Tue 0830 okay, so voice typing surreptitiously on the hostel terrace, didn't sleep that well, and pisses a bit yellow, I'm wondering if I'm slightly dehydrated. I'm trying to get breakfast here, I maybe should just have gone out to one of the places nearby but it's probably about the same price and about the same quality. A bit nervous about today but also sort of looking forward to it, there's a bit of a breeze and I've got ooh I'm going to be cold feelings but of course there's no real reason to worry about that.
Put a touch detector app on the phone, there's a strip about two-thirds of the way down the screen across it where it's sort of jittery Could just be the screen protector. Of course. I haven't taken it off yet I've tried sort of pressing it down and rubbing it with cloths and clothes and it hasn't really helped But who knows could be a hardware fault which would suck but such is life Might be repairable economically. I mean it might even be a economically repairable over here, but I don't know I mean, anyway, it could very well be the screen protector. So I just haven't taken it off yet. I'm just making a note
I've probably already said, but the kitesurfing just feel quite expensive, really, at 160 a day, basically, for three hours of classes, but it is what it is and it probably is worth doing. I mean, yeah, it's going to add up. You have to kind of assume, given that I'm planning to do the basic three days, which is what they recommended at a minimum, unless it's awful or horrible, so it's quite likely to be three days' worth at three times 160 and maybe a day or two more, depending how it goes, you know, if I'm slow or if it's going all right and I want to sort of cement it or get a bit more in, but it's fine. I can afford it. It's only a two-month trip not a three month which while I don't have a formal budget could be agued to free some budget up. It's an experience. I did want to do it, blah, blah, blah. I'm just saying it is quite a lot of money, yes.
It is a bit weird having primarily dollars and constantly thinking am I getting screwed on the exchange rate when I ask for change or when I spend them. I've got some local cash and I do get local cash when I spend the dollars, but given the potentially very large expenditure on the kitesurfing and that that's dollar denominated and their exchange rate, I asked, they were very honest, they said it was 36 and the market rate was like 36.7 or 36.8. In my head maybe I got it wrong, that's like a 2% premium, so it was worth paying the 1% premium at the cash machine to get dollars, well I had to pay that to get local currency anyway, and you know I'm probably not getting that stiffed on other stuff, but since the bulk of the spend is going to be the dollar spend on the kitesurfing, I had to default to that. It's fine, obviously, I'm just waffling and making a note, but it is still slightly odd to be spending dollars more than I normally would if it hadn't been for this withdrawal.
0924 back in my room doing the voice typing, not sure what to do with the screen protector, I might take it off later but I'm not taking it off before the lesson I've been in this slightly awkward time-killing zone, I've come back into my room it's like I need to get slightly changed but I'm mostly ready and I'm a bit nervous and I'm sort of a bit excited but you know I don't know what to do so I'm just making a note about that and then I'll probably try not to keep waffling forever about it
1202 le#on cancelled to due too strong winds. Just one of those things. I have extended here another night and there isnt much I can do. To be fair I walked along beach road and sat on beach and maybe it is the power of suggestion but it does seem windy. I noticed there is actually another kite school slightly nearer hostle which ibhasnt seen before but I am not xhopping and changing also while diaappointong this seems quite professional of them, they could have given me a shit lesson and charged for it just to get the money etc.
Actually most annoyed at all the sunblock I wasted on my arms and legs that I now no longer need. I am not out but I don't have tons. I did look in at ocean mart and while they have some mega expensive stuff, they do have 90g of factor 50 at a whisker under 300 or about six quid which is still eye watering but basically ok. I have not bought any, I strongly suspect I have enough for at least one fullish body application and if I don't I would have time to buy some at ocean before the class to orrow and if the class goes well and I expect to be doing at least 2-3 more days the expense of buying this becomes less significant and more juatifiavle.
