read or study. It's not the most ideal of situations, but it's the best I can do. I remember why I moved out of the house as soon as I could in the first place!

Let's see... I really enjoyed Barack Obama's speech during the DNC a couple of weeks ago. He's had my vote since Joe Biden dropped out of the race (Biden being my first pick), but now that he has chosen Biden to be his running mate, I could not be happier.

The remnants of tropical storm Hannah came through last night and dumped some torrential rains accompanied with some strong winds. It made for some nice late-night entertainment. That's been the extent of the excitement here though. Wish I was traveling, but I'm happy to be in school.

Travel Review: La Pyramide

“Wonderful Hotel - Great Staff, Great Location, and Great Value”

La Pyramide

I chose this hotel due to the positive reviews here on Trip Advisor, and Manfred and his wonderful staff at La Pyramide did not disappoint.

Even before I arrived, I was impressed. My midnight flight to Managua had been canceled, and being stuck in Ft. Lauderdale, I had no way of getting hold of Manfred to tell him. When I finally got internet access, I e-mailed him the new flight itinerary, and crossed my fingers. When I got off the plane in Managua, to my relief he was there with his car waiting for me.

He made the drive from the airport to the hotel a miniature tour of the city, explaining to me the history, the areas, and even telling me about himself and how he ended up in the city. My room was perfect, very quiet, with air conditioning, window screens, wireless or wired internet access, and a very comfortable bed.

Included in the price of the room is breakfast, and not just a piece of toast and a cup of coffee. Breakfast is made to order by the chef, with fresh fruit, juices, eggs, bacon - you name it. I felt guilty the one or two days I did not take advantage of it! Other meals I at dinner time were equally impressive, and there is a full menu to choose from.

The hotel is in a nice, safe neighborhood, about a 10 minute walk from some nice restaurants and bars, and also not too far from the Metro Centro Mall. I felt safe walking both day and night around the neighborhood.

Because I lost a day due to my flight being canceled, I decided to stay an extra two nights, which was no problem. Throughout the entire trip, I felt like I was being treated like a VIP, and for the price, you absolutely can not find a better value than La Pyramide. Manfred is extremely helpful and can answer any question you may have about Managua and the surrounding area. Most of the staff speaks only Spanish, so you may want to practice some simple phrases (especially foods) to help with ordering breakfast and other meals.

Manfred and his wife also own La Pyramide vegetarian restaurant about a 15 minute walk away. It was the best vegetarian meal I have ever had, and would recommend it as well!

I can't praise it enough - La Pyramide really made my stay in Managua enjoyable and relaxing. I am definitely coming back, and strongly recommend this hotel to anyone planning a trip to Managua.

If You Go:

Address: Gimnasio Hercules, 1c. al sur, 1c. al este, 2 1/2 c. al sur, Managua, Nicaragua Website: http://www.lapyramidehotel.com/en/index.html

Wanderlust

wan·der·lust –noun: a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

I've been struggling a bit over the past week with boredom, restlessness, and a general feeling of discontent. I know the root of this comes from no longer having a travel itinerary, something that I've had for the past 11 months. I'm no longer satisfied with just looking at maps and pictures and imagining what a place may be like - I want to go there and experience it first hand. There are so many places I want to see it's almost overwhelming to even think about. One of my fondest experiences is the feeling of stepping off a plane for the first time in a foreign country. I yearn for it now, but know that other things must take precedence, primarily school, which starts in a little more than a week. Hopefully once I start school I can placate some of this wanderlust that has grabbed hold of my mind and soul, and focus on my studies. After all, Nicaragua will certainly not be my last travel destination, though it may be for 2008. I am already planning some trips for 2009 for which I am very excited about.

Home life has been quiet. I spend a lot of time alone in my basement, sitting online, searching for anything my mind happens to wander to, be that a boyfriend, an apartment, or even a job. Yesterday was Lincoln's birthday, and I spent a lot of time with him and Courtnee celebrating in typical Lincoln style (relaxed, little fanfare, enjoying the back yard deck with some beers and tiki lamps). I took a couple vids which can be found below.

Anyhow, school starts September 3rd, and I am very much looking forward to it; Anything to break the monotony of this routine I have settled in to.

