Arrival

It is 7:32 PM Managua time, February 9th, 2011. I could not be any more ready to go to bed!

From what I have seen of Managua so far, I think I will really like it here. The city itself is busy, dusty, and infinitely confusing. On our van ride from the airport to the center, we zipped past men and women selling water in plastic bags in the middle of the highway, several horse-drawn carts navigating the fast-moving roadways, and young children who would dart out to wash our windows and tap on the glass, hoping for payment.

The center we are staying at is peaceful, especially compared to the little bit of the city we saw briefly today. We eat our meals prepared by the staff here on a covered porch, surrounded by green foliage. Air moves freely through the open windows of the house, keeping it cool and letting in the sounds of crickets and the occasional loud motors from outside.

Tomorrow we will explore the city with the resident staff, learn how to use the public transportation system and purchase pre-paid cell phones. Aside from the 2 hours of sleep I got on the plane and my half-hour hammock nap this afternoon, I have not slept at all the past two days! Off to bed now... and it's only a quarter til 8. What a day!