In A Small Town on the Beach

I didn't time my titles correctly. This title was supposed to be for San Juan Del Sur...maybe I'll get there in this flashback, but likely not.

SO still in Ometepe. January 2nd.
We decide to take a bus to the other side of the island because I wanted to visit a organic coffee finca (plantation). The bus dropped us off about a kilometer away, so we hiked a bit up one of the volcanos. Along the path we passed many banana field workers, and so decided that good words of wisdom are, "Always bueno/as a man with a machete."
We arrived at the finca (without machete marks) and not only was it beautiful (you'll have to wait for photos) but we met some interesting characters as well. In Nica all food is prepared after you order, so it often takes 45min-1 hour to get your food. While we were waiting, once again the Lonely Planet El Salvador/Nicaragua book provided a conversation starter. The book is so new that very few people had it, so everyone liked to look at it. Anyway, we ended up talking to this guy for awhile. He'd traveled to more than fifty countries and lived in quite a few, but was originially from Belgium. Then the Canadian at the next table joins in and gave us quite a perspective on some conspiracy theories. So there we were, talking travel, robberies, elections, immigration and international relations, all the while sipping delicious coffee and looking past a garden to volcanos and the lake beyond.
THEN...well, this is when I get into trouble. We walked down to the base of the hill and foolishly didn't get on the bus when it came (cause we wanted to go the other way). Well after a long time we started walking. I didn't want to get dehydrated as it was extremely hot and we only had one liter of water. So...I flagged down a truck. Don't worry people. We didn't get robbed or attacked or anything. It was just the most painful experience ever, especially for B...because the truck was full of folded chairs. And the Nicas already had the prime positions. And he has no fat to cushion the blows as we drove over the very pot-holed road.
In the end, though, it was worth it. We caught a direct ride to the Ojo del Agua, one of the prettiest swimming holes I've ever seen...it was unfortunate we did not have more time there. And to get there, you have to walk through a banana field, which was gorgeous. The swimming hole was made by damming up the little river that runs through the island, I believe, and is surrounded by trees. It's a bit surreal though, as you get there and it looks as though it is a swimming pool and then you get in and feel dirt under your feet.
Surprisingly enough, we made it on to a bus fairly quickly and ended up back at our place...that night we toasted the island with our tiny bottle of Flor De Cana and cokes and limes, as we sat at the open air restaurant watching the lake.
One more quick story about Ometepe.
The next morning we were waiting for the bus to Moyagalpa, to make a lancha back to reality. We turn every time we hear a noise, anxious for a bus or a driver that costs less than $10. The fourth or fifth time we turned, we saw a herd of cattle coming toward us. No big deal...we'd seen lots of them, driven by men on horses. Then our heads turn the opposite direction. A car, coming fast. Again, no big deal as most cars just drive around the cows. NOT this one. It kept going at a fairly rapid pace. This was an unusual car, too, as it looked new and clean. At least, it was until the driver encountered a cow. The cow just stumbled but kept going, and the car continued driving through the herd. When it reached the other side, the passenger (male) got out and examined the dent. When he got back in the car, the driver (female) shrugged and they sped off again.
And then our bus came.