Gringo

An interesting point was made today via my mirror blog on Yahoo Travel. I thought it warranted transposition to this blog, so I have done so below.

From a Yahoo user:

Isn't 'gringo' a derogatory racist term? Why is it okay to use these terms when they refer to white people?
Just curious....

My response:

As with many words of questionable connotation, gringo is subject to interpretation. Personally, I choose not to take offense by it, as I understand that for many people in Latin-American countries, it's simply used as a convenience word - an easy way to describe someone of lighter skin without knowing their specific country of origin.

When I was in Brazil taking a favela tour, we were specifically told by our tour guide that the word gringo was not meant to be offensive, especially since the same people saying it also relied on the gringo tourists to purchase their goods and provide tourism dollars to their economy. The children would say it to get our attention, usually because they wanted us to take their photo or to show off.

Amongst my Latin-American friends, it goes both ways. When I am visiting them in their country, I am often referred to as "the gringo," and when they are visiting me in the U.S., I jokingly refer to them as "the import." We do it for fun, and we do it in good humor. I have often been asked in advance of my travels if I take offense to the denotation. I've always said no, but if I felt otherwise, I know my friends would oblige my objection and choose not to use the word.

So, really it's all a matter of personal interpretation. Though the dictionary considers it a derogatory word, I personally do not, nor do any of my friends, either Latino or "gringo". This may just be a generational difference, or it just may be that I have very laid-back friends! Regardless, I find it humorous more than anything, and have not met any fellow travelers who found it offensive.

There is an interesting entry regarding the topic on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo

I hope you find this helpful, and I thank you for bringing this topic up. It's something I have not really given much thought to, but probably should have addressed earlier.

I would love to hear other opinions regarding this topic. Do you find "gringo" to be offensive? Comment and let me know - I am most interested in hearing your thoughts!

-The Gringo

Settling In

I spent the past weekend down in Rhode Island, visiting my friends and catching up on the latest news and drama. Some of them I have not seen in over 9 months (prior to my leaving for Brazil), and it felt good to get out of town for a couple days.

I also had college orientation today, and it went quite well. I feel much better about starting school now that my schedule is all finalized and I was able to take the classes I wanted. I've also been able to develop a bit of a blueprint for the next few years in my head (I do plan to stay in school for 3 years, even though I could easily get my Bachelor's in 2). Going through the course catalog for my major, I was overwhelmed by all the classes that actually interested me. I'm not used to the feeling of WANTING to stay in school to take more classes, so it's been an exciting experience for me. I hope it continues once I start with the course work!

I've also signed up for Spanish I, which I am committing myself to learning. Most of my core requirements have already been satisfied, so I can focus on classes having to do with my major (classes that I will enjoy) and Spanish. I am hoping it will make for a much more enjoyable and slightly easier experience than my first five years of college.

It's been surprising to me how difficult adjusting back to normal life can be after traveling for so long. Not having another trip lined up is what really bothers me I think. After coming back to Brazil I was home for over 2 months, but I had planned a trip to Texas and Florida, and later, Nicaragua, to pacify my mind. Things are much different now, as I must actually deal with the nitty-gritty details of finding a place to live (outside of my basement abode) and possibly finding a job (something enjoyable). Every day does get a little bit easier, and will continue to do so. I was encouraged by the fact that Westfield State does have a lot of international programs in which students live in another country for a few weeks to a semester or more. I am definitely going to get involved with that and see if I can go somewhere in Central or South America (though I'm not going to be picky).

Before I left for Providence I took a couple more pictures from around town. They are what you see posted on this blog. I'll be taking some more photos before school starts, and then probably conclude the West Side Life portion of my photo journal. Not sure what will be next, but I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Here is a short video from my trip to Providence, featuring Michael's dog, Mia:

Conclusion

I set a new sleep record for myself last night, sleeping for 14 straight hours with 1 bathroom break. I spent the day working on my photos and running errands. Tomorrow I plan to work on my blog. I thought I had college orientation today, but found out last night it isn't until Monday.

