Fresh-squeezed Orange Juice: Nica Nugget #7

I did a double take today when I saw a bowl of peeled oranges. That’s exactly how we used to peel our oranges when I was a kid. Well, until we learned the American way; a way which never seemed quite right. I’m from Puerto Rico and there, like they were in this bowl, oranges are peeled circularly. (Or at least they were, I don’t know about now. It’s been 12 years since I’ve been in P.R.) I saw the oranges, saw the juicer and stopped in my tracks, because of course I had to have a cup of fresh-squeezed …

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Dr. Zapatos: Nica Nugget #6

After John and I went tromping through the jungle in the rain last week in search of the waterfall (which we found but which didn’t have any water falling, except in the form of rain on our heads), I noticed that my only pair of walking shoes had come unglued. Oh no, what to do? It’s not like I can just hop in my car (which I don’t have) and run to an outdoor gear store (which doesn’t exist here) or order on Amazon (which doesn’t deliver here). This is the one downside of living in a non-consumer-oriented culture. The …

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Coffee and Mint Lemonade: Nica Nugget #5

Yesterday, I saw a post on the FB Page Life in San Juan del Sur which sparked my interest. It was about the relocated Indio del Sur Coffee Shop. So this morning John and I decided to find it and check it out. There are no addresses in Nicaragua as we know them. But once I knew where to look, from the fb post, it was easy to spot. It’s tucked in around the south side of the church. As we glanced back out the door from our seats, John pointed to Cristo (note the Rio de Janeiro-esque statue on …

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Simon Says it’s Time for a Smoothie: Nica Nugget #4

Hooray! My favorite smoothie bar is still open. Simon Says. Patricia, the General Manager and waitress, welcomed John and me this morning with her great smile and open arms. They’ve closed their awesome back patio for the time being, but their funky front space is still great and probably ample space for the folks still around. They’ve adjusted their hours too, deciding to close at night, and just open during daylight hours, but they are still open everyday but Tuesday. I’m like a broken record when I go there, always ordering their Brazil smoothie, but an expat friend who recently moved away …

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Gourmet Ice Cream!: Nica Nugget #3

Two doors down from the Sanchez store there’s a new and awesome ice cream shop called Bolingo Gourmet. I had a scoop of Maracuya (Passion fruit). John had Chocolate. Next time in town I’m having Coco (Coconut) so I can see if it’s as good as the Coco I used to get as a child on the plaza in Ponce, Puerto Rico, which in my book is still the best ice cream I’ve ever had in my life. (And a runner up is the ice cream shop along the malecon in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.) John swears the …

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Jungle Hike in Rain: Nica Nugget #2

Our friend Summer has been telling us about a waterfall near her house so today John and I joined her on a hike to it. The trail was so overgrown in places we feared stepping on venomous snakes and had to backtrack at one point. There were gorgeous spiderwebs with fat, striped spiders. A field of small, darting butterflies. And then a butterfly so large I said no, it’s a bird, as it partly disappeared into a tree. And John said no, it’s a bat, as we crept up to it and stared at the dark form. And Summer said no, …

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Getting My Teeth Cleaned: Nica Nugget #1

I had my teeth cleaned by the actual dentist, Dr. Cora, who’s also an orthodontist (vs by a dental hygienist which is more typical in the U.S.). At noon, which is also a perfect time for a nap for her husband/receptionist/driver (he drives her from the capital city of Managua to see clients in San Juan del Sur two days a week). The air conditioning is on (and only available here, at the bank, at my lawyer’s office and in the bank’s ATM booth). The sole reading material is a book of classic Colorado outdoor scenes (including Echo Park, Dinosaur …

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Skies Clear, Power Returns & Work Begins

After the devastation of Tropical Storm Nate, the sunsets returned to our home in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and so did the clean up and repair. The Chocolata Road gets a facelift The rutted dirt road, full of horrid, repetitive potholes and thick mud, which crosses in front of our development, is finally getting a face lift, but how thorough a job is done is yet to be seen. It’s supposed to be, eventually some day, maybe, paved. But I’m not holding my breath for that. Besides, the road is in such bad shape right now that traffic goes …

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