This Battered Suitcase
  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Around the Web
    • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Zambia
    • Asia
      • Bhutan
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Mongolia
      • Myanmar
      • Nepal
      • The Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Sri Lanka
      • South Korea
      • Thailand
      • UAE
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czechia
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Liechtenstein
      • Lithuania
      • Luxembourg
      • Malta
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Northern Ireland
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • San Marino
      • Scotland
      • Slovakia
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
      • Vatican City
      • Wales
    • North America
      • Antigua and Barbuda
      • Barbados
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Jamaica
      • Nicaragua
      • Mexico
      • Panama
      • St. Kitt’s and Nevis
      • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
      • USA
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • Topics
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
    • Romance
    • Stories
    • Travel
    • Writing and Blogging
  • Work With Me

This Battered Suitcase

  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Around the Web
    • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Zambia
    • Asia
      • Bhutan
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Mongolia
      • Myanmar
      • Nepal
      • The Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Sri Lanka
      • South Korea
      • Thailand
      • UAE
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czechia
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Liechtenstein
      • Lithuania
      • Luxembourg
      • Malta
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Northern Ireland
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • San Marino
      • Scotland
      • Slovakia
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
      • Vatican City
      • Wales
    • North America
      • Antigua and Barbuda
      • Barbados
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Jamaica
      • Nicaragua
      • Mexico
      • Panama
      • St. Kitt’s and Nevis
      • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
      • USA
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • Topics
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
    • Romance
    • Stories
    • Travel
    • Writing and Blogging
  • Work With Me
StoriesTravel

Mucho Gusto, Nicaragua

written by Brenna Holeman June 23, 2012

Las Peñitas, Nicaragua

“You want one?” the young girl with perhaps a tad too much eyeliner asked me in halting English. I was sitting on the loud, crowded, sweaty, and yet somehow charming bus, listening to music with Spanish lyrics. I could translate the words “love” “never say goodbye” and a lot of indiscriminate whimpers in the song.

The girl, whose name I soon learned to be Natalie, handed me a small green fruit. I had seen them for sale on the streets of Central America before, but I had never tried one. “How…I eat?” I asked in Spanish. It was my turn now for a broken language. She showed me how to crack the skin with my teeth, peeling it back to reveal a pale pink fruit resembling a lychee. “Don’t,” she warned, pointing to her throat. I figured this meant, don’t swallow the giant seed I just nearly broke my teeth crunching down upon. The fruit, called mamon, was slightly sour but mostly sweet, and it was like sucking on a candy; I greedily devoured a few more on the short journey from Leon to the black sand beaches of Las Penitas.

The bus rumbled past fields of green and wandering cows; soon I could catch glimpses of the ocean, its waves crashing violently, white foam spraying up onto rocks. I instantly regretted worrying about wearing my bathing suit; there was no way I was going in. We stopped, and the man who had collected our bus fare (12 cordobas, or about 50 cents) waved at us – we were here.

After a slow walk up the main street (the only street, as far as I could tell) that ran parallel to the water, we cut down a path to the beach itself. The black sand burned hot, even through our shoes. We took photos and collected white seashells, letting the waves lap up at our toes, but the only ones brave enough to go further than ankle-deep were a few local boys and one or two surfers in the distance. No matter, I thought, it is a beautiful day. On Monday I swam in the Caribbean, and on Friday my feet walked along the shores of the Pacific; how could I complain?

There was little to do there but sit in the shade, drink cold Fresca, and read; there were hardly any other people around, but the crashing waves, a good book, and the occasional flock of pelicans that flew overhead were enough to keep me happily entertained for a few hours. One more walk up and down the sparkling sand and we were ready for home, ready to hear that obnoxious honk of the bus’ horn signalling that it was on its way back to the city.

We climbed on the colourful little bus, and dozens of Nicaraguan eyes settled on us, curious but in no way threatening or judgemental. I took a seat by the window, content to stare out and munch on a few more of the little fruits Natalie left with me, and in no time, we were back in Leon. Pulling into the bus station, I stood up too quickly and smacked my head on the luggage rack above; “Careful, my love,” a handsome young man said to me in Spanish, as he patted the top of my head. I smiled.

This is the way of the Nicaraguan people, I’ve found in the past few days: helpful and kind, smiling and eager to chat. Students in the main square, servers at the coffeeshop, the old man selling jewellery and hammocks on a little side street, they all greet me with genuine consideration, they all greet me with warmth.

I’ve heard from many travellers that Nicaragua is their favourite country in Central America, and I’m definitely starting to see why.

BeachesNicaraguaNorth America
5 comments
1
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

previous post
Stray Dogs and Sad Stories
next post
The Best Kind of Surprise

You may also like

Portraits Of Lithuania

December 18, 2010

Around The World: Puppies (And Us)

January 24, 2013

Why I Marched: Thoughts on the London Women’s...

January 23, 2017

The First Of July

July 1, 2012

Another Year Older

May 5, 2011

My 2016 Travel Goals

October 29, 2015

Border Crossing: From Costa Rica to Panama

January 11, 2013

My Most Hated Travel Quote

February 29, 2016

The Best Instagram Accounts of London

September 13, 2015

The Plain Of Jars

August 20, 2011

5 comments

[Ali] To Be Continued... June 23, 2012 - 3:19 am

Absolutely beautiful sweetie, it sounds dreamy! Enjoy xx

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 23, 2012 - 7:26 pm

Thank you Ali! I hope we can meet up soon! xx

Reply
emily hope June 24, 2012 - 6:59 pm

I’ve read forever and finally had to comment — your posts always make me feel like I’m along on your adventures, it’s wonderful. Thanks so much for your stories!

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 26, 2012 - 1:01 am

Oh, thank you so much, Emily! I’m really glad you like my blog. I hope you comment more in the future!

Reply
Volcano Boarding in León, Nicaragua - This Battered Suitcase January 21, 2014 - 4:19 pm

[…] I’d met in Utila, Honduras, and we stayed together in a gorgeous guesthouse with a pool. After a day trip to Las Peñitas, we decided to try the very popular volcano boarding we kept hearing about from other […]

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

Keep in touch

facebook
instagram
twitter
pinterest
youtube

Newsletter

Subscribe to get the latest updates from This Battered Suitcase!

Archives

INSPIRATION

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

About Brenna

This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why.

Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

For more, click here.

WHERE AM I?

Last stops: Manitoba, Canada

Currently: Manitoba, Canada

Up Next: Manitoba, Canada (are you sensing a theme?)

Archives

Want local knowledge about Manitoba?

AFFILIATE POLICY

Please note that some links on This Battered Suitcase are affiliates (at no extra cost to you); I only recommend products I use and love. This Battered Suitcase is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

INSPIRATION

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

Currently in

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

Last Stops: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Up Next:  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

(AKA: STAY HOME)

Disclosures

This Battered Suitcase is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and links to Amazon.com. For the full disclosure/privacy policy, please click here.

Popular Posts

  • 1

    On Ghosting (and what to do if it happens to you)

    August 8, 2016
  • 2

    What to Wear in Canada in Winter

    February 28, 2018
  • 3

    What to Wear in India

    December 15, 2014
  • 4

    Giraffe Manor: Is It Worth The Cost?

    November 22, 2017
Promotion Image

The Last time I saw you

Promotion Image

What to wear

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

@2018 - All Rights Reserved


Back To Top