Life post-Nicaragua has been reserved and contemplative. It did not sink in until today that this would be my last trip for a long time. I start to think about what a year it has been and how much I've seen, done, experienced, and learned, and it just blows my mind. I always knew my 28th year would be special, but I never dreamed it would be like this. I never thought that by surrendering my material life in exchange for an experiential one that I'd be happier than any time in my life previous. I've met wonderful new people and made some great friends, from Andy in Orlando to Amalia in Managua. I've been able to live three months in Brazil with my two best friends and their dog, spend more time with my grandparents than I have in the previous five years combined, and visit friends who I have not seen in years, some even decades.

I've rediscovered my soul and began to define my faith and spirituality. I experienced days of empty cabinets and a hungry belly, as well as days of overeating and drinking to the verge of sickness. I've become less concerned about my bank account and more concerned with enjoying what I have around me, be it a good book, a very accommodating mother (who thinks her son has gone off the deep end), or a sunny day, or even a rainy one!

I've instilled in myself the confidence and determination to reach for dreams I dismissed as unachievable in this lifetime: to go back to school, earn a Bachelor's degree, learn a language (or even two!), start my own business, heck maybe even run for Governor! People often say "Anything is Possible," but now I finally have the wisdom to believe it.

It's also been an emotional year, from the joys of finally liberating myself from the cubicle to the death of Eric's father, to stepping off the plane in Brazil, to resolving old feelings for Ricardo. I've felt tremendous joy and freedom and incredibly torturous frustration and heartache.

And all this in a year - something I thought would take a lifetime. Yes, I've had much to contemplate. I miss Nicaragua - I was very sad to leave. I know I left a piece of my heart in Managua, just as I did in Vitoria. Still, having only stayed in Nicaragua a week, I feel I left prematurely, like a puppy taken too soon from its mother. And I know this will repeat, again and again, country after country, for as long as I live, because one thing I've realized this year is my firmly established love for travel and exploration. I knew I always enjoyed it, but to love and obsess over it, that is new to me. At dinner with my mother tonight, I couldn't stop thinking about where I'd been and where I wanted to go next. The core of my heart will always be in Massachusetts, but my soul will always be one of a traveler.

My soul never stopped screaming at me the day I quit my job - I have just finally started to listen.

San Juan

I took advantage of the nice weather and walked around my neighborhood of San Juan. I also had an excellent vegetarian lunch at La Pyramide restaurant, owned by the same people who own my hotel (also called La Pyramide). Below are the photos from my short excursion this afternoon:

On my last day in Managua, I decided to tour around the neighborhood I called home for a week. I was not far from an entertainment district which was lined with many bars and restaurants, several of which I visited during my stay here. Here are some stores along the main thoroughfare.

One of the (very nice) bars I went to while I was here.

The Jirafa Restaurant. People in Managua use that Giraffe on the corner has been used as a landmark to give me directions many times while I was here.

Some more restaurants in Managua. The restaurants are very nice.. and the food is excellent.

Some views around the neighborhood of San Juan.

Some houses in my neighborhood of San Juan.

Nicaragua - An Impression

It's my last day here in Nicaragua and I have no plans at all. My flight does not leave until after midnight, and so I have the entire day to myself. I may go for a walk around the neighborhood, or try a vegetarian restaurant Manfred (the hotel owner) owns with his wife. It's not too bad of a day, so I want to get out there and enjoy it.

The week here in Nicaragua certainly did not fly by as quickly as most other vacations do. It was a very busy week, and I was able to see quite a bit, even if the weather was not always cooperative.

Nicaragua is a country of chaos and contradiction, both of its land and of its people. Managua is a fitting capital for such a place, as it embodies all of what seems to permeate Nicaraguan culture through its tangle of unnamed streets, crazy drivers, and challenging (and often vulgar) citizenry. I've found it next to impossible to wrap my mind around it - definitely not in a weeks time. The city seeps under your feet, and like a strong undertow, grabs and pulls you in when you least expect it, leaving you to tumble underneath the waves of this overwhelming society. This experience will most certainly scare most foreigners, who will never return to Nicaragua, and instead head for the more "tame" locals of Costa Rica or Mexico. Others though, like myself, learn to work through our fears and allow the waves to swallow us whole, to immerse ourselves in the murky waters of this foreign ocean, and float back to the surface when we need to catch our breath.

