The Americas 2013

I got going from Hotel Villa Caletas early this morning because I was uncertain of what to expect at the Nicaraguan border post. I was in very high spirits because Costa Rica really is very beautiful to drive through. The coastal areas are lush tropical jungle and as you move inland towards the Nicaraguan border post it becomes dry, almost exactly like parts of Africa including potato bushes, thorn and mimosa trees and their accompanying scents which brought on a tinge of nostalgia for home!

Another 400km day..

At the border posts, one either hits it lucky because you get there before the big tour buses or straight after in which case the borders can be a nightmare. Mine was the latter today!! And to add insult to injury you pay for EVERYTHING!!!

• You drive up and customs gives you a piece of paper to be checked as you go through the border process-$1!
• You go forward 5 metres for vehicle fumigation-$3!
• Before you join the very long queue for immigration at passport control you have to pay a “municipal tax”-$1!
• You stand in the very very long queue for passport control in 35C heat but there are no immigration forms available? That’s because the immigration “agents” (aka Joe public with an official looking badge around his neck) have them all and will sell them to you…yep, that’s right, you pay for the immigration form!!-$1!!
• When you eventually get to the front of the mass of people that loosely resemble a queue and are drenched with perspiration, passport control stamps you in-$12 for the privilege of visiting Nicaragua!
• Then you join the queue to get your original customs form stamped-$5!
• Then you go outside to find a customs inspector that is hiding away somewhere that will sign the stamped customs form…when you find him!-$0!
• Then you join the queue to buy compulsory vehicle insurance (at least its on site and not in another province!!)-$15!
• Then you join the queue at customs to get the temporary importation permit, however, when you get to the front you are advised that the customs form is missing the police stamp and that needs to be done before they will issue the permit so off you go on another “hide and go seek” expedition until you find him…sleeping under the bus..I kid you not!!-$0!
• Then you re-join the queue at customs to get the temporary importation permit-$0! How lucky am I?
• Then you look for the customs inspector and the police again for their stamps-$0!
• Now you can leave!! two and a half hours and ten kilos in perspiration later!! You gotta love the Turd world!!

As I left the border post on route to Granada on lake Nicaragua where I am spending the next 2 nights, the differences between Costa Rica and Nicaragua were immediately obvious! Whereas Costa Rica is affluent and well looked after, Nicaragua (or what I have seen of it thus far anyway) is in a state of disrepair and the charade at the border post gives one a sense of it relative to my entry into Costa Rica just the day before.

The ride through Beautiful Costa Rica…

I was interested to discover during a chat with hotel staff at Villa Caletas that Costa Rica abolished its own army in 1949 in favour of healthcare and education. The results are obvious and progressive as this small country is thriving and beautiful!

My entry into Nicaragua also came with Central American GPS software failure. My GPS can see the route I am on and will direct me to turn left and right etc but displays no map with zoom of less than 50km which is pointless when trying to navigate around a city. Fortunately Granada is small and finding the hotel wasn’t difficult. Insofar as my hotel is concerned, I booked a little place called “Los Patios” using booking.com which I regularly do, however, as I found myself driving further and further away from the “centre” I was thinking “bugger”!! On arrival, the facade is small and disappointing in a street that looks like downtown Khyalitsha, however, on entry, the place is amazing. It used to be the home of a Danish family that have converted it into a Hotel and left their “Scandinavian chic” design stamp! Beautiful little place for 2 nights.

Hotel Los Patios…

Dinner was at a little bar on the main street and WOW, does this place rock on a Friday night!!

Granada main street..

Another Saffer hiding on the other side of the world!!