The embassy is not for you stop trying to get inside.

So last night we all decided on a plan of action for today, just a nice quiet night hanging out in a hammock reading and getting to bed around 10 or 11. Didn't work out so well, instead we all ended up wandering around town with about 10 of our new friends and drinking until for or five am. The only real issue with the plans failure is that Bob and I have to get on a bus to Managua and try to get the embassy to help us get to Costa Rica, and AJ is supposed to go figure out the best way to get to San Jose. So running on one or two hours of sleep we all set off in our respective directions. Bob and I walk down the the bus station and get on one headed for Managua, it takes about an hour or so so we both catch a little sleep. We catch a cab to the embassy which is the largest in all of Central and South America. Now having never been to a US embassy before I suppose I don't know how it works, but I would assume that when two American citizens walk up and have a problem that needs resolving inside the giant $100 million compound would be able to help. Not so, instead were not even let inside and told to deal with the local police in resolving our missing van mystery. So Bob and I hop another cab to what is apparently the barrio and the shadiest looking police station I have ever imagined. We wander around knocking on unmarked doors hoping to find someone who speaks English and come across a policewoman who managed to help us get a report filed in just under three and a half hours. Were told to take the report back to the embassy and so starts cab ride number three. The embassy let us in eventually and they proceed to be very little help at all, we file an incident report and they tell us to go find the customs office near the airport to have the van detached from Bob's passport. Cab ride four. We get dropped off outside a run down warehouse two blocks from the airport and once we get our point across to the people inside were told to go to the actual airport. No cab this time just a half mile walk. You can imagine where this is going, the airport customs guy tells us that we need to find the customs central office and that they close soon. Cab ride five time. Here's where we catch a break, the guy who offers us a cab ride is an old guy named Ronaldo and hes very friendly and likes to work on his English. We negotiate a good deal where he'll drive us to the customs office, wait outside and then drive us back to Granada so we don't have to catch another bus or stay in the capital. He actually goes into the office with us and explains our plight to the woman at the main desk, and after much talking and several phone calls were informed that we can get across the border now and if they have any issues we just refer them to her office with her number and extension. So if all goes well we should be on our way to San Jose tomorrow, hopefully on a newer air conditioned bus. Ronaldo drove us back to Granada and even drove the route that goes right by the active smoking volcano and around the lake. He really earned his pay and of course our respect. We shook hands and parted ways with the friendliest cabbie in Nicaragua.
We opted to stay somewhere a little quieter so were hanging out at Los Amigos hostel down the street from the Bearded Monkey. I think its food time so I'll leave you here and promise to keep everyone updated.
Until next time,
Dean


Also we parted ways with Ryan, its sad and it wont be the same without him. To find such a good friend and someone who fits in so well instantly is not something life allows more than a handful of times. Best of luck brother, via con dios.