And this is the Nicaragua I have learned to know. This is the Nicaragua I have learned to love. For an uninitiated gringo like myself, it all seemed a bit overwhelming at first. As I have now only scratched the surface of this country, I already look forward to my return to the land of lakes and volcanoes. Let the craven land-loving foreigners keep their Costa Rica - for me, I prefer drowning myself in the waters of Nicaragua. Tonight I leave Nicaragua, but I can promise you, Nicaragua will never leave me.

From Managua, With Love

I have been very reluctant to upload this blog entry. For those who are unfamiliar with how I blog, I actually keep a written journal of my life adventures and then transpose all but the most personal entries on to my blog. This most recent one delves a bit in to my sometimes affective, always passionate, personal life. I decided to include it because I don't think a journey is just sightseeing and picture-taking. No matter where one travels, or what you do, one always encounters a spectrum of emotions, be it a fear of the unknown, the thrill of a new discovery, or the infatuation of a handsome foreigner. These add to the dynamic of our experiences, causing our hearts to race and rousing our souls. My journeys are no exception, and it is for this reason I have decided to include the following entry.

Yesterday I was a bit tired and Ricardo had school most of the morning and part of the afternoon. We went to Managua's main crafts market and I did some shopping, and then we had dinner at Tip-Top (yum!). Because I was tired, I was also a bit irritable, so I was short with Ricardo, and even annoyed by his always seeming to have an answer for everything and constant need to be right. Still, he drove me around Managua and I took some photos, and even stopped by the heavily polluted and smelly Lake Managua. I do hope they are able to clean it up.

I was back home by 7:00PM and tried unsuccessfully to have a nap. Ricardo picked me up at 10:30PM and we went to a nice bar/club called Hipa Hipa. I had a LOT of fun, talking to Ricardo's good friend Amalia (who lives in New York City) and a group of gringos I met. I became maybe a little too intoxicated, but I was not out of control (I could still walk). Around 2:00AM Ricardo and I went over the the same gay club we went to the other night, but did not stay long because Ricardo did not like the people. So, I was brought home.

On the way home, I told Ricardo I was dealing with some emotional baggage and was having a difficult time sifting through it. I came here with the expectation of things between us being just as they were back in Boston two years ago. When my assumption was incorrect, and realized Ricardo no longer felt (or maybe never felt) the way I thought he did about me, I was caught off-guard and disappointed, not to mention a bit hurt. I know better than to set expectations for a situation such as this, but I apparently suffered a lapse of judgement. As I approach 30, without ever having been in a relationship, I feel I'm beginning to enter in to "panic" mode. I know Ricardo is not "the one" (nor do I even believe in there being "the one"), but for me, it was a little piece of the past where I came so close to finally experiencing the love and sharing a relationship can offer two people, and I wanted to experience it again, if albeit only for a week.

As Ricardo drove me home completely wasted, drunk, and crying my eyes out, I realized I had made this mistake once before with someone, with the same results (crying in a taxi cab in New York City on my way back to the hotel). So, the feeling is a familiar one to me, and seeing that I was able to work through it then, I can most definitely do the same now.

I guess in coming down here, I had to resolve this emotional holdover from the past, tucked in the far back of my head. Maybe that's why I am here. I still am having a lot of fun, though I am very tired, both physically and emotionally.

Today we saw parts of the horse parade in Managua. The city of Managua celebrates this patriotic festivity in honor of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the city saint. Managua celebrates in two parts: One is a massive procession which accompanies the image of the Saint through the city, and the other one is the horse and car parade, in which thousands of people participate. I took a couple videos of the horse parade, though it was so crowded it was difficult to see much (and not the safest place to be taking pictures).

Below are some photos and videos from our tour around Managua and the horse parade:

Lake Managua.

El Teatro Ruben Dario, which was designed by the same architect who designed New York's Metropolitan Opera House.

Here you can see Las Ruinas de la Catedral Vieja with the sickly pink propaganda banner for Daniel Ortega and his FSLN (Sandinista Front) party.

The Palacio Nacional de Cultura houses Nicaragua's National Museum. The building used to house the National Congress and was raided by Sandinistas in 1978, who held the entire congress hostage. You can see more FSLN propaganda, which not only litters the square, but really, the entire country unfortunately.

