Granada

Today we dropped Joe off at the airport and made our way to Granada. We stopped at the Masaya volcano - it is still active and we were not able to get a great view due to all the sulphurous smoke. It is not a very high volcano - just a really big crater. After walking around the lip of the crater we drove to the oter side to meet up with a guide who took us into a cave. I really don't like the idea of being deep underground near an active volcano, but decided to tough it out. We were given little construction helmets and very weak flashlights before hiking down into the cave. The ground was damp and craggy and there were fruit bats above. We walked 200 meters into the cave until it opened up quite a bit. The guide told us that this was where virgins used to be sacrificed to the volcano. And then he had us turn out all our flashlights so that we could see how dark it really is. I inched closer to papa and grabbed his hand. It was so dark that I felt as if it was closing in on me. My breaths came deeper and faster until I just couldn't stand it and had to switch on my light. I was happy to turn back and walk towards the light. 

We arrived in Granada this afternoon after lunch overlooking a beautiful lake in another volcano crater. A walk through the city and central square left me feeling sticky and gritty (kind of like NY in the summer!). It was nice to use a real shower and not have to layer on sunscreen or bug spray after. 

One more day in Nicaragua before home. I am going to try and soak up all the warm weather I can!!