Saturday morning seemed to come very early, the band down the street at Irish Bar were easy to listen to but played loud and late. The outside cooking fire next door smoldered all night and our room was right above. Like sleeping in a mosquito smudge. I sounded like I was 80 years old and had smoked a pack a day for life!! We packed up, had breakfast and walked down to El Gatto Negro to visit Kelly ( our driver to Cangrejo) and wait for cabs. When we left the b&b for Remanso, Donna the B&B owner gave us a little warning to be careful where we were headed. Apparently a bit of a rep for hijackings, home invasions and muggings involving machetes etc. All well though as we have been there and returned. We headed out with a little apprehension, 20 minute cab ride on the same dusty rough rode as Cangrejo. Into a rural subdivision where are hotel/resort was located. we were met by Marco and Melida and there 3 children. (Managua Club) Turns out that Melida's family owns the resort and development area. It had been built 6 years ago, but closed for the past 2 years and only re-opened in the last month. A little run down and unkept but a beautiful secluded beach with surf waves and small bar on the water. Francisco showed us to our rooms and we headed into a large open air dining room for lunch. the area was formerly a large ranch and the whole place is decorated with antiques. The furniture was beautiful wood with 10 to 12 foot long tables, carved sideboards, chairs hutches and many ranch artifacts. Very very impressive collection. The Santa Rosa Rotarions began arriving, Marco was driving them out in shifts from SJDS. Also Max (pres. of Managua club) as the lunch and day at the beach was in their honor. We had a great visit with our new Rotary friends. We learned a lot about their dental/eye care clinics which they have been doing for many years. They were also very interested in our Sewing Centre and we have all promised to stay in touch and try and work together in the future. We spent the remainder of the afternoon visiting, walking the beach and even managed up ended in the surf. at the end of the day the Santa Rosa group headed back to SJDS as they fly home Sunday. We watched the sun set on the beach with Marco and family. Once again very spectacular. I am not sure how many sunset pictures I have but they just seem to get better and better. I am going to close off now and let someone else finish up the evening.

I have to comment that the reception we have received here has been exceptional. The world of Rotary is truly a wheel. Everyone is and wants to be connected and we all have the "service above self" attitude. Marco and Melida and there family were wonderful hosts. They shared their stories, appreciation for our help and their love for Nicaragua with us openly. as well they were very keen to learn all they could of Canada. George's hunting and boating pictures left them with mouth's dropped!! Great people!!

Dennis

From a dusty funeral to a posh hilltop resort villa! Our time in Nicaragua is quickly running out. It seems like we have been here quite a while and yet not nearly long enough. The resort In Remanso was nice but fairly secluded. Besides Marco and Melida and their kids, once the Santa Rosa Rotary group left in the afternoon, we were the only ones around. A little spooky at times. Especially after hearing some of the stories various people told us about crime in the area. By contrast our resort in town has a guard in our neighborhood carrying a side arm. That being said I had a great time last night playing with Marco And Melida's youngest daughter while George showed their teenage son pictures of a past hunting trip. Marco Jr was pretty impressed by the size of the Moose.

Going to enjoy a pig roast and the Super Bowl tonight and probably a lazy day by the pool tomorrow. Then it is back to Managua with a stop to tour the colonial city of Granada along the way. Can't believe we are going back home on Wednesday.

Kris

Except for the stories that it might not be that safe I could have spent a couple of days just vegging at Remanso. Melida and Marco were unconcerned about safety. They said they and their children loved coming there and that it was a very safe place to let the children run free. I guess it's all whose perspective you're seeing it from. It was a little eerie being the only ones there; sort of like a ghost town. I'm not complaining about coming back to town and the luxury hotel. It has 4 different patios on 2 levels, 3 bathrooms, all with showers plus an outside shower and aview that goes for miles no matter which window or patio you look out. I will be sorry to leave on wednesday and it will certainly be on my list of coming back to places.

Lisa

After reflecting back on the Remanso Hotel, all I can come up with is Hotel California by the Eagles, "you can checkout anytime, but you can never leave". It was a little unnerving, might have felt safer if the guard was a head taller then me instead of a head smaller, and if he was carrying a defender not a flashlight. The afternoon with the Santa Rosa Rotarians was great, they were very interested in our project and we have a bottle of Wine being sent to us for the Auction! During their project they tested and fitted 1500 people with glasses and did 350 tooth extractions. Dennis and I were both a little apprehensive about asking the Managua Rotary club about partnering on a future project, (they only have 20 members) but they were very excited about the chance to work together and very thankfully for the work we had done with the sewing center.

George