Getting to the beach has taken more work than expected, so we decided to splurge a bit on accomodations and a beach with mostly sandy bottom and safe waves.  Playa Colorado is one of 3 or 4 spots that claim to be one of the best, worlds famous, etc. This one did actully host a junior worlds competition recently.  Its also a completely private beach, but loosely enforced. the surrounding beach resorts and tour operators send boats from around the points for surf trips here.  But this is the low season and the waves were mostly dissapointing for us learners.  The reef break did get very big at high tide.  While way overhead, the big sets at our sandy bottom right in front of our condo were surpisingly gentle and good for a big drop and momentary barrel on a boogie board.

The beach frontage is owned by Hacienda Iguana, a golf and beach front development with huge mansions and maybe a 100 or so condos and a few services.  We rented a car in Granada and had an easy drive both ways.  We didnt need the car when here, but since we had it we made 2 stops on the way home, Playa Gigante and Aqua resort, both just south of Playa Colorado.  Both were worth staying, but we had to get going so that we werent driving after dark.  While at Iguana, we asked our AirBNB host manager what xmas week was like. He searched and found 2 availabilities, one giant house and one small condo.   Both were double rates for the holiday week.  We decided to search other beaches and finally found an affordable private cabin at a hostel 10 minutes walking inland from Playa Maderas.  Maderas is one of the other world famous surf breaks and is down closer to the San Juan Del Sur hub.  We’ll take a shuttle to SJDS then take a hostal shuttle to Maderas.  We’ll be there Monday to Monday.

The kids school is on break Dec 16 – Jan 5th.  I worked this week and brought Q with me Tuesday and Olivia today.  They had a great time, as the students were mostly infatuated with them right away.  They were each “claimed” right away by a new best friend, even beforehand in Olivia’s case.  Haney (Annie) has often asked about Olivia over the past 3 weeks and gave me the idea to bring them.  I thought they might be bored, but my lead teacher, ayudante Ofelia, was very accomodating and kept the clase light for them.  Down below are videos of the very first attempt (Qs video) of the class to sing one of the most common xmas carols here, Campanas de Belen (Bells of Bethlehem).  The 2nd vid is today and their first success at getting to the end of the song.  Friday is a big party at the school where each class does a song or dance.  I’ll miss it as we are headed to Ometepe Island tomorrow.   The kids had a great time and the good-byes at the end of the class both days were very sad for some.  So we decided to committ to come back.  They have 2 days in early January before their school starts that hopefully will work for them to come. Olivia wouldnt want to miss any of her regular school, but I think Quentin now has more friends at Nueva Esperanza than at his regular school.