Fun facts: Nicaragua
Hello – Hola
Bye – Adios
Currency: Cordovas
1 USD = 30 Cordovas
Typically people make under $200-$250 dollar a month.
The children will stop going to school at a very young age to work in the fields.
(So we got an incredible opportunity to partner with Esperanza Rising that helps kids in their community have a place to study, get a meal, get vitamins, and they give them a way to earn money by making bracelets. This was probably one of my favorite things I have been a part of all year. We sold the string bracelets and the beaded bracelets that the moms have an opportunity to make on FaceBook and raised $1,420!!!! Praise GOD!)
There are many orphanages due to poverty, alcoholism, deaths, and neglect.
Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Nicaragua is also the safest country in Central America.
They have TukTuks here but they call them Motos.
When Mombacho volcano erupted years ago It made 365 islands in Lake Granada. You can tour them all by boat.
(This is a view from the top on Mombacho Volcano of the 365 islands in Lake Granada.)
(The boats we toured the islands in.)
(This is a view of Volcano Mombacho from Lake Granada.)
(This is a view of Mombacho from our back porch. My favorite place. This is the view I had when I would do my early morning quite time and my workouts. I miss it already.)
Some of the best coffee in Central American is grown on the side of Mombacho Volcano. 
(A coffee bean when it is first picked from the tree and a coffee bean after it has its berry outside removed.)
Granda is a very cute little town where every building is a different color and the roofs are made out of terra-cotta.
The Masaya volcano is active and you can pay $10 to go look inside the volcano at night. So worth it.
(Here is the inside view of the volcano! COOLEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN! I became my 5th grade self all over again and was just astounded by God and his craftsmanship.)
We went to a lagoon that was in the middle of an old imploded volcano. NICA, YOU BLOW MY MIND.
(The clearest freshwater I have ever swam in!)
Horse drawn carriages are a popular form of transit and carrying goods around.
Most people don’t know English.
The Mona Lisa painting is everywhere. Sometimes in her original form and sometimes she is painted a funny way. They are weirdly obsessed with her.
There are billions of banana trees everywhere.
(This is another view of my back porch.)
(I love picking bananas straight off the tree. YUM)
We eat lots of Gallo pinto (rice and beans). Most days for every meal.
Sometimes we would get pancakes for breakfast! Praise!
Pineapples here are a white color and less juicy.
Nica has the most gorgeous sunsets I have ever seen! (Sorry Oklahoma)
(This is my house, Casa Grande, and the bus that took the kids to and from school. The colors… I’m telling you.)
(The sunset on our boat tour. We couldn’t have timed that better.)
(A romantic ride for me and my bestie/teammate Katie.)
Soccer is very popular here in Nica too. This month I got to play!
(A few of the community boys that let me be apart of their games.)
(We also got to attend a game of our hosts son! VAMOS Michigan! They even won both of their games!)
I learned so much about the beauty of simple living.
(Chopping veggies outside with my friend Carolina.)
(Making Tortillas in Carolina’s kitchen.)
They have this authentic Nica food called Mongonda. It is a fried rice & pigs blood patty that they serve with tortillas. It wasn’t my favorite thing I have ever eaten but it wasn’t that bad.
(Mongonda)
I loved Nicaragua. The people are so sweet and the country is so beautiful and has so many amazing things to see! I hope one day I get to come back!
(My Nica Family!)
Nicaragua, you blew me away.
XOXO,
Madden
By the way, tomorrow my team Juan Direction is heading to EL Salvador for our final month here on the WorldRace. I can’t believe in less than a month this beautiful journey will be coming to an end. WOW. Keep me in your prayers for safe travels and an amazing last month. Love you all. THANK YOU so much for you continued support. You guys are the best type of humans.
(My team minus Ted. HAHA)
