Baile de Zompopo

Ometepe's Leaf Cutter Ant Dance just happened to coincide with my 3rd day on the island. It's the largest festival of the year for Ometepe residents.

Our entire community of gringos and a few locals loaded up in a the back of a pick up truck, braving the potholed, rocky roads, singing campy songs, and entertaining everyone we passed, made the journey across the Island to the little town of Alta Gracia, where the festivities went on all day and all night!

The daytime festival is a parade up and down the streets of Alta Gracia where everyone holds up sticks with leaves, sugar cane, bamboo, papaya, anything goes. They bounce them up and down to the beat of a dozen or so drummers following the procession. It's loud, it's hot, it's fun and it goes on for hours. The first picture on top left corner is taken in the main square, and is a good visual representation of the island.

These next two show the Zompopo parade coming down the streets!

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Here's a little boy dressed up like the bull, and at the end of the day there are bullfights, which resemble a strange combination of spanish bullfighting and american rodeo. People take turns wearing the costume of the bull and running around chasing each other.

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• • • • There are lots of interesting and sometimes tasty snacks available at all locations and times during the festival. Here is a guy selling shaved ice, Raspados. He is literally shaving a block of ice and then a sugary "goo" is poured on top. No one seems to be sure what this substance is, but a lot of people seem to enjoy it.
        
        • Below are sorbets, which we were suprised to see don't really melt. They are made with milk and sugar cooked and then frozen, which seems to raise their melting point to make them more durable in the hot sun. Cost: $50 codobas or about .25 cents.
          

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At the end of the day, we went to the bullfights in the local festival area. It was the first, and probably the last time I will probably attend one. I just don't get it. These men drink way too much and then stand around on the field, taunting this poor creature who doesn't have any interest in being there. When it comes towards them they run and jump on the fence to avoid being maimed.
This last picture is of most of the women staying at Inanitah right now. From left to right: Danny, Anna, Hillary, Angela, Ericka, Valerie (me), and Simone.

Hello, Nicaragua!

I've made it! I'm writing to you from the rock circle that creates a small amplitheatre, looking out to the west as the sun begins her descent into the horizon. Conception, the active volcano rises up to the right of my vision, declaring her reign over the island. When I was here in February, I seized the incredible opportunity to climb up her rocky terrain and deeply forested trail up towards her hot, lava singed mouth where smoke pours out from her lungs 24/7, creating a thick windy cloud cover. I have deep respect for Conception. That was no easy task, taking a total of 9 hours to ascend and descend, causing me to barely be able to walk for days after. But that's another story. Did I mention the warm, tropical breeze blowing gently in the after glow of a 80 degree day? Ahhhh...tropical breeze. Smile.
Being here feels like coming home again. The community is more active and alive than when I left in February. There are 13 volunteers and visitors, contributing to the vision of sustainability and shared living on this fertile land. The website for the community is up and running: www.Inanitah.com. The papaya, citrus, and banana trees are fruiting, and two more structures have been erected since I last visited. At any given moment, you can hear english, german, and spanish being spoken amongst the activity.
I've pitched my tent at the top of a ridge of campsites. It's location is the farthest walk to the main area, (which includes the kitchen, temple space, and shower/composting toilet), but it provides me with a private space to retreat to when needed. My body feels tired from the long journey here and lack of exercise in the past few months. It's going to take a few days, at least, to get acclimated again. Luckily, I have this space. I am not needed for much this week except to work on designing the massage course, which will start next monday and a few odd chores here and there. Time to sink in. Did I mention the warm, tropical breeze?
Tomorrow, there's a festival happening on the island to celebrate some natural change, which I cannot recall at the moment. We're all headed down to witness the celebration, I'll be sure to post some photos.
Until then...with love from OMetepe (that's the name of the island)