2023 - The freshest crap from farm to table

[el duende grande]

Good the camera law got squashed so quick. Just think, Danny did in 2 days what the US Supreme Court took 50 years to do to Roe vs Wade.
But I wouldn't push my luck, the 1 camera law has been around for years, but you can split your cameras up between all passengers. But the law will be back in some form hopefully with some sense and advance notice. I don't have a professional camera but how do you explain that to somebody at customs? Peasant definition in Nic is anything bigger than a point and shoot is professional.

As far as cost of living, when I came here I could have done better in AZ. Now the Californicators have bid up land so bad it is probably a draw, but AZ would definitely have the convenience, roads, utilities, medical care advantage. Politics would be a draw between Nic and the former USA, with the US being the bigger risk for meltdown.

[Little Corn Tom]

you would be scheduled for remedial sexual harassment training.
And a black mark put on your permanent record.

Why do you say "black" mark? That is a racist, negative statement in itself.

You are on probation, pal!

[el duende grande]

That's why I say the former USA is the bigger risk for meltdown!
"A Republic if you can keep it" as Ben Franklin said.

[bill_bly_ca]

Funny on BILs house - He currently has a friend from his old job up here. Colin retired in 2014 - About a year after Daniel went on LTD - and they bumped into each other in Nicaragua in 2014.

Colin is currently sleeping in a Hammock on the 2nd floor of our house. In Daniels house he has both his girl friend and his girlfriends mother, so his house is kinda full

I will be working on line from his house so I did ask him to buy the boost pack to 12mbps - it is not Claro and the last time I was at his place the 3mbps he had actually measured to 3 - So I hope this 12 will be an actual 12.

If things work out we should be in Masaya at noon(ish) on the 12th.

With the 5 - 4 day weekends - we hope to get some travel time under our belts in Leon, Bluefields, up in coffee country and the obligatory weekend in SJDS

Also it is time to get some of the infastructure set up - A pricemart card, get a Dr. set up for Chilo so we can get some one up to speed on Chilo's ailments, get the coupboards in the kitchen planned , choose tile and get the doors started etc etc.

[KeyWestPirate]

Funny on BILs house - He currently has a friend from his old job up here. Colin retired in 2014 - About a year after Daniel went on LTD - and they bumped into each other in Nicaragua in 2014.

Colin is currently sleeping in a Hammock on the 2nd floor of our house. In Daniels house he has both his girl friend and his girlfriends mother, so his house is kinda full

I will be working on line from his house so I did ask him to buy the boost pack to 12mbps - it is not Claro and the last time I was at his place the 3mbps he had actually measured to 3 - So I hope this 12 will be an actual 12.

If things work out we should be in Masaya at noon(ish) on the 12th.

With the 5 - 4 day weekends - we hope to get some travel time under our belts in Leon, Bluefields, up in coffee country and the obligatory weekend in SJDS

Also it is time to get some of the infastructure set up - A pricemart card, get a Dr. set up for Chilo so we can get some one up to speed on Chilo's ailments, get the coupboards in the kitchen planned , choose tile and get the doors started etc etc.

PriceSmart will be the easiest. Was about $45 for two cards.
They were only taking AmEx as a credit card,, shades of Costco back in the old days.
But they have all the ATMs to the right of the entrance.



I am so envious of you living so close to PriceSmart.
And two in Managua.

There is a ton of money in Estelí.
Why don't we have one ??

Really nice SINSA in Masaya too.
Ours is a total POS


Colin is currently sleeping in a Hammock on the 2nd floor of our house.


Well,, if the GF gets on top,, maybe, It's still really dicey, hope you have carpet on the floor
I personally am getting too old for that kind of adventure.
More of a SJdS surfer kind of thing

Now I'm going to have to tell my Boom Shack beach story


https://www.facebook.com/theBoomCabin/

[bill_bly_ca]

Whew - Tickets printed

Covid sheets printed

Ticabus sheets printed

Bags packed

Computers set remote work

Taxi booked - Parking in Tra-nna is insane these days a Taxi both ways is 1/2 the cost of parking.