Not quite sure what to so with the day. I do have some slightly pain in ball of right foot near RBIG toe, not sure it is a blister, but not ideal. Gut feeling is I will
Maybe walk down towards merida as I did towards balgue and take it easy. I may also go for dinner or lucnh or a drink at a reataraunt or bar in some other nearby hostel by way of checking it out in terms of maybe staying there. I had a look at booking from the beach and there are nearby hostels with dorm beds and some do have privates but the privates are not as cheap as here and the dorm beds are not insanely cheap. I am open to a dorm and or a change of hostel for social stuff (although I do have some low key potential here and I don't feel too left out which i s perhaps main thing) and maybe paying for an expensive private to smooth things over or maybe going dorm *but* I think right now I would like to avoid any possible mind fuck or just extra stress before I ag least start the lessons. And given baed on the sullabua you probably don't get into the water until day 2, quite frankly I could see an argument for avoiding a hostel move until at least after day 2 of lessons, and depending how things go and whether I am forced to move, it might be smart to stay here for the duration of the lessons however long that is and then if I want to make a separate experiment staying at a different hostel.
Noticed today flight is on 25th so about a calendar month left. But that is fine, I do still have a lot of time, I am (trying) to do stuff etc. At least the cancellation today is just annoying and I am not down to a few days and maybe won't have enough time etc.
It does feel a waste of a day but in moderation a bit of wandering a bit of maybe experimentation at a reataurant or bar or a bit of a walk might be low key fun and although it is enforced it also is something I sort of wanted. Trying to squeeze in something big or semi big like an after oon kayak tour (making that up, no idea if it exists) feels like a bad idea in terms of burning up willpower and maybe body/muscle strength etc - I don't want to be sore going into the lessons etc.
1438 getting second coffee at Mirador del Concepción. Hope it doesn't rain. Walked over here, very quiet. Tried to go to la sirenita on a whim but a dog decided last minute to get a bit stroppy but managed to get down here. Owner chap had a brief chat, they do kayak rentla for inept two people at ten dollars an hour (and despite every single person I see not wearing one) this includes a lifejacket, or the guy said he would do me a deal of a guised tour at 20 dollars for two hours plus two hours of kayak rental so o guess 40 all in, he said normally it would be 30 for the guide. Anyway, he has given me his number (name Gabriel) and while the tour may be a touch expensive it might be interesting to come and hire a kayak for an hour or two another day.
I really hope it doesn't fucking rain but I suppose an hour walk back in the rain wouldn't kill me in these temps and it probably won't.
Ok gabfel aac5aly out me on wifi and just checked weather, rain seems unlikely, but I note it says strong winds tonorrow too and something about them aubaiding thudsday. Just have to keep my fingers crossed I guessed. And while annoying I so have time and to a limited extent waiting around for ok weather is kind of part and parcel of this sort of stuff I guess
I am not sure it isn't going to rain tbh. But what can I do?
Been slightly melancholy but nice here anyway and the second coffee has raced down and I do feel a bit down and maybe the weather worry etc isn't helping, albeit not crjppling. I think I will not neck it but it has nearly gone and not nurse it either.
2029 so I'm back in my room voice dictating this I walked back no problem it didn't rain I came back to the hostel did a bit of poking around on the web I think at that point they'd sent me a message saying midday for the lesson tomorrow maybe that turned up later anyway I replied and I made a little joke about fingers crossed for good weather and they did come back saying oh we're expecting to be there tomorrow so yeah fingers crossed when I got back yes I was messing around room a bit I thought I would go out and get something to eat and maybe have a look at some of the other hostels nearby with firstly because I needed to eat anyway also with a view to checking them out for if and when I decide to move somewhere else.
Whenn I hewded out Noam speaking to this Antipodean girl and I said hi and he shook my hand and I had been going to leave them to it but that sort of invited me in and I chatted for a few minutes before saying I was going to get dinner and maybe see them later.
So I went to huellitas and that looks quite interesting it almost looks well quite rural but there's a lot of places here are quite rural anyway I did went in and I was having sort of a look as I went and I spoke to a guy there and he said no no no we don't have a restaurant so I left but that does actually look kind of interesting I just want to read reviews. I then sort of tried to go into El Zopilote which was just super confusing they seem to have two locations both of them were kind of dead this was about quarter to five I think I was speaking Spanish I really didn't think I was speaking that badly but the basic idea that there's a restaurant at either location despite signs in the street saying restaurant vegan vegetarian food it was like I just asked them I don't know something crazy I mean they weren't saying oh it's too early sorry or oh sorry guests only I don't think it is guests only it was just like it's not sir this is a chemist this was the kind of gist anyway it's fine I mean they weren't rude just to be completely clear I was stone cold sober at this point so no question of anything like that being an issue but yeah a bit weird maybe it's a collective farm based on what I've read but it's still supposed to be hostile and they say you'd think the staff would say oh sorry the restaurant's not open yet or I'll come back later and it's like no no no it's like they definitely didn't say that there was no massive Spanish issue at that level anyway.
