San Juan Del Sur (part 1) - Nov 17

Well it is official I have become a bit complacent and comfortable here in Central America .. this morning´s bus experience has brought me back to earth. I thought the Managua bus terminal would be one of those fancy swish things I experienced in Mexico (or to a lesser extent in Guatemala). The taxi driver said it was "muy peligroso" and kindly offered to drive me to San Juan Del Sur (SJDS), for $100US (I politely declined his offer), and the Lonely Planet guide suggested I take a mini van .. however as it also said I had to book at least 3 days in advance I got the taxi driver to drop me off at the Mercado Roberto Huerbes.

Once the cab stopped I was set upon by two guys who appeared to be from rival bus companies by their shirts, and as I knew my bus was meant to leave soon I was hurried onto the bus to SJDS, he grabs my backpack and puts it on the chicken bus then demands a tip (for him and his friend). Then as I sit down I am getting harrassed by very pushy vendors trying to sell me packs of crisps and coca cola. Bus terminal was more like what you see in Morroco .. no ticket windows, just a bunch of buses parked around a run down building with people selling all sorts of crap and hustlers galore .. I then got told the bus wasn´t going to SJDS but to Rivas. I figured it was going at least in the correct direction so I decided to stay on. Anyway this is the most stressful and least safe I have felt the whole trip.

I got the email address of an Australian couple who run a hostel here from my parents .. I contacted them a couple of days ago and checked in this afternoon. The hostel is really nice .. it used to be a hotel a "couples retreat" .. but they had to change to a hostel due to the rowdiness of their next door neighbors (Naked Tiger .. where apparently they sell drugs across the bar .. yeah a classy place).