Our Honeymoon Recap Part 7: Saying Goodbye

Dave and I returned from Italy one week ago!  Our trip was amazing and I took over 2000 pictures.  I promise I will not take over a year to post about the highlights of our trip.  However, I need to finish out Nicaragua first!  So finally after almost a year and a half, here is the final installment of Our Honeymoon Recap!

The rest:
- Part 1: Traveling to Nicaragua
- Part 2: Fresh Fish & Adjusting to Island Time
- Part 3: The Mineral Springs, Hitchhiking, & Horses

- Part 4: Traveling to the West Coast

- Part 5: Monkeys, Massages, and a Sunset Cruise

- Part 6: Exploring

We woke up the next morning intending on doing yoga one more time, but after sitting on the platform for a few minutes we realized it didn't take place on that day of the week.  Bummer!  We decided to drink some champagne instead...

After hanging out on the beach for a little while, we grabbed some snorkeling equipment and decided to explore a little.  I had never snorkeled before and I found it to be super uncomfortable.  I decided I wasn't into it and had a smoothie on the beach instead.  I'll figure out how to snorkel when we go to Hawaii...

Eventually it was time to leave, so we packed our bags and hopped in our cab along with our new friends Glen and Andrea since we were both headed to the capital, Managua.  But first we went to check out a giant market in Masaya.  When we pulled up to the market our car was surrounded by a crowd of men wanting to guide us around the market.  At first I was very turned off, but eventually we ended up with one man, who in hindsight was very important since the market was like a maze and none of us spoke Spanish very well.

We wandered around the overwhelming market and found some beautiful souvenirs.  I wish I took some pictures of the market, but I think I was just too overwhelmed and trying not to draw any more attention to myself.

After we were finished, we headed into the capital.  Soon we were saying goodbye to Glen and Andrea and promising we'd stay in touch (spoiler alert, we didn't do a good job).  After we dropped them off, we headed to our hotel.  The city wasn't quite as scenic as the rest of our trip and I started to worry that we may have made a mistake staying here for the night.  I was relieved when we arrived at our hotel and it was both secure (hello giant wall with barbed wire on top) and beautiful.

I was pretty exhausted from our travels, so I resisted Dave's request to go out for dinner.  When he took a lap around the block and found multiple casinos and a few people trying to sell him drugs, he agreed and we ordered some mediocre delivery.  I was ready to go home!

The next morning we had a nice breakfast and headed off to the airport for another long day of travel, made longer by an awful experience in the Miami airport.  Let's just say I had something we now refer to as the Miami Meltdown... but my husband still loved me afterwards! We had a wonderful honeymoon and I would recommend Nicaragua to anybody who wants a little adventure off the beaten path!

The end :)

Our Honeymoon Recap Part 6: Exploring

Well I should be packing... or sleeping, but I felt compelled to drop some pictures into this post and get it online!  I feel like I should probably finish recapping Nicaragua before we go on our next trip ;)

Catching up?
- Part 1: Traveling to Nicaragua
- Part 2: Fresh Fish & Adjusting to Island Time
- Part 3: The Mineral Springs, Hitchhiking, & Horses

- Part 4: Traveling to the West Coast

- Part 5: Monkeys, Massages, and a Sunset Cruise

The 6th day of our honeymoon started with another delicious breakfast buffet.  Dave skipped yoga, but I went and enjoyed another class with a view.  We spent the rest of the morning on the beach at the resort before deciding to hike into the neighboring town with our new friends Glen and Andrea.

The hike into Playa Gigante was fairly easy, on a path through the woods.  When we got into town the beach views were amazing.

We walked around a little when we first arrived.  The town was small with a few restaurants and bars, full of a mix of locals and gringo surfers.

 
We stopped and had a few drinks at a random bar and happened to run into the fun bartender from our resort on his day off.  I really wish I remembered his name.  We ended up hanging out with him all day!  Dave also struck up a conversation with a gentleman who turned out to be a former diplomat who gave him some really nice cigars.  There was a taco stand right next to this bar that our friends got food from, but I wasn't hungry.  I still regret not getting those tacos!

