Menagua: 9th - 11th October 2025
9th October – Thursday
I couldn’t be more pissed off if I tried. I lost my vape, £80 down the drain and to compensate I smoked 8 cigarettes this evening 
The last time I had it was at the Manaqua bus terminal, I actually used it when I got off the bus. I’m fairly sure I dropped it the taxi, probably as I pulled my purse out to get the cash to pay. I was going to go back and see if I could find the same taxi driver but the hotel I’m at said they couldn’t get me a taxi immediately and I would need to book one. I went back to my room and in frustration I cried and then bought cigarettes. And I’ve got at least two ‘to top it all off’ moans. Number 1: 4 hours worth of chicken buses has left me with lower back and coccyx pains, I am finding it really hard to sit comfortably. Number 2: I got a message from Mano en Mano hostel this evening, they are doing the mangrove and baby turtle tour tomorrow. That one really stung, not as bad as losing my vape, but ouch. I feel like it was a conspiracy, I told them on arrival that that was what I was there to do, they knew I was only there two days, why does it all happen the day after I leave? I know I’m like old enough to be their mother but please …. Kick me where it hurts why don’t you. So I deleted them from my WhatsApp and right now am in the right frame of mind to write them a shit review. I will restrain myself.
The only positive to come out of today is this hotel, it has a more ‘local’, older and more family orientated clientele, much more to my liking than the ‘know it all’ kiddie backpackers. But I can moan yet again, the food is tasteless and expensive, and the beer is expensive. I won’t be eating here tomorrow evening.
Oh I wish I had my vape The nearest shop is a 4 minute walk away, I will go after my ‘all inclusive’ breakfast in the morning. I haven’t had a proper walk since being at the beach, so it will do me some good.
The journey here was so bloody long. The first bus to Leon was fine, but the second one, crossing Leon, from the bus station to the bus terminal, was painful. We actually went past the terminal and I should have gotten off, but I didn’t. The conductor kept telling me to sit tight and we finally ended up in some odd part of town where he and the driver decided to get off and have their lunch, 20 minutes I sat on that hot bus waiting. Luckily when I finally arrived at the terminal the bus to Managua was sitting there waiting for me and we left immediately. It took a fair bit of effort to actually get on the bus, my rucksack is now so heavy it pulled me back and I literally had to haul myself on using both hands – lol. The journey was so bloody long due to road works. Half an hour of crawling, and the chair was like rock, my poor back. I hope it recovers for tomorrow.
So this is day three of feeling very despondent about everything. Glenn thinks I should throw in the Nicaraguan towel and go to Costa Rica tomorrow as I seem to be having more miserable days than good days. I told him that I will wait and see what tomorrow brings as I did enjoy Leon and I am now back in a busy place. However, to be honest, right now I could throw in the whole Latin America towel and book a ticket back to the UK. But it is winter there! I also remember having this same feeling 3 – 4 months into my SE Asia travels, it just all gets a bit much after a while, especially when you do it on your own – it’s a very lonely affair – and a lot harder than you would think. I am so thankful that Glenn texts me every day, without him I really wouldn’t have anyone to talk to on a daily base. He is like my travel companion – thank you Glenn 
Talking of Glenn, Jay was in my dream last night. I was at a hotel with Dina, by the swimming pool and decided to find Jay. I put on 6 inch black high heels and walked up to room 3100, where Jay was, he had a wheel chair in the room but was not sitting in it, he was on the sofa eating a box of chocolates and didn’t want to leave the room – that’s all I can remember. It was good to see his face, even if it was just in a dream.
10th October – Friday
Happy Birthday Sophie!
Lounging around for the last week has really paid its toil – my body, especially my legs, have ached all day after doing just over 10,000 steps. I also haven’t done my little exercise routine for quite a few days now – going to Las Penitas was not a good move, it has made me lazy. Bad habits creep in so quickly and good ones take so long to develop – it really should be the other way around.
I had a good fill at breakfast, it is a buffet style (included in the price), so I had scrambled eggs and ham, followed by yogurt, fruit and granola. After that I set out on the 45 minute hike to the nearest vape shop. When I got there I couldn’t actually see the shop, just a huge white metal door with no sign. The lady next door was saying goodbye to her friend, so I asked her, and she confirmed that the vape shop was behind the door. She was surprised it was shut and said something which I took to be ‘he must be out having lunch’. I set up camp on the doorstep and found the phone number for the guy, he arrived 10 minutes later. He only had disposable vapes and I had to go across the road to get out more money, but I came away with 2 of them, so am once again happy.
The walk back was a lot quicker, I must have had a good stride in my step. Seeing all the armed guards out helped, there didn’t seem to be so many on my journey there, but on the way back they were out in force. As I walked through one area, back roads rather than the main road, they seemed to be on every corner and ready for action. It made me feel a little nervous, but I reminded myself that armed guards have been a
common sight in every country so far, still, I kept my head down and walked a little faster.