Tigo roaming packahe bought and activated

Tigo cash added

Just need to buy US and Tico cash tonight. Of course something important was forgotten - But what...

Who knows - Adventure !!

[Little Corn Tom]

Whew - Tickets printed

Covid sheets printed

Ticabus sheets printed

Bags packed

Computers set remote work

Taxi booked - Parking in Tra-nna is insane these days a Taxi both ways is 1/2 the cost of parking.

Tigo roaming packahe bought and activated

Tigo cash added

Just need to buy US and Tico cash tonight. Of course something important was forgotten - But what...

Who knows - Adventure !!

Jeez Bill,
I hate to sound like an old fuddy duddy but.......in the olden days and living in Fort Lauderdale......a trip to the island was:
Drop me off in Miami airport...at 8 am
Fly to Managua 9 am
Fly to Big Corn at 1 PM
Get panga to Little Corn at 4 pm
Order a Tona at 5 pm in Little Corn
Things were simpler "then" and so much better.
"Then' was only a few years ago.

[bill_bly_ca]

Like the Norwegian electric guy says "Shitty"

Chilo can't take her phone B/C we worry of cell phone seizure

Chilo taking a cheap Amazon fire tablet worried again about seizure

I am only taking cameras that I can stand to loose (again fear of seizure)

Worry about two laptops (Work and personal), we _should_ be fine but still...

Printing out the covid proof forms and the manila folder of other forms (Ticket, onward travel for Tico customs etc etc)

But we did save over 1800 bucks - Any shitty flight from Tran-ah is easy $1200 ppsn - We paid only $600 and points and a $64 (total) bus ride.

Stories of seizures are permeating the expat groups - That is no way to get back to 1.82 million visitors in 2023, which is their publicly stated goal.

Oh well - At least I will know after this 6 week adventure if I do want to work remote or not.

[Little Corn Tom]

I hate to be so dense but what cell phone seizure are you talking about?

[bill_bly_ca]

I hate to be so dense but what cell phone seizure are you talking about?

Apparently there is a two phone limit per person - a third will be taken . Apparently there is no way you can bribe it in.

- Others report to be quizzed on why they have two - So I have 2 (mine and work) which we we will report between the two of us ).

On the Tica bus last year, that the helper got on the bus just before crossing into Nicaragua, had in his speach - As well the same applies to perfume <shrug>

[cookshow]

And need be careful what is on your phone.

[KeyWestPirate]

"Tigo roaming package bought and activated

Tigo cash added"


If you stay,, TIGO had a postpago that worked from Panama to the US for $22 /month
Price might have changed.
Anything might have changed.


I have an Obama Phone in the US, buy a new chip and recarga when I get to Nicaragua

Shelley has Mint Mobile currently $15 month with 3 months free when you buy during one of their promotional periods (SO, 3 x $15 plus 3 x free = about $55 for 6 months with taxes)
And her $22 Tigo postpago.

We get SKY for $29 month, and have a TIGO router for $32
Property taxes are $20 /year, vehicle registration is forever, and insurance is less than $100 yearly.
Yearly mechanical inspection is $6 and road tax is $5
It costs as much to drive to Telpaneca to pay the property taxes and rodamiento.

We give Edgar roughly $300 (actually $188 and he's paid the best in La Lima), but we invest in his family a bit too,, so we budgeted the $300 monthly.
This is an expense the average retiree would not have.
Edgar pays the SKY at WU when he picks up his remesa; the TIGO we pay online

I'd like to see about getting a CR SKY subscription when I go through CR next.
They have a LOT more English programming. It's got to be the same satellite.

It seems that it would just be a matter of entering my receiver address into the CR system.


You CAN live inexpensively in Nicaragua.

[KeyWestPirate]

And need be careful what is on your phone.

