The Cow Trail

So to get from our house to Nicaragua Christian Academy, it takes about 15 minutes of driving down a hill on what is known amongst Americans, at least, as the "Cow Trail." It would be a GREAT bike ride. . .I bet one would only have to pedal a few times to get from the top of the Cow Trail to the front gates of the school. I might invest in a mountain bike at some point depending on how our school day transportation plan looks like.

Driving the Cow Trail is a GREAT way to begin your day; you are thrown into Nicaragua like nowhere else! The road is made of cobblestones, which are actually in decent repair except for one pretty treacherous spot. Along the road are rows and rows of walls, gates, houses, front yards, a few churches, a dentist's office, a few tiny stores, a school. . .Henry's noted that everyone lives behind walls and fences here, even the poor.

As you drive down the road, you have more than a few things to compete with. . .there are MANY pedestrians. There are horse-drawn carts. There are "moto-taxis"--these cute three-wheeled taxis that are everywhere. They drive fast and look as if they might tip at any moment without warning. I've heard it would only take about 20-30 cordoba to go in one from home to school (about $1.00), but I honestly don't know if I could fit in one. There are other cars. And there are the busses--retro-fitted school busses that now act as public transit. These busses take up the entire road, so meeting one coming the other way is terrifying as you have to quickly problem solve how to make your Honda mini-van disappear! The busses are often extremely crowded--standing-room only is typical from what I can see. And of course there are the cows. My kids play the "animal game" as we head to school. . . counting dogs (probably about 10), chickens (20), cows (0-10), horses (0-5), pigs (2?), and a random assortment of other farm animals. Charlotte keeps shouting "monkey", but we've not seen one yet here (in the wild, at least). On the road, you'll pass piles of garbage and dirty wastewater flowing on the cobblestone one moment, and nice landscaping and well-kept, tidy yards the next. Always lots of contrast here between the poor and those with more money.

I'm pretty good at avoiding the potholes, but there are a few non-painted speed bumps that get me every time! There is so much action and beauty and life around. . .hard to remember to look at the road in front of you!