As of late, only 31% of Nicaraguan people believe the country is on the "right track," kinda like George Bush in the United States!

The Casa Presidencial, which houses the the office of the president and was built in 1999. The sign says "The House of the People."

Las Ruinas de la Catedral Vieja, cutting out the bottom part (and thus the propaganda).

Videos from the horse parade:

Granada and the Pueblos Blancos

Ricardo just dropped me off from a fun night of dancing and drinking. He first took me to a new bar not far from my hotel where we met his friends (actually, he knew practically everybody), and ordered some drinks. Around midnight we went out to a gay bar which, though small, was still fun for me and my first gay bar experience in Nicaragua.

Today we spent the day in Granada, which was incredibly fun and beautiful. On our way we stopped by 3 of the Pueblos Blancos (White Villages) - San Marcos, Masatepe, and Catarina. We stopped at the incredibly scenic and beautiful Mirador, on the edge of the Laguna de Apoyo crater. The weather was overcast and not very pleasant, but with the exception of one quick passing shower, it did not rain, and by the late afternoon the sun had come out and provided us a nice sunset as we drove along Lake Nicaragua.

We ate a superb dinner at El Zaguan in Granada and I took a ton of pictures, as did Ricardo (who has practically annexed my camera).

Once back from exploring Granada I came back to the hotel and attempted to take a nap (unsuccessfully). I found the Red Sox game on the television though and watched that instead (in Spanish). Ricardo picked me up at 10:00PM and it was off to the bars!

So overall it was an extremely fun, enjoyable, and exhausting day. Granada was everything I had expected, even with the overcast skies. To be in a country of such beauty and history is overwhelming for my mind and senses to absorb in one short week. I am already dreading having to leave in a couple of days, but can guarantee I will definitely be back.








Below are some pictures from the Pueblos Blancos and Granada, in the order we saw them. I did a lot of research to accurately caption each photo, but if you notice something incorrect or inaccurate, please let me know so I can make the necessary corrections. Thanks!

One of the beautiful views along the Pan-American highway, on our way to Granada.

On our way to Granada, we stopped at a couple of the "White Villages" (Pueblos Blancos). These small towns, just south of Managua, are named for their purity of color of their churches. The first one on our tour is San Marcos. This is the church in the center of the town.

Inside one of the stores in San Marcos.


Shops along a San Marcos street.

Some typical houses in San Marcos. I really loved how simple yet colorful many of the homes and buildings are in Nicaragua.

An abandoned home in San Marcos.

San Marcos street scene.

These are from Masatepe:

The second of the Pueblos Blancos we visited was Masatepe. This is the church in the center Masatepe.

A couple sisters walking along the streets of Masatepe. They are drinking fruit juice out of sealed plastic bags, something that is sold and common in Nicaragua.

These pics are from Catarina and The Mirador:

In Catarina, we stopped at The Mirador which straddles the edge of the Laguna de Apoyo crater. Though an enormous tourist trap (More gringos than Nicas it seemed), the views of the Laguna and surrounding hillsides is unparalleled. You can see Volcan Mombacho in the background.

The Laguna de Apoyo.

The trail along the crater of the Laguna de Apoyo in The Mirador.

The following photos are from Granada:

North of the Cathedral is La Plazuela de Los Leones, with the Casa de los Leones in the background (in yellow).

The cannon here is where Henry Morgan set 18 cannons during his sacking of the city and where, a century later, William Walker was sworn in as President of Nicaragua. The Casa de los Leones on the right was built in 1720. Granada always competed with León as capital of Nicaragua. The Liberals called upon William Walker to launch what was probably the worst attack against Granada, burning it to the ground and burying a symbolic coffin in the central plaza under a wooden sign that read,"Aqui fue Granada," or "Here Was Granada."

Some more of the neo-classical colonial architecture of Granada with the Cathedral on the right. It's a shame the weather was not better, but not much I can do about it!

The Iglesia la Merced. This church has a very interesting history: Founded and built for the first time (note I said FIRST) in 1534, it was sacked by pirates in 1670 and set afire. It was reconstructed in 1853, and then later burned by the filibuster William Walker in 1856 (mentioned earlier). In 1862 Don Esteban Sandino finalized its restoration with neoclassic ornamentation, with its facade being completed in a a rich variety of baroque styling. One of his main attractions is the gilded altarpiece. The tower of the church was constructed in 1781. In 1854 during the civil war it was demolished until rebuilt in 1863.