But that left me feeling really quite confused, not really a social issue, except for the apparent absolute lack of any other guests loitering around, but maybe they were all round the back or something. Anyway, I headed back towards Santa Cruz proper, and I came across Maria's hostel and Comedor or restaurant, or whatever it's called, and it looked a bit unpromising at first. And I went in and it did feel a bit weird, but I asked, and I got a meal, and although she did not recognise me saying the word aderezo, I did clarify - I was speaking Spanish, I don't know if they speak English in there, they probably do - I managed to get n undressed salad. I asked about the bistec Encebollado, they didn't have that, but I... she offered Pollo, and so I got Pollo Frito, and it was actually, to be fair, very good, and it was 200 and another 30 for the Coke, and she was quite cheery when I paid. Yeah, it was nothing like special, fancy, you don't like fancy anyway, but yeah, it was really well done, the portion was decent, it was like a flat chicken breast coated in breadcrumbs or something, and fried, deep fried, I don't know, but really nice actually, and I did get the salad undressed, and that was really surprisingly good actually, I might very well go back there, it's not cheaper than anywhere else, but it did feel better value.
So I came back and I can't remember exactly how I basically know him and the girl were sitting outside on the balcony, terrace, and I sat near them and I chipped into the conversation a little bit and I think it was okay and that was quite nice and I recommended Maria's to her when she asked her somewhere to go and eat so I hope she had a nice time. She went and so I finished my beer, oh I went into the mini market just opposite the hospital to get the beer first and then I thought oh well you know I'll go and get another beer at Ocean and drink it on the beach so I did that, the streets were dark at this point, it was probably about half six. No problem, I did put my torch on my phone as I was walking over because a couple of bits were very dark but it is quite a main road and there were no real problems with any dogs. It was windy as hell at the beach amazingly so I wondered if I was a complete nutter although there were a couple of locals I think maybe at a restaurant or at the Comedor just up above that slightly so maybe not. It was kind of cool but also a bit weird, I don't know if it was just the wind blowing something around but there was a thing on the beach that seemed to be like a jumping insect or spider. I tried to have a look at it but I lost it in the not quite full dark but you know very twilight-y dark. I was sitting on some rocks didn't actually worry me too much but I had the beer and it was okay and then I came back home because there was no point staying out later.
So I came back and the terrace was empty, and I sat in the hammock, and looked at stuff on my phone for a little bit, and then I came in here and that's about where we are. I think I was going to say something general about the other day. Oh, when I actually headed out to go to the beach, a spider, very much like the one that was in the room the other night, was scuttling across the terrace, and I did take a photo of it when it settled down, I'm not saying it was the same one, but it was very similar. I don't think I took a photo of the one that was in the room, so that's very similar.
The girl did also mention that her friends had suggested that they go over to the karaoke at Raindance afterwards. They'd been out on some tour today, which is why they weren't with her, just mentioned that in passing with regard to Raindance. I don't know if she did go or not, but I'm starting to think maybe I will give it a try later on as somewhere to stay. Although I don't know, huellitas look kind of interesting, but that's all by the by, not an issue right now. I'm going to stick with this place at least for tomorrow and maybe for the day after, unless they're actually full. As I say, I don't think I'll get into the water on the first day of the kite surfing, even if it does go ahead. So it would probably be good to avoid any kind of disturbance or mental static or whatever by changing accommodation at least until I've done day two of the kite surfing.
I'm seriously thinking about taking the screen protector off the P7. It isn't getting any better, it does kind of feel like it might help. I had a chat with an LLM this morning, I don't know if it's full of shit but it did kind of agree with me, but it's not like I'm being convinced by that. I'm sort of saying this to make a note for myself, because I'd been talking about it on this blog over the last few days. I'm just kind of reluctant to be left with the phone screen naked, even if it does fix it, but I could maybe get a screen protector I may take the screen protector off later so I'm saying this now just to document that, yeah, I have been talking about it for a while, it's still not getting better, and I think there's a chance it'll fix it, and the downside is probably limited anyway.
