More Granada

It is very hot in Granada where I have spent the past four days.
Yesterday I had a great day.I walked around the city in the morning and then in the afternoon went on a ¨lancha¨to visit the Isletas around Granada...there are about 140 of them off a small peninsula...the same peninsula that I cycled through the previous day.It is difficult getting a good price being solo and I didnºt want to go on a tour.Eventually I made a deal with a tour outfit with whom I had rented the bicycle the day before and he arrange for me to go with his younger brother for three hours..cost $20 American.I was the only one so I got to speak,or attempt,to speak Spanish for  while.Most of the islands are owned by super rich Nicaraguans ,Americans Germans and the like.Most of the islands are no bigger than our Vancouver property and have nice sea walls,palm trees and another type of tree that has huge trunk and enormous branches cascading over the water.The lagos is two meters higher than normal and many of the yards are flooded.I saw many different types of birds..one in particular exposed a brilliant yellow breast and under wing when it was in flight and nested in large  nests.There was even an islet that had monkeys on it.It was a bit upsetting as the monkey island was so flooded only a few rocks protruded and there couldn't have been more than seven or eight palm and banana trees n it.The boat guy said that the monkeys swim to a nearby island to get food.A case example of how animals are being driven by development from their habitat.
After my boat trip I returned to the town square where at 6pm there was a traditional/folk dance show scheduled a local dance school.All the dancers were young...about 50 in all ranging from ages 7 to late teens early twenties...good mix of males &  females.The girls wore brilliantly coloured long dresses which they held up arms length to display colour as they turned their shoulders this way and that.Some of the steps were more complicated than others but nothing as sophisticated as you folks tap.The men wore straw cowboy hats ..white pants and variously coloured shirts .They appeared to have more complicated steps...some entailing a series of stomps..and they used a lot of arm movement.I really enjoyed it and thought of you and the girls and all the shows you have put on.The audience  which was largely Nicaraguans...loved the show and confirmed my belief that everyone is moved by dance.I had to laugh though as many people were standing up and taking flash fotos and their was a general hum of people talking throughout the show.The tech people needed you as a stage hand as there were a number of glitches and mistiming...but hey...all in all it was great.I went to bed early however the street was alive with song and parting all night.A computer band with a karaoke type singer blared all evening...he was quite good I thought but I wasn't in the mood to go out and drink more coffee and fruit smoothies...
For a few evenings I hung out with this English fellow and his six week New Zealand girlfriend but I felt like a third wheel and besides they were drinking a lot and I was simply talking sociology and politics with him and  I could see his girlfriend wasn't amused so I avoided them last night.
I really like Nicaragua and would like to have more time to explore some of the islands..Omotepe and San Carlos where you can take a river boat to the sea.I might just return.I was wrong about Granada being where most expats are..I believe it is Leon and vicinity's which also apparently is quite colonial .Many volunteers around there.
I can't believe the number of working  horses here....the small espanol variety.Volcanoes seem to be looming in the distance everywhere and yes it is hot...I,m sweating now.The showers in the hotel don't need hot water as it just comes out luke warm anyway..you want a cold shower.
Tomorrow I catch the 6:30 am bus to San Jose.