North To Granada
The flight to Managua was full of big puffy clouds. The ride was 55 minutes but for some reason we waited in the twin prop for 20 more of them just off the end of the runway. The flight attendant just finished announcing a further delay when we started to taxi.
It was easy to see when we entered Nicaragua because of the lake. The southern end almost just borders on Costa Rica, and just above it there is another big lake, the southern shore of which is the north end of Managua. The airport was virtually empty and migracion was bored. The officer spared a moment when I asked her in Spanish if it was quiet today because of the elections. She smiled and said yes and waived me through.
Outside was quiet as well with only two taxis waiting along with my hotel ride to Granada. My driver was a pip, and we talked politics all the way to the door of the hotel. He said that he split his vote. The first thing I asked him was what he thought of Ortega, and he said Ortega was all right. The ruling party for the past 15-20 years, the liberals- or PLN (I'll have to check the acronym), were a bunch of thieves he said. He voted for the Sandanistas locally and against Ortega nationally.
My take was that he accepted that Ortega was likely to win, and he could live with that, but he certainly wasn't going to vote for him. The deputies, which administer locally, were a different story. Most people believe the Sandinistas are more honest than the other two parties, and they (the people) are sure nobody wants war. Yes, there were troubles, but that is in the past. Everybody wants peace.
So without thinking my big plan was to go to the bar, have a burger and a beer and chat people up. The bar was empty of course because it's election day and you're not allowed to drink in public or buy alcohol. The brilliant bartender of course recommended room service, because they're allowed to serve me in my room. Which is where I am now having just finished a disturbingly chewy burger (it was the cheese) and am just about to polish off my Corona. As it's still early, and just warm enough to call it hot, I've decided it's time for a nap and will hit the parque central after a bit of a snooze where the cab driver said anybody and everybody will be more than happy to discuss the national pastime. And no, it's not baseball.