It has been kind of warmish today because I mean the breeze does get blocked obviously or just doesn't exist quite so much away from the beach Although it's very windy near the beach, but it's not it's not horrible It's warm, but there's generally a bit of a breeze and it was kind of overcast at points And it's not I can generally sitting around sweating. It's it's sort of warmly tropical with variations But it's generally quite nice and not for example like being in Granada where it mostly during the day felt awful Of course, maybe that's my psychology or me getting used to it, but for what it's worth
2100 washed 2 sets uw and done some exercises. Vaguely tempted to snack on some crisp things I have left over from yesterday but will try to be strong.
I did wonder about not having any beers today but what with one thing or another I thought I would I mean two is hardly insane is it they weren't as enjoyable as I might have hoped but it was only one day off and both of them were in slightly strange and awkward circumstances you know with the group on the terrace and then on the beach so it's fine yeah
I am slightly tempted to watch from YouTube as well, but to be honest I also feel a tiny bit tired. There's obviously nothing doing socially tonight, not that I'm tremendously up for it anyway, except on general grounds, but not specifically. So I do feel a bit tired, and although I don't have to be up particularly early, I think I might have a shower and do my teeth and go to bed. It's like it's not that early, it might not hurt, it might help things generally. I feel broadly speaking, okay, today hasn't been too bad in many ways, I've not done too bad with these interactions at the hostel, and I didn't flip out about the lesson, and I've maintained a mostly positive attitude, and likewise at the cafe by the lake and keeping open to the kayaking possibility, which I've got my eye on. Anyway, so there you go.
2108 just taken screen protector off. The touch sensitive showing app which shows a dot under fingers doesn't seem improved, but this actually seem a to be working *way* better. The touch showing app is every old and there may be a weird old android incompatibility glitch which causes that bizarre strip of jumpiness.
But yeah thinks like swiping up from the bottom of the acreen to get back to the launcher are now working reliably. So fingers crossed the screen protector was basically the cause of the glotch8ness, time will tell, but that is sometime. I don't think I could get a screen protector here on ometepe but I amf randomly quite IP for experimenting with running the phone e naked, it my be one thing I get tout of this trip longer term is realising just how subtly crappy having a screen protector in is (at least ton this phone) even before it went najorly tits up over the last few days.
I will have to be extra cateful about trying to keep eg sand off the p7 but it does already have its own dedicated pocket with no keys (and back in UK too) so with a tiny bit off extra caution this may well be a worthwhile gamble. As I say it may still turn out to befaulty but initial signs from typing this are promising. Of course eit isn't perfect because it is on screen keyboard with predictive text but the utter chaotic randomness that tkocks in at times and has to be temporarily averted by turning screen off and on seems to have gone, touch wood. And the screen doesn't even feel notably sticky despite just peeling the protector off without any tools or (more to the point) using any ipa type screen cleaner after.
So phew probably.
2119 okay, I've had a shower and done my teeth. Just for the record, the shower here is just cold. I think that's just par for the course, probably for the island, probably for most of Nicaragua. I can't specifically remember what Leon and Granada were like, but unless I wrote otherwise, I would guess they are cold only showers. Not really a big deal in this climate. I mean, the wind's howling outside like Arctic, but it's still slightly warm in the room. I haven't got the fan on at the moment, but I will put it on. It's not painfully warm, but it's definitely warm, you know. Was there anything else I was going to say?
Not to say I won't feel nervous tomorrow but in some strange way I think having the kitesurfing put off has kind of diminished some of the fear. I don't know, it sort of feels strangely and irrationally a bit more routine because it's been put back like that. I don't know, maybe I'm just making shit up as I talk but anyway, thought it's worth. I think I'll probably send this and go to bed because I did yawn a bit while I was cleaning my teeth. There's nothing specifically to stay up for and we'll see how it goes. Hopefully I get a bit better sleep tonight. I'm not sleeping terribly, it's just not quite right somehow. I don't really know why.
I just remembered I was thinking about cutting my fingernails tonight, but they're not particularly bad, and I think they can easily wait. And of course, in general, I have no convenient way to soak them before I cut them, even if I have a shower. Unless it's a hot shower, I'm just not going to be in there for the 10-20 minutes that would probably take. I don't have any cups to really dunk them in, I suppose in theory I could bodge something up in the sink. But anyway, not a big deal.
