I get a one hour massage first thing this morning, followed by breakfast at the Garden Cafe once again. I opt out of the hammock sleeping though, as I am heading out on a day tour.
I am happy to have Alanna and Babette join me. Our tour guide is Stefan, a French National who has spent much of his life in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. This is the first time he is running the tour so we are really his guinea pigs.
I am a sucker for nice pottery, and Pueblos Blancos is pottery heaven. I only buy a couple of pieces but have my eyes on a couple others. I am on a tour and so, being considerate to my fellow travellers, I pull myself away. We head to the Santa Catalina mirador (lookout), which lives up to its billing and more. We see Granada in the distance, the grand Lake Nicaragua, and smaller but pretty Lake Opoyo. Next stop is the famous Masaya market. However, I preferred the Pueblos Blancos shopping experience, visiting workshops and interacting with the artists themselves.
Last stop of the day is the Masaya Volcano. This was not on my must-do list but should have been. I gawk at the gaping hole extruding its sulphurous fumes. Parrots flit by. For some unknown reason to scientists, they have learned to adapt to a very toxic environment, nesting within the crater, which keeps them safe from predators who have not been able to survive the gas emissions.
We head home...all I can do is obsess about the pottery pieces that are not in my bag.
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