We wandered around some more and went to another bar where we met up with another couple we had met at the resort.  We stuck out like sore thumbs there so we didn't stay long.  We ended up at a really neat bar right on the beach.  A bunch of locals and surfers were all gathered to watch a soccer game on tv and the drinks were flowing!

Andrea and I spent a bunch of time on the beach.  The sand was super hot but the water was very rough, so we spent our time alternating between.  They had a slack line out front and a few of the surfer guys came out to show us how it was done.  I couldn't walk across that thing if my life depended on it!

After we hiked back into town, we got seriously close to some monkeys!

Next we freshened up and got ready for our dinner at Mukuls.  The hotel had arranged a taxi for us for the 15 minute ride.  When we arrived at the resort, it seriously felt like we were at Jurassic Park because of the large extravagant gate at the entrance!  They took our IDs at the gate and we rode up to the front of the resort.  As soon as the car door opened, we knew we had arrived in the lap of luxury.  The resort was breathtaking.  We were lead through the entrance, each staff member more polite than the next.  The dining room hadn't opened yet, so they sat us in a beautiful lobby area where we ordered some delicious drinks.

Soon after we were sat in the open air portion of the restaurant with a wonderful beach view.  Our waiter was fabulous.  He was extremely nice, made great suggestions, and brought us a bottle of wine on the house.  We started our meal trying not to fill up on the tasty bread.  Next we ordered appetizers.  I had a cold dish with scallops from the bay served with red onion and goat cheese.  It was unique and delightful.  For my entree I enjoyed a medley of shrimp, clams, and crab meat in a rich sauce.  It was so decadent!  The meal was just wonderful.  I'm so glad we received the tip to go there.

After we wrapped up our dinner, Dave wanted to take a peek in the cigar shop.  I sat in the lobby and decided to take advantage of the wifi.  A friend had let me know that the PE (professional engineering exam) results were in for April.  I took the 8 hour exam a month before our wedding, like a crazy person, and I really wasn't sure I had passed.  I debated whether I actually wanted to know the results, but then curiosity got the best of me.  When I finally got my log in and password right, the webpage surprised me with a little green PASS.  I couldn't believe it!  I was seriously in shock.  Did I really pass?!  I took a screen shot of the results so I could pull it up at any point, just to be sure that sweet little PASS was still there.  What an incredible discovery on such a special night of our honeymoon!

Unfortunately, after dinner something did not agree with my tummy.  I honestly think it was most likely the ice from my cocktails in town during the day.  I could not imagine the food at that amazing resort making my stomach so upset.  The rest of the night was a little rough, but it could've been worse.

One more recap left... Part 7

Ode to Folk Fest, Part 2

This year was the 54th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival and my 7th!  Every year it just keeps getting better.  I love the campgrounds, the music was amazing, the people are my people.  And it didn't rain once, which is a small miracle.  A few years ago I wrote some fun haiku to remember the occasion and here are some more!

Sprinting required
To claim our usual spot
Home sweet home

Wagon fleet ready
Pile it high, not coming back
This is why I train

Thank you kind stranger
Pushing me up the giant hill
Wouldn't have made it

Unrelenting sun
Trying to fry all my friends
But not me, Brown Ber

Loud tequila fool
Sticky booze runs down your chin
Impressive and gross

Now please take a hint
Don't overstay your welcome
Already too late

That glowstick cactus
Trying to dry out the world
One chump at a time

Get so hydrated
Whether you like it or not
Drink water God damnit!

How am I awake?
It must be adrenaline
Cue the face plant nap

Warm cheesy tots, yes!
They make my belly happy
Let's go get some more

Creepy raccoon man
Snuck in our site from the back
What's that in your hand?

"Local, organic"
He chugged our olive oil
Ew, what just happened?!

First rats, now raccoons?
We got a real pest problem
In this neighborhood

Safety first (hydrate)
Teamwork (plus don't be a dick)
Framily - know the rules!

Let's go to the creek
Shoes and booze both required
Watch out for boulders

El Caribefunk
Your late night jams are magical
Please keep coming back

Hello there neighbors
We should be friends in real life
Since we're Fest framily

55th Folk Fest
Already looking forward
Next year, hurry up please

Thanks for these hilarious shots Marion!

Anybody got some haiku skills?!