I was going to go and see some of the sights this afternoon but I ached too much so decided to have a beer and a swim instead. I ordered some chicken wings thinking that they would make a good little cheapish lunch/snack. OMG, the plate of food was far bigger than last night’s with loads of fries and salad. I wasn’t really that hungry but ate it all. By the time I had finished and was just about digested and ready for a swim and huge family turned up and before I could even think to get my dress off they had all jumped in the pool and basically took it over. So much for my leisurely peaceful swim, but it was fun watching them, and they were very friendly. So I spent the afternoon mainly reading and also booked my next accommodation in Granada, I’ll be there until the 16th, then I’ll head to Rivas and the Ometepe Islands before I leave for Cosa Rica on the 20th. Tomorrow I’ll do a little sight seeing as I leave for Granada the day after.
I spoke with Justine this morning, she has now given up vaping for 11 days – well done Justine. I need to get back on that track, I was so good when I first arrived in Mexico, but I’m not mentally in the right place right now – soon. I also had a few messages with Sheila, I know I have said it before, but it is so lovely to chat with people from home, I didn’t feel so lonely today It’s been quite a struggle to get back on track, and I’m not quite there yet. I am definitely at that ‘what am I doing here’ point with thoughts of heading back to the UK regularly looming and of course losing Jay really hasn’t helped But I will keep going, and although I haven’t done much today, it has been a good one; I am smiling and content.
Titus also contacted, it’s dad’s birthday tomorrow so we are doing a conference call at 11am my time. He also gave me some suggestions for fixing my computer, but I have already tried most of them. However, he did suggest taking the back off to check if any wires are loose, but I don’t have a small Philips screwdriver with me. I think I will take it to a repair shop as soon as I get to Granada. If that fails then I will somehow have to buy a new computer, I wonder if I can get Amazon delivered in Costa Rica?
11th October – Saturday
Happy Birthday Dad!
Uhm, not very happy with this hotel, some of the staff are just so slack. The cleaner yesterday shut the safe in my room and today I wanted to put my money in it before I went out. I asked twice at reception for them to do it and waited half an hour. I finally went out with all my money on me and when I got back three hours later it still wasn’t done, nor had they cleaned my room as they had promised to do. I complained to reception but told them not to worry now as I am leaving in the morning. The bedside lamp also decided to stop working this morning, I have handed it in as I not being charged for it, or the safe come to that.
This morning we had a video call with dad to wish him a happy birthday. It lovely to see Alice and Izzy, they are really growing up so fast. It was a shame Yasmin couldn’t join us, but she was out on university visits with Rachel. It wont be long now before Lucas is the only left at home.
There was a 15th birthday party being set up at the hotel this morning, so I was quite happy to leave them to it and go for a long walk. My first stop was the park overlooking Laguna de Tiscapa. Although it had rained all morning, by the time I scaled the white marble stairs and had a little walk around I was so sweaty my clothes were wet, so I got a bottle of water and chilled for 20 minutes before leaving. The view was rather pleasant, I could see most of the city, Laguna de Tiscapa and Largo Xolotian. That’s when I noticed this shit coloured water cascading into the laguna, it looked really rancid, I just hope it was flood water and that colour due to travelling through the ground, and not what it looked it.
From there I decided to head down to the Largo. On route I passed this magnificent crumbling building and was just about to take a photo of it when some guy screamed something at me from across the road. There was an armed guard in the building, which looked derelict, waving at me to not take any photos – such a shame, but I did as I was told and continued my journey. Next to the building were lots of army and government buildings so I am presuming it had something to do with them.
In true G maps fashion, it tried me to take down a couple of blocked of roads so I worked out my own route and before I knew it I was walking down a very dodgy looking road with several burnt out cars and some not very savoury looking people hanging around. Uhm, how do I always find myself in these places. As soon as I could I diverted from this road onto a more savoury one and then had a stroll through what I though was a general park but it turned out to be a sports park. It was full of football, baseball and other ball game fields with theatre style benches for the audiences to watch the matches from.
From there I found myself in the Central Parque de Manaqua which, as you can imagine, has had a lot of money spent on it, and then finally I was at the largo where there was some form of concert / show taking place. I bought a hot-dog and sat and watched some it before embarking on the 50 minute walk back to the hotel.
I cannot say that I am impressed with Managua, it doesn’t have a city feel to it, but rather it feels like a beach resort. Perhaps it was because it was a Saturday and not much seems to happen on Saturdays here, it is almost like they have two Sundays in a row.
The 15th birthday party was in full swing when I got back. However I manage to find a spare table by the pool, ordered some dinner and read my book.