I am also just slightly overdue for a haircut only on my general let's try and keep it short principles I don't really think I've seen a hairdresser around here and it's certainly not terrible if I spot one I might do it but otherwise I guess when I get back to the mainland just a note
2124 I was sure there was something else but it can't be that important. Let's send this now and go to bed.
Put a touch detector app on the phone, there's a strip about two-thirds of the way down the screen across it where it's sort of jittery Could just be the screen protector. Of course. I haven't taken it off yet I've tried sort of pressing it down and rubbing it with cloths and clothes and it hasn't really helped But who knows could be a hardware fault which would suck but such is life Might be repairable economically. I mean it might even be a economically repairable over here, but I don't know I mean, anyway, it could very well be the screen protector. So I just haven't taken it off yet. I'm just making a note
I've probably already said, but the kitesurfing just feel quite expensive, really, at 160 a day, basically, for three hours of classes, but it is what it is and it probably is worth doing. I mean, yeah, it's going to add up. You have to kind of assume, given that I'm planning to do the basic three days, which is what they recommended at a minimum, unless it's awful or horrible, so it's quite likely to be three days' worth at three times 160 and maybe a day or two more, depending how it goes, you know, if I'm slow or if it's going all right and I want to sort of cement it or get a bit more in, but it's fine. I can afford it. It's only a two-month trip not a three month which while I don't have a formal budget could be agued to free some budget up. It's an experience. I did want to do it, blah, blah, blah. I'm just saying it is quite a lot of money, yes.
It is a bit weird having primarily dollars and constantly thinking am I getting screwed on the exchange rate when I ask for change or when I spend them. I've got some local cash and I do get local cash when I spend the dollars, but given the potentially very large expenditure on the kitesurfing and that that's dollar denominated and their exchange rate, I asked, they were very honest, they said it was 36 and the market rate was like 36.7 or 36.8. In my head maybe I got it wrong, that's like a 2% premium, so it was worth paying the 1% premium at the cash machine to get dollars, well I had to pay that to get local currency anyway, and you know I'm probably not getting that stiffed on other stuff, but since the bulk of the spend is going to be the dollar spend on the kitesurfing, I had to default to that. It's fine, obviously, I'm just waffling and making a note, but it is still slightly odd to be spending dollars more than I normally would if it hadn't been for this withdrawal.
0924 back in my room doing the voice typing, not sure what to do with the screen protector, I might take it off later but I'm not taking it off before the lesson I've been in this slightly awkward time-killing zone, I've come back into my room it's like I need to get slightly changed but I'm mostly ready and I'm a bit nervous and I'm sort of a bit excited but you know I don't know what to do so I'm just making a note about that and then I'll probably try not to keep waffling forever about it
1202 le#on cancelled to due too strong winds. Just one of those things. I have extended here another night and there isnt much I can do. To be fair I walked along beach road and sat on beach and maybe it is the power of suggestion but it does seem windy. I noticed there is actually another kite school slightly nearer hostle which ibhasnt seen before but I am not xhopping and changing also while diaappointong this seems quite professional of them, they could have given me a shit lesson and charged for it just to get the money etc.
Actually most annoyed at all the sunblock I wasted on my arms and legs that I now no longer need. I am not out but I don't have tons. I did look in at ocean mart and while they have some mega expensive stuff, they do have 90g of factor 50 at a whisker under 300 or about six quid which is still eye watering but basically ok. I have not bought any, I strongly suspect I have enough for at least one fullish body application and if I don't I would have time to buy some at ocean before the class to orrow and if the class goes well and I expect to be doing at least 2-3 more days the expense of buying this becomes less significant and more juatifiavle.
Not quite sure what to so with the day. I do have some slightly pain in ball of right foot near RBIG toe, not sure it is a blister, but not ideal. Gut feeling is I will
Maybe walk down towards merida as I did towards balgue and take it easy. I may also go for dinner or lucnh or a drink at a reataraunt or bar in some other nearby hostel by way of checking it out in terms of maybe staying there. I had a look at booking from the beach and there are nearby hostels with dorm beds and some do have privates but the privates are not as cheap as here and the dorm beds are not insanely cheap. I am open to a dorm and or a change of hostel for social stuff (although I do have some low key potential here and I don't feel too left out which i s perhaps main thing) and maybe paying for an expensive private to smooth things over or maybe going dorm *but* I think right now I would like to avoid any possible mind fuck or just extra stress before I ag least start the lessons. And given baed on the sullabua you probably don't get into the water until day 2, quite frankly I could see an argument for avoiding a hostel move until at least after day 2 of lessons, and depending how things go and whether I am forced to move, it might be smart to stay here for the duration of the lessons however long that is and then if I want to make a separate experiment staying at a different hostel.
