no eye candy...

My little Canon point and shoot camera died yesterday. No trauma, just put her on the charger before I went to bed, as is routine, and she never came back to life. That was one nice camera; had it for more than five years, shot thousands of pic's and it fit perfectly in my big 'ole hands too. Got-dam.
Anyways, I thought this little adventure started when I hit Chiapas, Mexico. I was wrong. A ride through the hell of Honduras border checkpoints, policia who's eyes light up every time they see a gringo, and a 40 mile "shortcut", (it looked like it on the map!), of 40 miles of dirt, black holes, and quicksand-gravel, from Leon to Granada, Nicaragua had me stopped in my tracks on more than one occasion asking myself just what the hell was I doing? But I made it and the Hog never laid down.
Once I got into Managua, I pulled over into a gas station to look over the HOG and get my mind right; am asking for some directions from a local gassing up his scooter. Out of the blue comes a guy and in perfect english asks if I need some help. Given I hadn't exchanged words with anybody who spoke english in the last week, he probably thought I was on crack... Poor guy. But he gave me some sound advice anyway and an escort to the turn-off into Granada for which I am truly grateful. No, thats not a cliche, I am truly grateful. I would still be looking for that turn-off if it hadn't been for him. (Thank you Michael!)
Did you know that there are no street signs, addresses' or posted road names in most of Nicaragua? I suppose their is no urgent need for them because my new found friend told me that they have no Mail in Nicaragua.
Forget about the Mail, most of the people here are living off dirt. I would guess that Mail is the last thing they are thinking about. If you like poverty and misery, and are tired of observing it through the long distance lens of media reports on Africa, Asia, and India, there is plenty to see right here in the Americas. There is also a rich and spectacular landscape, and based on my interactions with the folks I have met, a resilient, helpful, and unpretentious people. Come on down. Shop and eat local and you can make a difference and at the same time have a spectacular time in an incredible environment.
Am in Granada. It's purty. Heading out to yet another border crossiing tomorrow from Nicaragua into Costa Rica. Wish me luck.
PEACE.