Big Corn Island
2/17, day 23. Saturday.
La Costeña terminal is adjacent but separate from the main cooled terminal.
It's small, hot, despite of 2 big AC wall units.
One food shop, no drinking water. At least free toilet.
No free wifi in either terminals.
I'm able to bring in water and milk through the X-ray machine.
Had to pay a $2 tax.
My flight is $97 each way + a $35 tax already.
I bought my ticket 11 days ago, after checking with M.Y.
My plane is full.
11:50 boarding. The 1 minute walk in the sun to the plane is hot.
Took off in time.
Very warm. Very loud.
My neighbor's phone showed 93F.
At the arrival, the door was locked, I wasn't allowed to leave. Ridiculous. Once the luggage arrived (I don't have any checked bags), someone opened the door.
Walked 2.4km to the lodging. Hot, but not as bad as Managua. Enough wind that I had trouble using my umbrella.
Quiet. A bit run down. Abandomed buildings and trash on the beach.
Saw some fishermen. The water is choppy due to wind.
I'm staying with Catholic nuns. They have a casita, rents out 5 rooms. Screen on doors and windows, but all have holes. A bit run down. No guests, everything was locked, stuffy inside. Again, tin roof. The sisters live in a nice two story building next door with tiled roof. After opening the windows, it was better, but still hot.
I walked out a bit around sunset. Checking out the "panga" to Little Corn.
There's a village here, with some shops and restaurants.
I bought some food.
When I was back, the door was closed, the windows of the living area were locked again.
Not sure why. The whole complex has a locked gate.
I opened all.
At 9pm, the sisters came and tried to close all the windows again.
I asked them to keep things open, because it was too hot.
The sisters agreed, brought me a stronger fan. But it was super loud and low. Dirty too.
They also opened the window and the door of the room opposite of mine upon my request, so I could get a bit of through vent.
This is better. I was able to sleep.
2/18, day 24, Sunday. Day trip to Little Corn.
The gate of the compound is padlocked. At 7am, the door to the main house is open, I asked to open the gate, but the girls doesn't have the key. The sisters were praying. I could hear them. Eventually, one came out with a key.
Walked to the harbor and to Playa Coco till the west most point.
Saw a couple of swamps: the freshwater supply on the island. A heron.
On the way, saw more restaurants and shops.
Bought my panga ticket for 10am: $10 each way (or C360).
Went back to my room to fetch my swimming goggle.
9:30. I'm back at the ferry dock. Quite a few waiting already. It wasn't full. The ride was fairly smooth. 38 minutes. Not as windy today. I sat next to a British woman who works at Dolphin Dive. She's been living on Little Corn for 12 years. Her luggage includes fresh vegetables and a fan. She doesn't eat fish.
Little Corn Island
2 policemen (one is a girl) were at the dock. They didn't check anything.
Little Corn has no real road. It's small enough to walk around the island in a couple of hours.
More touristy than Big Corn: better signage, good vibe, more restaurants and hotels, dive shops.
Maybe more tourists than locals.
The island doesn't offer 24 hour power.
I headed to the so-called lighthouse.
At the gate of the Lighthouse Hotel, I was confused.
The 2 policemen and one other guy carrying some equipment asked me where I wanted to go.
The police woman understood me first. Showed me her photo at the viewing deck.
Yes, that's what I wanted to see. I followed them to the cell tower.
There's a small trail next to the cellphone building, leading to the viewing tower.
Vertical ladder. Not a bad view. Can almost see all around of the island.
Next, Otto Beach. Very pretty in blue sky.
Swam. Water temperature is pleasant.
I swam to a dark patch, mistaken it for coral. No fish, mostly grass.
Still relaxing.
Continued along the beach.
Then took an inland path.
Checked out Cocal Beach.
More hotels, more trash. So much dry grass.
Back at the dock ~1:15. Already plenty passengers waiting. Mostly young Europeans with sunburn and large backpacks.
The boat is fully loaded. 4 per row.
Smooth ride.
Storm tomorrow, so no panga. Sometimes, they charter a bigger boat for windy condition.
Big Corn Island
Sat in front of the casita for the rest of the day. Being Sunday, more people in and out of the church. The rooms are too hot.
2/19, day 25. Monday. 3am, storm came. Things crashed on to the roof. Windows shutters smacking the frame. I went out to pick up my laundry. Only one was still on the rope, the rest were scattered on the ground. Washed those. Put in my room to dry.
7am, already kids came to the church school. I packed out ~7:15. Walked to my next hotel on the east side, along the coast.
Gloomy today. A totally different scene.
Not stormy, but still windy.
Much cooler.
Bus stops are colorful here.
The north end looks like snorkel-able. Cliff Point looks scenic.
But trash everywhere.
Left my pack at Hospetaje Tropical Dream.
They were cleaning. About 9am. I was allowed to leave my pack in a room. Good, it has AC.
Walked to the Long Beach.
It's nice. No one there.
Sun is coming, looks nicer when the sun is out.
I went back to my AC room to work. WIFI sucks here. At least I fixed one bug. When I came out next, it was pouring outside. Thankfully, the rain stopped before sunset.
Walked up Mt Pleasant for sunset.
A bit late. Too cloudy.
The track on Map.me is incorrect.
At the sign, turn on Mt Pleasant.
Walk the short road all the way to its end.
A cluster of houses.
A faint and short trail ahead on the right side all the way to the ridge.
Follow the track on the ridge (yes, you can see the other side, but both obscured by trees) towards the cell towers. At least 3 here.
Walk past the towers, there's a small area with good view.
2/20, day 26, Tuesday. Overcast, not raining. 26°C.
I walked out just before 6:30am.
About 30 minutes to the airports. You can reserve a taxi for $1 too.
Busy terminal.
At 8, one small plane flew to Blue Fields. Those who arrived ahead of me were called to this small plane.
At 8:20, another small plane arrived. 12 people went up 12 min later.
8:37, a 3rd small plabe arrived. About 21 passengers.
8:50, we were going. I never sat this close to the cockpit.
The plane wobbled, shaked, loud. Every seat taken, weight balanced.
10am landed in Managua. Hot.