Noticed today flight is on 25th so about a calendar month left. But that is fine, I do still have a lot of time, I am (trying) to do stuff etc. At least the cancellation today is just annoying and I am not down to a few days and maybe won't have enough time etc.
It does feel a waste of a day but in moderation a bit of wandering a bit of maybe experimentation at a reataurant or bar or a bit of a walk might be low key fun and although it is enforced it also is something I sort of wanted. Trying to squeeze in something big or semi big like an after oon kayak tour (making that up, no idea if it exists) feels like a bad idea in terms of burning up willpower and maybe body/muscle strength etc - I don't want to be sore going into the lessons etc.
1438 getting second coffee at Mirador del Concepción. Hope it doesn't rain. Walked over here, very quiet. Tried to go to la sirenita on a whim but a dog decided last minute to get a bit stroppy but managed to get down here. Owner chap had a brief chat, they do kayak rentla for inept two people at ten dollars an hour (and despite every single person I see not wearing one) this includes a lifejacket, or the guy said he would do me a deal of a guised tour at 20 dollars for two hours plus two hours of kayak rental so o guess 40 all in, he said normally it would be 30 for the guide. Anyway, he has given me his number (name Gabriel) and while the tour may be a touch expensive it might be interesting to come and hire a kayak for an hour or two another day.
I really hope it doesn't fucking rain but I suppose an hour walk back in the rain wouldn't kill me in these temps and it probably won't.
Ok gabfel aac5aly out me on wifi and just checked weather, rain seems unlikely, but I note it says strong winds tonorrow too and something about them aubaiding thudsday. Just have to keep my fingers crossed I guessed. And while annoying I so have time and to a limited extent waiting around for ok weather is kind of part and parcel of this sort of stuff I guess
I am not sure it isn't going to rain tbh. But what can I do?
Been slightly melancholy but nice here anyway and the second coffee has raced down and I do feel a bit down and maybe the weather worry etc isn't helping, albeit not crjppling. I think I will not neck it but it has nearly gone and not nurse it either.
2029 so I'm back in my room voice dictating this I walked back no problem it didn't rain I came back to the hostel did a bit of poking around on the web I think at that point they'd sent me a message saying midday for the lesson tomorrow maybe that turned up later anyway I replied and I made a little joke about fingers crossed for good weather and they did come back saying oh we're expecting to be there tomorrow so yeah fingers crossed when I got back yes I was messing around room a bit I thought I would go out and get something to eat and maybe have a look at some of the other hostels nearby with firstly because I needed to eat anyway also with a view to checking them out for if and when I decide to move somewhere else.
Whenn I hewded out Noam speaking to this Antipodean girl and I said hi and he shook my hand and I had been going to leave them to it but that sort of invited me in and I chatted for a few minutes before saying I was going to get dinner and maybe see them later.
So I went to huellitas and that looks quite interesting it almost looks well quite rural but there's a lot of places here are quite rural anyway I did went in and I was having sort of a look as I went and I spoke to a guy there and he said no no no we don't have a restaurant so I left but that does actually look kind of interesting I just want to read reviews. I then sort of tried to go into El Zopilote which was just super confusing they seem to have two locations both of them were kind of dead this was about quarter to five I think I was speaking Spanish I really didn't think I was speaking that badly but the basic idea that there's a restaurant at either location despite signs in the street saying restaurant vegan vegetarian food it was like I just asked them I don't know something crazy I mean they weren't saying oh it's too early sorry or oh sorry guests only I don't think it is guests only it was just like it's not sir this is a chemist this was the kind of gist anyway it's fine I mean they weren't rude just to be completely clear I was stone cold sober at this point so no question of anything like that being an issue but yeah a bit weird maybe it's a collective farm based on what I've read but it's still supposed to be hostile and they say you'd think the staff would say oh sorry the restaurant's not open yet or I'll come back later and it's like no no no it's like they definitely didn't say that there was no massive Spanish issue at that level anyway.
