I wonder if Santa has to deal with Customs

This was one of the craziest days thus far. It started at 6am and it was supposed to be simple enough. A twelve hour commute to Nicaragua (isle de Ometepe) was what was in store for us...so we thought.
We had under estimated the Nicaraguan border during Christmas time.

On the way to the border, we had stopped at the last Mercado we can to do some last minute purchases. I bought a bunch of crayons, felts, and coloring books to hand out to less fortunate kids in Nicaragua during Christmas. I was stoked and couoldnt wait to get into Ometepe so i can wrap presents. I know I wouldnt be getting any this year on Christmas day, but at least i will be able to hand some out. On a long winding highway, there were cops doing stops every now and then. Nobody was telling us why. We tried to go around some of the cars, but the cops had told us we could not pass. It turns out that one of the semi-trucks (and there were about hundreds there) was pissed off and blocked the roads and stopped allowing people to get through to the border. It was a rainy and wet morning but we knew what we had to do. We unloaded the private van, strapped on our massive backpacks, took our plastic bag of presents and went off towards the border. As I mentioned, it was wet and rainy so this was def not flip flop weather. How convenient, as that is what i was wearing. I rolled up my sweats and tried not to slip and die through the mud. There were some close calls, but i made it out ok.
We walked about a kilometer and had option to grab a taxi to take us the rest of the way to immigration. Everyone wanted to do that so we split up and took cabs $2 a head. After the short ride, our cab (me, deb, mereki) got there first. There were LOADS of people waiting to cross. Almost refugee camp like. We were in the mud, bags sopping wet and confused with what was going on and what to do next. As soon as the three of us had gotten out of the cab and paid, a local with a notepad asked for my passport. I gave it to him not thinking twice about it. I realized that he was filling out a customs form for me that i would later need to do so he can charge me for it. I took my passport back and decided that i need to stop being so naive - i told him to go away.
We waited and waited yet the rest of the group hadnt arrived. We were starting to get scared. I walked up to a group of people who were formed in a massive line to ask what was going on. I was told that the border line has been crazy for the past few days...some people have been in line since last night. They advised the three of us to wait for our group while we are in line so we at least have a spot.
We did what we were told and followed what seemed to be a never ending zig-zagging line. The rest of the group eventually came after some time. They got dropped off early and had to walk the rest of the way. The tour leader was furious that this was happening. I wasnt expecting an easy border so i was just chillen talking to the people in front of us in the line. It was a family of 5 and their cousin in front. They shared an assortment of m&ms with me and taught me some spanish. Lo que sea (low kay seya) which means Whatever was one of the terms i remember and use until today.
The group decided that we would bribe our way past the lineup so soon enough, we followed a man in uniform discretely and i never got to say goodbye to this family. We trudged on in the mud doing as we were told. My Christmas presents were protected by nothing but a mere plastic bag. We kept walking, following, taking turns, going in and around semi trucks parked in mud fields, crossing lines we had no idea what they were for.
Eventually, we came up to a bldg where we put all our backpacks down. The tour leader grabbed our passports and took them inside a secret customs bldg that not a lot of people know about. Slowly, we were asked to follow inside the bldg to collect our stamped passports. All of this was supposedly the easy part...the hardest part would be crossing The Gate. We had been warned about this gate. Sometimes it is easy, and sometimes it takes 4 hours.
We walked up to an iron gate protected by 4 police officers. They looked at each of our passports, then at each one of us. The one man nodded and past us through. We crossed the gate and immediately, we were surrounded by street vendors, bus companies, and taxi drivers. It was almost pretty festive the moment we had crossed. People were in a rush, yes. But there was a joyful feeling that lingered in the air. Almost a relief.
We hopped into a cab and off to the ferries we went. This days trek is coming to a close. The drive to the ferries was long as traffic had built up nicely. Going the opposite direction were truck drivers who seem to have been stopped for quite some time. Many had hammocks hung below their trailers so they were resting underneath their trucks and away from the heat. Many people were trekking it by foot down the highway as there were not alot of available taxis or buses or whatnot. With our legs covered in mud, we sat in a taxi. I spoke to the cab driver and asked to listen to reggaeton. At one point, we were sitting in traffic in Nicaragua listening to Souljahboys Kiss me through the Phone. It was somewhat unreal. Laughable really.

Once traffic loosened up the ride was manageable. To our right side was a view of Lago Nicaragua with Volcane Maderas y Volcane Concepcion next to each other. I noticed already that people in Nica really like their bachata as i heard Aventura get quite the airplay on the radio. This is my kind of town. On the ride, i also noticed that Nica had set up large windmills as a source of energy. This was quite a surprise as Nica is dubbed the second poorest country in all of central america.

(below is a pic of the ferry getting loaded with an import of pinatas for Christmas)

We got to San Jorge where we would wait for a ferry to take us across the lake Nicaragua and over to Matagalpa. This boat ride was about an hour. As we got closer and closer to the two standing volcanoes i couldnt help but cry. Not because of the trek that we had endured, but it was the memory flashes of the fights i had before leaving vancouver. They all came rushing back. As much as i had tried to supress them, it was clear that this was something that i will not forget. Yes, it is unfortunate to say goodbye in such a way...but i said goodbye standing up for what i believed in. Things will not be the same when i get back home, it could be worst...it could be better...only God knows. Only God knows why i am even here to begin with.
I wiped my tears knowing i am here for a bigger reason.
We got off the boat and jumped into a van that would take us to the hotel. It was a 45 minute bumpy road.
Compared to Costa Rica, i find Nicaragua to be very similar to the Philippines. The bugs, the people, the way some just hang outside relaxing on rocking chairs. It was comfortable.

Once we got to the hotel, we dropped our bags and headed straight for the hotel restaurant as all of us were huuuungry. I ordered a pescado en salsa thinking it was just a small meal. Out came a giant whole tilpia fresh from Lake Nicaragua. I haven{t given up so far this day so i decided to not let a fish kick my ass...i ate that entire thing! booyakasha!

After dinner, i wasnt ready to sleep. I went bak to my room and hung out with the Norwegians wrapping Christmas presents which i managed to keep dry and safe, away from Customs officers.

I wonder if Santa Clause has to deal with Customs...man oh man what a long list of questions they would have for him! All those houses in one night??? i dont think so!

... Lo que sea.