Monday at Coco Beach, we arrived by bus at about 8am to a hot and beautiful day with no one else around

 The bus journey takes about an hour from San Juan del Sur, sometimes you can see some howler monkeys in the trees as you pass by

 Enjoying dinner and later some Spanish dancing with friends from the English group and Spanish Congo

Manning the carts down by the beach, this day was quiet as their wasn't any cruise ships visiting San Juan today, we took out the English and the Spanish carts and had a few good conversations

 Finishing for the day, the Kingdom Hall was locked so we took the carts home until the meeting in the evening at 6pm, as we are only a group we just have the Bible Study and the Theocratic Ministry School on Wednesday nights so we go along to the Spanish Meeting on Thursday and join with their Service Meeting.

 Having drinks and nibbles at the Howler Bar, shortly after this photo was taken, loads of police showed up in a few vehicles and parked across the road, we later learned that they were escorting the former President Jimmy Carter around San Juan.

 Our local fish shop, this guy is about to fillet this Mahi Mahi for us, it costs $70 cords for one pound, which is about $3NZ, it's often on our lunch menu at home.

                           This scorpion found in the house is now deceased due to Steve's jandel

No 2 talk in the Theocratic Ministry School

 At Hermosa beach with some bro's and sis from the States - Steve had a run in with a Stingray and it let him have it - a hole in the foot later ... all good now, apparently hot water neutralizes the poison.

 Hammock time at Hermosa

 On the ferry going to Ometepe Island which you can see in the background, it's an active volcano.  We spent the day witnessing there with a group of about 15 others.

 Some of the friends with us - Dave, Sarah, Nicole, James and Joe.  Dave and Sarah are visiting from Patterson Bethel. 

 Dinner time - you can order Lobster for about $7NZ.  Steve ordered a whole fish and made the most of it!

Walking back from our first meeting in San Juan de Sur, it's only about 6pm but already dark, we are going to have dinner in town with Dale and Abigail from the English group.

This is where we had dinner, our meals and drinks came to about $23NZ - the meals are cheap and good.

 At the barbers, paid $10US for the haircut but have since seen prices for $4US, but hey, I got the full brylcreem makeover Nicaraguan style.

These guys started before we got here and still going, notice the Holcim concrete truck and 50 odd workers, they start early in the morning through to the evening using makeshift lights.  In the morning this section of concrete had a couple of sets of shoe prints across it!

 Sometimes you have to catch the bus anyway you can!

Just before sunset a group of horses came strolling along the beach

Enjoying the sunset on the beach, you can just see the Jesus statue on the top of the hill.

Our first time out with the field service group in Rivas which is about an hour's bus trip from where we are in San Juan de Sur

Day 2

 We enjoyed the English meeting which is at 3.30pm on Saturday, there were about 40 people and one monkey, who scared Rilee when it climbed up her leg - her face was classic!

Walking back to town from the Kingdom Hall, it gets dark early here, this is about 6.30pm, we are going to get something to eat with Bro Dale and Sis Abigail who are from the States.

Morning coffee with Connie and the girls at Gato Negro, an expresso costs $40 Cordobas ($1.50NZ) but its cheaper for regular brewed coffee, pretty much all the cafes have free wi-fi much to the girls delight.

                              Went for a swim with the girls - water was just as warm as out of it!

The girls are on the two bikes that Paul and MC left for us, they are so handy for getting around, we just have to remember to keep to the right.

                                                          Fish Market - So cheap too!

                             Markets here are so cheap!! Lucky we had Connie to translate for us, we are buying our vegies and fruit.  There is a brother working here in the meat section, he was also helping us out.

                                                                Drinking fresh coconut

A local bakery where we can buy nice fresh bread and pastries.

This is home for our first ten days, you can see a water filter on the counter, a boy rides past every morning with refills which you can buy for less than $2 NZ.  You can also see that our table is made of tread plate, how did they know .... just incase we get homesick we can sit around this piece of memorabilia and remember home!  The showers are cold water only but that's just what you want as it's so hot and humid here. The washing is done by hand using the old fashioned washboards, we wonder how long it will take Tayvia to master it and live up to her title of laundry queen?