But that left me feeling really quite confused, not really a social issue, except for the apparent absolute lack of any other guests loitering around, but maybe they were all round the back or something. Anyway, I headed back towards Santa Cruz proper, and I came across Maria's hostel and Comedor or restaurant, or whatever it's called, and it looked a bit unpromising at first. And I went in and it did feel a bit weird, but I asked, and I got a meal, and although she did not recognise me saying the word aderezo, I did clarify - I was speaking Spanish, I don't know if they speak English in there, they probably do - I managed to get n undressed salad. I asked about the bistec Encebollado, they didn't have that, but I... she offered Pollo, and so I got Pollo Frito, and it was actually, to be fair, very good, and it was 200 and another 30 for the Coke, and she was quite cheery when I paid. Yeah, it was nothing like special, fancy, you don't like fancy anyway, but yeah, it was really well done, the portion was decent, it was like a flat chicken breast coated in breadcrumbs or something, and fried, deep fried, I don't know, but really nice actually, and I did get the salad undressed, and that was really surprisingly good actually, I might very well go back there, it's not cheaper than anywhere else, but it did feel better value.
So I came back and I can't remember exactly how I basically know him and the girl were sitting outside on the balcony, terrace, and I sat near them and I chipped into the conversation a little bit and I think it was okay and that was quite nice and I recommended Maria's to her when she asked her somewhere to go and eat so I hope she had a nice time. She went and so I finished my beer, oh I went into the mini market just opposite the hospital to get the beer first and then I thought oh well you know I'll go and get another beer at Ocean and drink it on the beach so I did that, the streets were dark at this point, it was probably about half six. No problem, I did put my torch on my phone as I was walking over because a couple of bits were very dark but it is quite a main road and there were no real problems with any dogs. It was windy as hell at the beach amazingly so I wondered if I was a complete nutter although there were a couple of locals I think maybe at a restaurant or at the Comedor just up above that slightly so maybe not. It was kind of cool but also a bit weird, I don't know if it was just the wind blowing something around but there was a thing on the beach that seemed to be like a jumping insect or spider. I tried to have a look at it but I lost it in the not quite full dark but you know very twilight-y dark. I was sitting on some rocks didn't actually worry me too much but I had the beer and it was okay and then I came back home because there was no point staying out later.
So I came back and the terrace was empty, and I sat in the hammock, and looked at stuff on my phone for a little bit, and then I came in here and that's about where we are. I think I was going to say something general about the other day. Oh, when I actually headed out to go to the beach, a spider, very much like the one that was in the room the other night, was scuttling across the terrace, and I did take a photo of it when it settled down, I'm not saying it was the same one, but it was very similar. I don't think I took a photo of the one that was in the room, so that's very similar.
The girl did also mention that her friends had suggested that they go over to the karaoke at Raindance afterwards. They'd been out on some tour today, which is why they weren't with her, just mentioned that in passing with regard to Raindance. I don't know if she did go or not, but I'm starting to think maybe I will give it a try later on as somewhere to stay. Although I don't know, huellitas look kind of interesting, but that's all by the by, not an issue right now. I'm going to stick with this place at least for tomorrow and maybe for the day after, unless they're actually full. As I say, I don't think I'll get into the water on the first day of the kite surfing, even if it does go ahead. So it would probably be good to avoid any kind of disturbance or mental static or whatever by changing accommodation at least until I've done day two of the kite surfing.
I'm seriously thinking about taking the screen protector off the P7. It isn't getting any better, it does kind of feel like it might help. I had a chat with an LLM this morning, I don't know if it's full of shit but it did kind of agree with me, but it's not like I'm being convinced by that. I'm sort of saying this to make a note for myself, because I'd been talking about it on this blog over the last few days. I'm just kind of reluctant to be left with the phone screen naked, even if it does fix it, but I could maybe get a screen protector I may take the screen protector off later so I'm saying this now just to document that, yeah, I have been talking about it for a while, it's still not getting better, and I think there's a chance it'll fix it, and the downside is probably limited anyway.
It has been kind of warmish today because I mean the breeze does get blocked obviously or just doesn't exist quite so much away from the beach Although it's very windy near the beach, but it's not it's not horrible It's warm, but there's generally a bit of a breeze and it was kind of overcast at points And it's not I can generally sitting around sweating. It's it's sort of warmly tropical with variations But it's generally quite nice and not for example like being in Granada where it mostly during the day felt awful Of course, maybe that's my psychology or me getting used to it, but for what it's worth
2100 washed 2 sets uw and done some exercises. Vaguely tempted to snack on some crisp things I have left over from yesterday but will try to be strong.
