We departed Granada after having said good-bye to our friends. The trip went well except for a premature turn. Instead of tarrying a bit farther on our way, I cut a right turn in the direction (I thought) of Tipitapa. After having driven about two kilometers on very curvy and narrow roads, I asked John if he thought I might not ask about directions. I spied a young lad on his bicycle riding in the opposite direction and asked him: "¿Va este camino en la dirección de Tipitapa?" El dijo, "no, estas perdido hombre" No, you are lost man. Well, I was glad that I asked and I was also more happy that he told me I was lost and what I could do to correct my error. We had only gone minutes out of our way so it was not a grave mishap and it did give me an opportunity to use what little Castellano that I do have under my belt as well as the chance to listen to my corrective instructions.
Again on the correct camino, we continued a bit further until we reached the fork in the road where we turned and continued about twenty-two kilometers to Tipitapa where we again turned sharply to the left for another eight kilometers. Then a roundel or round-about with a turn to the left and we passed by the airport.
John was interested in seeking out the Best Western hotel which we found directly across from the International Airport of Managua. We had met the Gerente General at the Masaya Volcano just days before and, since we visited with him and he gave us his card, we thought it only fair to visit his establishment. We are here for the day. And, we will leave a note of thanks to Roberto Cruz Sequeira when we depart later today.
But, as John checked into the room, it was time for me to take the Toyota back to the airport. Upon check-out at the Hertz counter, we inherited for these past few days a car that was terribly pocked, scratched and dented. We were super careful to note each and every exception on its body before we agreed to leave the airport. Honestly there were so many items that were wrong with the car (including lights and mirror covers), I thought that we should have named the establishment RENT-A-DENT.
I asked the hotel folks where the nearest gasoline station was and was soon on my way for a filling of petrol. The equivalent of USD17 was funneled into the tank and I was soon off to find a turn-around on the four-lane divided highway. I found the first one and shot ahead of on-coming traffic directly into the entrance to the airport. To the check-in folks where they gave me a pass GO and provided a paper saying that we had encountered nothing further along the way other than a full tank of gas. We paid the equivalent of USD113 for the three-day rental.
As I exited the airport, taxi drivers were very much wanting my fares but I told them that these legs would take me across the street to the Las Mercedes Best Western Hotel. They said, maybe this afternoon or tomorrow. I told them our flight was this afternoon at half past three and we would be walking to the terminal, a distance of approximately 150 paces.
So, I will be in touch with you again when we arrive in Costa Rica.
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