Some kids playing soccer at the entrance of Le Merced.

Inside the Iglesia la Merced we paid the US$1 to go up the spiral stairs in to the tower.

Here Ricardo poses for scale next to the spiral staircase.

The views of Granada from the top of the Iglesia La Merced are absolutely unparalleled.

Granada from the top of La Merced.

The majestic Volcan Mombacho towers over Granada in the background. This is looking south.

This photos shows some of the more colorful homes and businesses in Granada.

The Cathedral of Granada from the Iglesia la Merced. This is looking east, and you can see the clouds are finally starting to break up and the sun is trying to poke through. Lake Nicaragua is in the background.

Looking east. Lake Nicaragua is in the far background past the cathedral.

The alter of La Merced.

The Iglesia Xalteva in Granada.

The Convento San Franscisco which also has an interesting history. The sky-blue convent was first built by Franciscan monks in 1529 and was burned to the ground by pirate Henry Morgan 150 years later. Since then it has housed William Walker's troops, U.S. Marines, a contingent of engineers surveying a possible canal route in the 1920s, and the National University. It now houses an open-air statue gallery with a US$2 entrance fee.

Volcan Mombacho.

Lake Nicaragua. The lake is connected to the Caribbean Sea by the San Juan River, historically making Granada an Atlantic port although it is closer to the Pacific. The lake has a history of Caribbean pirates who assaulted Granada on three occasions.

The Railroad Station and Museum in Granada.

Volcan Mombacho

Today was another day of adventure as Ricardo and I joined up with his female companions to go to Volcan Mombacho in Granada. I was expecting this excursion to be similar to yesterday, but nothing could have been further from the truth!

The ride up there was decent enough. We all piled in to a truck that looked like it was used to carry soldiers 30 years ago, and the truck slowly took us up the very steep slopes of the volcano - about a 30 minute ride, and very bumpy. The weather at the base was mostly cloudy, hot, and muggy, so it felt good to be up in the cooler air (It was about 20-30 degrees cooler). Once at the top we all disembarked and started our walk along the 1.5km circular trail around the heavily forested crater of Volcan Mombacho.

About half a kilometer in to the walk it began to rain, and within minutes we were trapped in the middle of a full-fledged tropical thunderstorm. There was really nothing to take shelter under so we just laughed and trudged our way through the heavy wind-blown rain. Within minutes we were drenched head-to-toe. It was unfortunate because I could see quite a spectacular view from the top of the crater, but one that would have been much more clear and pleasurable had the weather been different (and our bodies dry!). Still, I enjoyed the romp around Mombacho, took a few movies (posted below), and many pictures. After a bite to eat at the visitors center we came back down the mountain and went straight home. It felt good to get out of those wet clothes!

I had dinner at the hotel and Ricardo dropped by after school. Tomorrow we plan to see Granada and go out to some bars and clubs later on.

Some photos from the trip to Volcan Mombacho:

On this day, Ricardo, myself and friends went to the Volcan Mombacho Biological Center. You can see the Volcan Mombacho in the background here.

You have to take a truck (much like those the military used 50 years ago) to get to the top of the volcano. On our way, we passed a coffee plantation. Here you can see the white bags of freshly roasted coffee, ready for export!

A view of the road up to the top of the volcano. The vegetation is incredibly lush as you can see, but the temperature drops a good 20 - 30 degrees as you approach the top.

The top of the volcano! Here you can see the truck that took us up. The weather unfortunately was not the best, and was only going to get much worse (though we had no idea at the time!!).

We begin our trek through the 1.5km loop trail around the forested crater of the volcano.

Here you can see Granada and Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibalca). Many years ago the volcano blew its cone into the lake forming an archipelago of 365 islands, some of which can be seen here.

Mombacho is an active volcano but the last eruption occurred in 1570. In the background here you can see Laguna de Apoyo, where I spent a good part of Tuesday!

Here are some videos from our adventure. The first one is from the butterfly garden located in the park. The others are from the trail around the crater of Volcan Mombacho: