.......Dying slowly.....
....You start....
...if you do not travel........if you do not read...
...if you do not listen to the sounds of life...
...if you do not appreciate yourself...
You start dying slowly...
...if you become a slave of your habits....
...if you do not change your routine......
...or you do not speak to those you don't know...
You start dying slowly...
...if you avoid to feel passion....
...and their turbulent emotions....
...those which make your eyes glisten...
...and your heart beat fast....
...[excerpt] by Pablo Neruda
........................
...... Lost at Sea......on the Corn Islands ......
Take a ruler and draw a straight line on a map from Managua... through Bluefields on the Caribbean coast and continue another cm or 2....and you'll hit the Corn Islands...
...a little Creole...a little Carib... a little Belize and Jamaican (man)...although only 70 km off shore...they are as far from mainland Nicaragua as Pluto is from the rest......just drifting in their own space.....
On a map, the Corns look as if an artist dropped 2 little blobs of paint on the canvas....and, liked the results....
On the ground...the Corns are an artist's creation...
...bright greens, yellows, vibrant sea blues and dazzling sky hues.... ....... a feast for the eyes....
......locals sit on porches.....wave hello.....ride bikes....the pace slow.....dictated by heat and humidity.....lazy days are the routine here.....
...........................
.....the people...the music...the buildings...all warm ..... happy, inviting.....they are places people have come for a week and stayed for years.....even past troubles on the mainland seem to be cleansed away by the ocean currents and tropical breezes......
....from mangoes ripening.... lobster traps awaiting....
.....life follows the rhythm of the seasons.....
...........................
We find plenty of rooms in mid April on BC/LC. Prices range from easy to expensive. Places to eat are readily found.
If you come for a while.....move around to new digs....even 400m down the road can be a whole new view.... long-term (month or more) can be had...just ask....
Sunshine Hotel on Big Corn
.........................
....Big Corn and Little Corn...a tale of two Islands.....
Getting to the Corns
We take an early morning 12-seater flight from Managua to Big Corn.....the flight is comfortable, but tight.....and flies close enough to the ground (8000 feet), ...takes about 90 minutes... Those on the 70 passenger plane take less time but don't get the thrill of the smaller plane.
BIG CORN
We stay at a fabulous AirBnB called The White House.
Our apartment is huge, immaculate and safe.
Randy and Eamon are our hosts, generous and kind.
Perfect place to explore Big Corn...
The White House
With few tourists and easy to get around.....
......the island buses (former school buses) are 10 cordobas....and taxis are 20 cordobas/person.
... great beaches and it has that chill Caribbean vibe ...
While Big Corn has little in the way of tourist--stuff...
...it has plenty to do of nothing...it is truly a Caribbean gem....
...unpretentious.....unbuilt up....untouristy...
....... people come to enjoy the tranquillo of the Big Corn day......
...it's a place to watch a baseball game on Sunday at the 2 baseball stadiums (yep, stadiums....fenced, bleachers and scoreboard)...locals love their ball...watch an outdoor basketball game full with colourful stadium seating... or exercise on the outdoor equipment...
...take in a sunset at Picnic Beach...or sip cold beers at Victoria's on the windy side.....
...ask a taxi driver to take you to some island night life....
...do something.....do nothing....it's all here on Big Corn
...............................
.... Onto Little Corn.....
...the castaway island that Tom Hanks should've been on (with Wilson)...
It's a 30 minute, sometimes, bumpy panga boat ride from Big Corn.
....40 people crammed into benches 5 across.....
....if we roll over we'd still all be wedged together floating upside down....
....and....then you step ...onto ...a tropical hideaway.....without roads...
...without motorized vehicles... without traffic lights..... without stress...
.....hot sun....warm trade winds.....soft sands....places to hide....to think....to swim....to connect.... reconnect...but, if you just follow the signs, you won't get lost...
....goods and baggage are moved by wheelbarrows & carts ... pushed and pulled.....
....we walk jungle pathways....dig our toes into warm sands....
.... sit on empty beaches....swim in warm sapphire coloured waters...... snorkel .....
...chase nurse sharks.....drink frosty Toñas...sip rum (Nicaragua's Flora de Caña voted best in 2018)... .......and dance the night away...in places called Tranquillo and the Lighthouse.......
.....but....most of all.... just chill...
While Big Corn's vibe is tranquillo... Little Corn takes it down a notch to a chill-out setting....
Both Corns are blessed with their own great identity.....
both offer their own qualities....spend time on both...but don't miss a stay on Little Corn
.................................
Parting thoughts from Nicaragua....
Good bye to Nicaragua....a month long journey of love and kindness through this magical country.....from street-side bars to crowded buses.... people have been generous and welcoming..... it's been safe..... it's been hot.... it's gotten sweaty and dirty...the country, like its people is physically gorgeous and sensual on the senses....from festivals....to mountain walks....and caressing ocean waters (and hidden waterfalls to soak in).....we have had a blast....this is a country that deserves your interest and attention....Come and find hope on the healing of the human spirit...SK/YK
....................................
........EPILOGUE.....
....... (On) Dying slowly.....more from Pablo Neruda
......You start.......
.......if you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job....
...or with your love.....
....if you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain.......
..... if you do not go after a dream....
.......And......You start dying slowly....
. ...if you do not allow yourself........
.......At least once in your lifetime......
.......to run away from sensible advice......
..............................
Adios from Nicaragua
Shayne y Yvonne