Yes,, these are strange times.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this " release the political prisoners and put them on a plane to the US "

[bill_bly_ca]

Damn that was good sleep

Phone worked fine in San Jose but not a peep on Bogata. Arrival was on time in San Jose at 9:30 this AM - Uber was super simple to the Tica hotel - No Cancels, nice car, polite driver - Asked the Taxi drivers if they would do the run for $25 flat they refused - We paid the Uber $9 with a good tip

WiFi auto connected.

Got some lunch/dinner at a chinese resturant - Really our first meal iin 18 hours as the Taxi picked us up right from work wih a shit meal at the airport (pearson) of a sandwhich and some NAN bread split between the both of us.

Avianca's seats just sucked and not even a drink service for a 5.5 hr flight. Also Columbia is still a mask mandate state do that sucked as well. Chilo was smart enough to pack some.

Ticabus hotel has gone up to $38

We did try to get our seats together but the buss is full - We are one row of each other.

One of BIL Oscar's aunts was sent stuff by us. They live 50km outside of San Jose - Chilo gave them the stuff at 7:30 tonight. Less to cary over

We should be in Masaya by 1 Sunday - Time will tell

[bill_bly_ca]

And need be careful what is on your phone.

I use my phone so little to do stuff, just browse and to that end I have a lot of feeds of "the revolution" on my instagram if they choose to browse that " EL 19 a me presidente"

[bill_bly_ca]

Bitter sweet day

Good friend up in Matagalpa passed away unexpectantly the day we arrived, then this little kitten, no more than 3 weeks old rounds the corner and scrambles up my leg. As best as we can tell abandoned. So far we have fought it down 12 ml of cows milk. Contacted 2 rescue organizations and hope to hear from them tomorrow and then the back light died on my personal laptop.

Had a bit of a hiccup with the cameras - Took about 12 min to work through - Looks like some of the Party faithful running the X-ray still think the rule is in place - THe fellow at the customs booth rolled his eyes, made a 30 second call, stamped the form and we were across.

They check you passport against a "list" now before you enter the building, on the bus - As well as your vaccine form. The Vaccine check is just a torn bit of paper with the Drs stamp.

Not a peep about the phones, laptops or tablets.

The 3 AM Ticabus is fantastic - Arrived in Masaya just after 1 PM an hour shorter than the 6AM bus we took last time - And a lot of construction on the Tico side - Give it another 18 months and I bet another hour is cut off.

THe Tica bus terminal has a little Soda set up inside now.

A little investigation shows the lap top mostlikely has F7 shorted for the display - I bet it got too hot in the carry bag. I should have turned it off.

[el duende grande]

I noticed online the great announcement from the President that anybody could bring camera equipment in, but then the fine print 1 camera + 1 telephoto lens and you get taxed on any excess.

My problem with amateur photography is my wife. If I stop by the side of the road to take a picture of a native plant or something she goes into panic mode. "They are going to rob and murder you for your expensive camera". Since I tote a $300 camera for Nica use that is particularly irritating.

[bill_bly_ca]

Have to find so strong zip lock bags and some desiccant. Lenses suffer from fungus here (Growth on the optics coatings) so they need to be kept dry.

All but two of the lenses stay and both of the camera bodies.

Tested the VPN into work - All is fine.

I do need to find a old monitor or two in the consignment shops today and I will leave F7 for now.

Off to the proprty to talk to the building guy on next tasks. One missed drain and finishing the first floor wall like the 2nd.

[bill_bly_ca]

Old monitor was easy to find, but pricy (for what it is) @ $38US - Need a video cable from the market though - It did fire up so it is 95% sure to work with video input. Also need a power bar.

Tested BIL's internet - A solid 17mbps down - SO work should be fine.

[KeyWestPirate]

Had a bit of a hiccup with the cameras - Took about 12 min to work through - Looks like some of the Party faithful running the X-ray still think the rule is in place - THe fellow at the customs booth rolled his eyes, made a 30 second call, stamped the form and we were across.


Nicaraguans are nothing if not "aprovechando"
It was good while it lasted. Proud new owners of cameras and binoculars.

