If you aren’t already confused, I’ll elaborate for more confusion. For those of you who know me, you won’t be surprised, I’m certain. Life for me is always a progression of changes and learning opportunities.
Last blog stated that I work on the beach from my home and yes, I do that too. However, with our current technology, I can work wherever my computer and an internet connection are available. The past two months I am working on several projects that require research and travel within Nicaragua. I find fun wherever I can–and avoid work along the way.
My friend Marg Satchwell and I spent three days in Laguna Apoyo at Pacaya Lodge while I spent time working on the next Basha Health Clinic venue at Pacaya Lodge scheduled for this summer. Marg and I didn’t fair so well however. I tripped going upstairs to my loft bedroom and fell backwards down the stairs. No broken bones for me but really sore sacrum. Marg in her fervor to help me tripped on the same landing and jammed her arm into the wall creating an impacted fracture of her radius into her wrist bone. We learned about the hospital in Rivas the next day where Marg had an x-ray and subsequently spent the night. Keep in mind this was Semana Santa weekend, specifically Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The hospital doesn’t provide sheets or pillows for the ancient beds so my driver made several trips to my friend’s in Limón to borrow sheets, pillows and he shopped for food and drink for the three of us–Marg, Maurice my driver friend, and me. Marg was very fortunate to have the ortho doc working on Saturday to be a pleasant capable surgeon who recommended conservative treatment–manipulation and cast fixation of the radius versus surgery. I was able to bring Marg home with me on Saturday so that she was only staying with the cockroaches one night. Yes, unfortunately the Rivas Hospital has gone downhill in many areas over the past four years. Thank Isis, the doctors are still great. Not sure how they can stand working in a not so great hospital but it is truthfully the better of the two hospitals in Rivas. Note to self, STAY HEALTHY.
Before our accidents, Marg and I had a great time exploring artist’s shops in San Juan de Oriente and one whole day in Granada. It has been a year since I spent any time in Granada and I was pleasantly surprised to see many newly painted buildings and visit the completed Museum at the San Francisco Convent. In the past Granada hasn’t been my favorite place to visit but I’ve changed my mind and would consider more than one day’s exploration in the future.
The best NEWS for me this Spring is that I now have clear title to my condo. The Fabulous Beach Condo with a View is now posted FOR SALE on several websites with more to follow. http://www.escapeartist.com and http://www.latincarib.com to begin with. The condo is already rented through mid August with potential for rental two months in October and November. Hopefully the rentals will be enticing to potential buyers. When I return to NI on June 4th, I’ll be staying at Carmen Gúzman’s casita in Limón #2 where I lived when I first moved full time to NI.
I am currently working the past two weeks from my daughter Rivka Bent’s home in San Juan Capistrano. My grand daughter, Esther Roosvelt Bent, graduated on May 6th from Westmont College in Montecito, CA. It was an exciting weekend although COLD and raining off and on. Yes, of course, I was freezing unless I had on my three layers of clothes that are kept in the traveling suitcase that is carried between my children’s homes for when I come to visit. Fortunately someone in my family travels from Northern to Southern CA at least once a month for something and can therefore transport THE MOM suitcase. I’ll be here in SJC for three weeks then on to Dixon, CA for my last week in the US. I have two more grand daughters graduating from high school in June in No. CA. It is hard to believe these grandkids are getting older and I’m not. (Or so I think.)
The rainy season has finally begun on the Emerald Coast of Nicaragua and I hope that it lasts for many months as we desperately need it. Before I left NI there were a lot of fires caused by dry trees and brush and the increase in smokers who haven’t yet learned what throwing away a lit cigarette can do. Of course this statement is a judgment. However in the past years I haven’t seen as many fires along the roads as I have seen this year. Usually one can see fires up in the hills caused by I’m not sure what.
The Guasacate house project is progressing nicely. Construction is still focused on the infrastructure a major retaining wall on the ocean side that will also house two rainwater encachment reservoirs and a jacuzzi sized pool. Ron Urroz, the builder, who is a civil engineer is always coming up with something to enhance the construction. Now when I get the condo sold, I’ll be able to spend the money on finishing the project. In the meantime, I am happy with the way the property is coming alive. I have the beginning of a waterfall in the front entrance side of the house. The volcanic rock that the house is built on is so hard that it broke the backhoe that was trying to remove rock to level the front. Ron and I decided to leave the rock and I’ll turn it into a waterfall pond area in the future. I’ve already been researching ideas. For those who never saw my house in West Sacramento, I designed a waterfall and small pond that ran 24/7 and held three goldfish that grew to 6 inch specimens and my red-earred slider turtle named Felice. Time will tell what this water element will end up as.
Although I enjoy seeing my family and friends here in the US, I truly miss my life in Nicaragua and my families and friends there. I can’t wait to get HOME even though I’ll be camping again for six weeks. NI is my home.
Once again, I invite guests to join me in my Paradise on the Emerald Coast ocean in Nicaragua.
Photos in order of appearance:
Esther Bent Graduation with Mother, Rivka doing a mother task of fixing an umbrella for the Grad. Esther and Dad, Brian Bent playing at the last gig of the Bent Duo at Esther’s work place last night – May 12th.
Rock art on the hike that Marg and I did from Pacaya Lodge. The chapel display for Semana Santa at the San Francisco Convent Chapel in Granada.
My retaining wall in process. The reservoirs are in front of Ron and Ana’s house next to mine. My reservoirs will be similar but divided into three spaces. The Urroz wall is in front of their pool and BIG jacuzzi. My wall and reservoirs will be off the apartment below my house terrace. The mammoth space under my house will be a 700 sq. ft.- 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartment that I’ll rent out.
Margie Fincham in Nicaragua 