St Valentine's day

The day of San Valentín is celebrated widely here. The children wear red and the schools are decorated with balloons. There are big displays about love and friendship and the children have a half a day off. Very Latin American and an excuse for lots of festivities.  There seems to be a lot of  camaraderie amongst the staff.
I had far too many invitations today. Everyone wanted to use their festivities as an opportunity to say thank you, along with the theme of the day. I felt like the queen with an itinerary to keep, leaping from place to place, giving speeches and receiving food!

Rafaela Herrera had organised the band and street parade. This was such a moving experience. They got all the new instruments out, and the children had mostly arrived wearing their kit.  It all started with a formation in the playground and the children lining up.

Then they were led into the street and from here we processed down the main road to the health centre where we turned around and came back. People came out to watch and the traffic stopped. Well most of it. The odd motor cycle decided to weave its way along the side, but as you can imagine it wasn't the locals!  The local police came along to check and I was introduced.  That could be a good contact.  Perhaps  wont have to pay fines for my drivers next time.

From here we headed off to Santa Teresa having decided we didn't have time to get to Los Ramos as well. (I am beginning to think it's like the Marie Celeste and I'm never going to find it!) Here we joined in with their celebration.

Then afterwards the teachers from Los Ramos arrived and  there was a St Valentine's celebration. I was surprised to find myself in the middle of this

And being asked to take off my shoulder bag and water bottle. It turned out they wanted to actually put my presents on me!  At first I thought they wanted me to take my shirt off!

Firstly presents from Los Ramos, then presents from Santa Teresa.

We did a quick visit to see Idalia at Dreamland Tours then returned to Raphaela Herrera who had invited us for lunch. This was a jolly celebration organised for the staff who were clearly having great fun.

It was followed by an exchange of presents where the giver had put something small, of little value but some significance in a bag, and had to describe their friend. Everyone guessed, then the recipient had to dance to the person, dance with them to receive the prize. 

And I wasn't exempt from this activity either!

After a short break at Marvin's, we returned to the secondary institute for their celebrations which included amazing dancing of all types by the students, followed by a spread of food for Marvin and I, and a bag of gifts for me.

I'd rather watch these youngsters than come dancing any day!

Now I wasn'tthat hungry, but we brought home a piled plat and some very gooey iced cakes for Jordy and Sylvia.  I think the cakes would have had plenty of e numbers.

So I  ended my day with a  collection of lovely mementos of Ometepe but somewhat exhausted. I was pleased not to have to prepare any food, and just crashed out!

I think I have enough Nicaraguan tee shirts to share out at our next event!

Today we went to Moyagalpa on the bus.  I went to the bank then we went shopping for toys for El Corozal, which I bought out of my money, the funds now having dwindled.  Some were from the second and shop, there were loads. Sylvia will wash everything ( my shoes have been washed more here than ever before)  If my boxes go astray I now have an idea where they end up!  We met Susannah, a Canadian woman interested in the project.  She had met Allison at La Mariposa. She was a lovely person, a school counselor who lives on Vancouver Island.

After lunch we did the final shopping in the iron mongers and Pali, and headed for the bus with several bags and a box.

The bus was an amazing experience.  I think the company motto is 'No passenger left behind!'  As they just kept squeezing more on.  I was behind the driver wedged between the luggage rack, the driver and a suitcase.  I still have an imprint of the suitcase on my leg several hours later.  I couldn't move, but managed to put my hands on the luggage rack in case the bus stopped quickly to avoid a smack in the face by a luggage rack.  I was pleased to see the notice that said 'God bless this bus and all its passengers', they should have added including those hanging on in the doorway!  I did a calculation and I'm sure there were 40 people standing!  And it was ages before anyone got off, and when they did there were always more to get on.  I watched people trying to make their way to the front for their stop and it was like some pornographic sex show.  One man squeezes his way between two very well upholstered women's bottoms that were wedged against one another and sort of popped out the other side.  I couldn't help laughing, and so was everyone else.  The woman next to me kept saying, Es como caminamos in Nicaragua.  Its how we get around in Nicaragua!  I will certainly miss this sort of experience when I'm back to the long faces on our local buses.

Tomorrow I have a lunch invitation.