So we booked our Nicaragua overnight tour through a guide I found on trip advisor. It wasn't something I thought I would do while in Costa Rica because I love Costa Rica why leave??? But the reviews were so good about Edwin, and well deserved I found out. For those that want to experience a different country, but have fears. A guide is perfect. We were picked up at our house at 5 am and transferred to Edwin's hands at the border. The company made a very confusing border crossing become simple and relaxed. Well almost haha
As we drive up to the Border crossing you knew you were close when you see 3 miles of big trucks lined up along the side of the road.
The forms we had to fill out we all in Spanish!!! Worried we were doing it wrong and couldn't return...yes.
When we get to the customs we see all these guys right up against the chain link fence holding a HANDFULL of cash. This seemed really weird to us "gringos" but when I asked our guide why they were outside the fence with all that cash, he looked at me weird and said exchanging money! So I guess its like a bank...no sure. Police, and guards with guns all over and then young men with handfuls of cash.
There then was a long area that one guide handed us off to Edwin (our Nicaraguan guide) but couldn't come any further. This was also a bit intimidating, but Edwin eased our minds as soon as we arrived. So we cross the border, Edwin meets us, puts us in a van and we drive away. (thinking OMG I hope we doing the right thing here. and I'd kill my kids if they ever booked a stranger over the internet to get them into a foreign country without researching things) haha that's the Mother worrier speaking.
We drive to Rivas which was Edwins small home town. It was a busy city. Wow, between people walking, horses with riders, horses connected to buggies, and men with rickshaw bicycles. We ate breakfast in a small local place. No english here! Then we got on the rickshaws and got a 1/2 ride around the city up and down back streets. Amazing experience, and what a great way to see things. I could have done this all day! We stopped at a church that was 100's years old.
The forms we had to fill out we all in Spanish!!! Worried we were doing it wrong and couldn't return...yes.
When we get to the customs we see all these guys right up against the chain link fence holding a HANDFULL of cash. This seemed really weird to us "gringos" but when I asked our guide why they were outside the fence with all that cash, he looked at me weird and said exchanging money! So I guess its like a bank...no sure. Police, and guards with guns all over and then young men with handfuls of cash.
There then was a long area that one guide handed us off to Edwin (our Nicaraguan guide) but couldn't come any further. This was also a bit intimidating, but Edwin eased our minds as soon as we arrived. So we cross the border, Edwin meets us, puts us in a van and we drive away. (thinking OMG I hope we doing the right thing here. and I'd kill my kids if they ever booked a stranger over the internet to get them into a foreign country without researching things) haha that's the Mother worrier speaking.
We drive to Rivas which was Edwins small home town. It was a busy city. Wow, between people walking, horses with riders, horses connected to buggies, and men with rickshaw bicycles. We ate breakfast in a small local place. No english here! Then we got on the rickshaws and got a 1/2 ride around the city up and down back streets. Amazing experience, and what a great way to see things. I could have done this all day! We stopped at a church that was 100's years old.
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