Nicaruaguan Cigars and a Suicidal Dog

Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar

You're gonna go far, you're gonna fly high

You're never gonna die

You're gonna make it, if you try

They're gonna love you..

So immediately upon arrival to Nicaragua I was given a tasty cigar by a guy who owns a little cigar factory in Estella.

Trying to use Google Translate to see what we are talking about.

Of note.. Estella Nicaragua is home to MANY cigars. There are some 250 cigar factories in the space of a small town. So pretty much everyone works at one in the town.

So guess we should do a tour!

Inspecting the pallets of tobacco leaves.

The dried leaves feel more like leather and have a "stronger than you would expect" constancy to them.

Getting my nose up in there for a smell

One of the many professional cigar rollers

The cigar press is used for about 24 hours, with a 1/4 turn of the cigars at the 12 hour mark in order to squeeze the cigars into the proper shape

My turn to roll one! With tutelage from an expert.

A mural in the front with the owner (far Right) and founder (Far Left)

After leaving Estella we were driving down the road to go to another coffee tour. It was a beautiful day and we were carefree in the middle of nowhere when a random street dog ran in front of the bike. We were going about 50 mph when the dog un-kindly lodged himself in my front tire. The bike (and us) went down on the bikes left side. After tumbling down the road a bit Carmen and I came to and found ourselves badly scraped and bruised with the thought of potential broken bones. 

Some local Nicaraguans came over and helped us up and gave us some water and coffee. After putting the broken parts of the bike and our gear away we hobbled down the street 4 miles to the nearest town and rented the nicest room in the nicest hotel that we could find (don't expect much, it is Central America.) We then went to the local "Free Hospital" to be X-rayed and examined.

No broken bones but we did spend the next 4 days in a hotel room moving as little as possible. Once recovered we continues on our way, forever scared of mind with the thought of Nicaraguan Dogs.

The moral of the story, wear your gear!  Because of our jackets and helmets we walked away with minimal injuries.

Filling out Spanish Hospital forms using google translate

Shoulder X-rays

A little Road Rash on Carmen

My Motorcycle Jacket doing it's job

Of note, we are in Alabama now and will be finishing up the trip from memory and photos as we prepare for the next adventure.
Stay Tuned!

Honduras, Pure and Simple

As we wander through Central America we have begun to notice that these small countries are a little bit like states in the US. For example, Mexico reminds us of Texas (loud and proud);  Honduras seems to be a bit like Wyoming due to the beautiful landscape, lots of farmland, and general humility of the people.  

Here are some of our favorite photos of Honduras.

Street food is an amazing culinary experience no matter the consequence. 

Enjoying empanadas at the street market. YUM!

Ladies selling produce in the town square. 

Family in their Sunday best.

Copan locals walking to market.

Vroom!

Road side fruit stand.

Funeral procession outside a small town.

We have learned that in Central America fireworks are just a part of daily life and even more so during the many celebrations and holidays.
Why are you shooting off Fireworks.. Because it's TODAY!

Fireworks stand!

Long barren road

Traffic in the mountains.

Truck full of green coffee going to market for sale.

As beautiful as the people and the country is there are still harsh realities of how impoverished this part of the world is.  Fairly often we see children begging, selling goods or entertaining drivers at red lights.   This young boy is resting while the light is green on a busy highway.

Street merchants literally in the street in Tegucigalpa, the capitol city. 

Add 'Sanford and Sons' theme song here

Every now and then we see something so familiar to us as Americans... truck nuts on a tuk-tuk.

I doubt he has wifi.

And now we leave you with these pictures of the morning fog rolling over the plush green hills in the Honduras country side.

Up next, Nicaragua!