Surviving driving in Managua, Nicaragua

Our jeep on the big island of Hawaii

When ever we travel we always rent a car.   And we have had some real adventures.  My husband has even gotten blisters on his poor hands from holding the steering wheel. We've been to Central America 6 times.  And survived them all.  Even the short cut to Montezuma through the mountains of Costa Rica.  We asked for directions to this "short cut" at a gas station.  The employee didn't speak English, but pointed us in the direction of a dirt road.  We took it. 

 And for miles we forged bridge-less mountain streams and rivers following little more than a cow path. We encountered no other cars. Only some locals on horse back.  And the worst part was we were never really sure if we were going the right way.  It still ranks as our biggest off road adventure to date.  But...it was the right way!  

The reason I'm posting this today is actually a hilarious quote from a travel book we just checked out from the library.  The Nicaragua Handbook written by Richard Arghiris.  Here's what he said about driving in the city of Managua.

In the Managua battle-zone the visiting gladiator must steer clear of axle-breaking holes and city buses- smoking beasts, filled to the ceiling with sweating commuters and professional thieves and manned by some of the most aggressive drivers on earth. 

 The crazed and ruthless driver mounts his challenge, horns wailing, sharpened metal spikes spinning from chromed wheels.  The bus driver will never slow down, yield or even acknowledge anyone, except a boarding passenger.  Taxi drivers too must be respected for what they are: rogue messengers from planet anarchy, routinely breaking every rule of legal driving in ways previously unimaginable.  Don't be surprised by the crash-the-red-light-by-driving-into-oncoming-traffic-to-overtake-waiting-cars-at-the-intersection manoeuvre or their maniacally obsessive horn usage.  

Rogue messengers from planet anarchy.  Ha!  Well, we still plan on driving when we go to Nicaragua.  But if you don't hear from me again after that trip you'll know what happened.

Our first big driving travel adventure started here.  On the lava fields of Hawaii.  I remember gripping what ever I could and thinking if we got a flat tire we would have to walk for miles over jagged hot lava.  Would our marriage have survived?  Who knows.  But we made it to this green sand beach.  Whew.

This green sand beach was a little easier to get to.  Just a bumpy dirt road.

But do you see that person on the rocks?  When we got there the real adventure began.  Climbing down to the beach.

But look at that green sand.  Beautiful.  I think green will be the color of our face if we ever drive in the city of Managua.  

To be continued someday...

P.S.  Be sure to stop back on Wednesday for an extra fun recipe post!