I did wonder about not having any beers today but what with one thing or another I thought I would I mean two is hardly insane is it they weren't as enjoyable as I might have hoped but it was only one day off and both of them were in slightly strange and awkward circumstances you know with the group on the terrace and then on the beach so it's fine yeah
I am slightly tempted to watch from YouTube as well, but to be honest I also feel a tiny bit tired. There's obviously nothing doing socially tonight, not that I'm tremendously up for it anyway, except on general grounds, but not specifically. So I do feel a bit tired, and although I don't have to be up particularly early, I think I might have a shower and do my teeth and go to bed. It's like it's not that early, it might not hurt, it might help things generally. I feel broadly speaking, okay, today hasn't been too bad in many ways, I've not done too bad with these interactions at the hostel, and I didn't flip out about the lesson, and I've maintained a mostly positive attitude, and likewise at the cafe by the lake and keeping open to the kayaking possibility, which I've got my eye on. Anyway, so there you go.
2108 just taken screen protector off. The touch sensitive showing app which shows a dot under fingers doesn't seem improved, but this actually seem a to be working *way* better. The touch showing app is every old and there may be a weird old android incompatibility glitch which causes that bizarre strip of jumpiness.
But yeah thinks like swiping up from the bottom of the acreen to get back to the launcher are now working reliably. So fingers crossed the screen protector was basically the cause of the glotch8ness, time will tell, but that is sometime. I don't think I could get a screen protector here on ometepe but I amf randomly quite IP for experimenting with running the phone e naked, it my be one thing I get tout of this trip longer term is realising just how subtly crappy having a screen protector in is (at least ton this phone) even before it went najorly tits up over the last few days.
I will have to be extra cateful about trying to keep eg sand off the p7 but it does already have its own dedicated pocket with no keys (and back in UK too) so with a tiny bit off extra caution this may well be a worthwhile gamble. As I say it may still turn out to befaulty but initial signs from typing this are promising. Of course eit isn't perfect because it is on screen keyboard with predictive text but the utter chaotic randomness that tkocks in at times and has to be temporarily averted by turning screen off and on seems to have gone, touch wood. And the screen doesn't even feel notably sticky despite just peeling the protector off without any tools or (more to the point) using any ipa type screen cleaner after.
So phew probably.
2119 okay, I've had a shower and done my teeth. Just for the record, the shower here is just cold. I think that's just par for the course, probably for the island, probably for most of Nicaragua. I can't specifically remember what Leon and Granada were like, but unless I wrote otherwise, I would guess they are cold only showers. Not really a big deal in this climate. I mean, the wind's howling outside like Arctic, but it's still slightly warm in the room. I haven't got the fan on at the moment, but I will put it on. It's not painfully warm, but it's definitely warm, you know. Was there anything else I was going to say?
Not to say I won't feel nervous tomorrow but in some strange way I think having the kitesurfing put off has kind of diminished some of the fear. I don't know, it sort of feels strangely and irrationally a bit more routine because it's been put back like that. I don't know, maybe I'm just making shit up as I talk but anyway, thought it's worth. I think I'll probably send this and go to bed because I did yawn a bit while I was cleaning my teeth. There's nothing specifically to stay up for and we'll see how it goes. Hopefully I get a bit better sleep tonight. I'm not sleeping terribly, it's just not quite right somehow. I don't really know why.
I just remembered I was thinking about cutting my fingernails tonight, but they're not particularly bad, and I think they can easily wait. And of course, in general, I have no convenient way to soak them before I cut them, even if I have a shower. Unless it's a hot shower, I'm just not going to be in there for the 10-20 minutes that would probably take. I don't have any cups to really dunk them in, I suppose in theory I could bodge something up in the sink. But anyway, not a big deal.
I am also just slightly overdue for a haircut only on my general let's try and keep it short principles I don't really think I've seen a hairdresser around here and it's certainly not terrible if I spot one I might do it but otherwise I guess when I get back to the mainland just a note
2124 I was sure there was something else but it can't be that important. Let's send this now and go to bed.
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