Nicaragua revisited

While in Jaco I had a chance to go to Nicaragua on an excursion by rental car. The Expats that reside in Costa Rica on visitor visas have to leave every 90 days to have their Visas renewed. The most common trip is a jaunt to Panama for a four day weekend or up to Nicaragua for a getaway. Using the local bus system is an option for travel and a travel business has built up around the Visa renewal getaways. Another option is rental cars. We made arrangements with a national rental car company to provide a car for the trip from Jaco to the Nicaragua border. There we would cross the border on foot and pick up a rental car from the same company on the other side. My memories of border crossings left me a little skeptical about this arrangement going smoothly. My fears were for naught, the crossing was seamless and fast. The traveling party was made up of four adults and a three year old. I could not believe the change in attitudes of the officials when you have a blond blue eyed three year old in your arms. No hassles, escort to express line, respectful responses. So much for profiling.
Near Granada there is a 200,000 year old volcano that imploded and created a crater lake. On the shores of this lake (Laguna De Apoyo) the Nicos have built a few resort hotels, one of these San Simian, was our destination. Our arrival was a little late and the staff held over for a fifteen minutes to make sure we had a chance to get dinner. At about seven O'clock in the evening we found out that the bar closed at five.The angst over the prospect of not getting a beer was relieved when the manager made arrangements with the night watchman to open the cooler for us. Jorge was an attentive and an appreciated provider of iced buckets of cold beers.
The lake was warm fresh water the food was good the beer was cold the ambiance was delightful. Small cabinas on the slopes over looking the lake, sleeping under mosquito netting, was a very fun time. It cost 20 bucks to take a 1 1/2 hour horse drawn carriage ride in Granada, with historically significant sights pointed out by the driver.
I know it didn't fit the Motorcycle theme but this trip was a memorable pleasant part of the whole package.
The transit back across the border was even easier than the northbound leg.
Now its back to Jaco and address the issue of shipping the Moto