It's the way it works in communist countries.

The 3 AM Ticabus is fantastic -
Arrived in Masaya just after 1 PM an hour shorter than the 6AM bus we took last time - And a lot of construction on the Tico side - Give it another 18 months and I bet another hour is cut off.

Did they mention how far north the TicaBus is traveling now ? It went to Mexico City at one time.

I was checking airline prices,, seem to be back up again.

[bill_bly_ca]

Did they mention how far north the TicaBus is traveling now ? It went to Mexico City at one time.

I was checking airline prices,, seem to be back up again.

Yes - That city starting with a "T" forgot the name, but it looks like you can take Tica bus the entire way

[el duende grande]

Bill--buy a safe, sinsa has them on sale now. It won't stop a wrecking crew but it will stop mysterious disappearance. Also good place to store felt tip markers to insure the tops are not left off.

Pirate- flights are hard to find less than 900 usd on what used to be a slam dunk 700 in a bad year. And return flights are red eyes. Goggled Liberia, they were worse than mga on the days I checked. Checked aeromex for a 3-5 day layover, no deal--they charge full price for each segment.
Tapachula may be your town. I remember it most for getting off a bus and eating some greasy tacos in a stifling little restaurant.

My original plan in my naive days was to leisurely bus back every year and see the sights. Lotta things in Hond and Mex I wanted to see. But once you have things going on here you don't want to spend the time and when flights were 500-600 bucks it did not pencil out. Probably still doesn't.

We did Panama my way years ago- daytime bus to SJ, good restaurant and hotel, daytime bus to David, etc. Better than sleeping on a bus if you are over 22 years old or so, but slow and the costs add up. And at 60 mph or whatever, there is nothing to see between SJ and CD P except a blur of green, with the notable exception of some red pineapple fields somewhere.

[cookshow]

I watch the Aeromexico flts I can not figure out that pricing

[bill_bly_ca]

Bill--buy a safe, sinsa has them on sale now. It won't stop a wrecking crew but it will stop mysterious disappearance. Also good place to store felt tip markers to insure the tops are not left off.

BIL Welded up a nice box with a 2M chain - It will house the ttems while we are here and then hold the lenses while we are away - The lenses left here are not very valuable and for obscure mounts - That does not mean that some will not try to steel them but it is not that bad if they are taken

[bill_bly_ca]

Busy day - Not everything done - Money drop-off #1 - Not home - Money drop off #2 , they were not home, Money drop and pills. Money drop off #3 was home.

Then a stop at Ceca in Managua - There I got the Mini Display port to HDMI adapter for replicating the dead screen (remember the back light quit on the laptop) 460 cord and got 2 AC cords for the laptop power supplies - 20 cord each - Ceca looks like a good parts store and I will go back

Went to Oriental - Found tile for the 2nd floor at a good price - Each floor in 1,000 sq^ft, so a buck a square makes a difference, Four good candidates were found (tile types) to our liking at less than $1400US for 1000sq ft (thin set grout and tile) so it is quite possible we will be setting the 2nd floor tile just before we leave. Found some door craftsmen as well. Not looking for doors until next fall but what we seen was pretty much in line with what we wanted and cheaper than Masaya

Then we stopped in at Pricemart - Got Chilo and Daniel all set up with cards and we bought some egs, veg oil, coffee, Tona was good for a 27 @ 25 cord a can and Heineken @ 44 cord a can with a no charge glass.

Browsed the stoves ( One I really liked - Below) the fridges (too big for what we want with chilled water) the washers (Just a simple one). Also looked at mattresses and other bits and bobs. The $40 already saved us $20 on the monitor from the best I could find so far and the eggs and oil was a good 30% off as well. The Meat selection was pretty good, fair amount of beef but no Brisket. Lots of pork though.

Also got to graze some samples of Tres leche cake, some franks and another pound like cake.

We are going to try to catch a Masaya (San Fernando) baseball game tomorrow - They are playing in Nindiri as the "Glorious" new stadium is constructed in Masaya