Boarder Run
We realized last week that our 90 day tourist VISA’s had expired. The penalty is only $2 per day, but with a family of 4, that can start adding up quickly. We decided the best thing to do was to go early on Monday morning and get Azalea to school a little late. Sunday was Mother’s Day, so I didn’t want to go over the weekend.
We left the house around 6:20am on Monday. The kids usually wake up around 5:30am anyway, so it wasn’t like we were getting up early to go. We were ready to pay the penalty with extra cash and photo copies of passports and stamped slip.
We parked the car in a dirt lot close to the boarder where we weren’t harassed to pay for someone to “watch” our car. In the past I haven’t had much luck with these people.
I usually come back to find someone else is “watching” my car and that person wanting to get paid a disproportionate amount to their services. I also find parking closer to the boarder there are less people pestering you to hire them to fill out the paper work and walk you through the process.
These men also have been known to demand a $40 tip after services rendered. I did use them once when it was just me & the kids. I paid them the equivalent of $4 and was yelled at while shuffling my kids in my car.
Once at the counter we were quickly told that the copies we made were incorrect and were pointed to a building where we could pay to have correct copies made.
This was surprisingly easy and we were soon able to reenter.
Entering the boarder. The first place your passports are checked.
First stop is a small window to pay the $1 per person tax to the Nicaraguan exit city.
The first building has the best "ice skating rink" my kids have ever seen.
Kharron patiently waiting in line
The offical was not very happy to fill out this extra paperwork for us being delinquent on our VISA exit.
Both direction you have to walk through this building to have your passport checked.
After the long walk in between the two countries or what most call “no man’s land” we finally reached Costa Rica’s customs.
The walk between countries
The line outside Costa Rica's customs was empty!
Kharron in line at Costa Rica's customs
This building also has a bathroom and somehow Azalea always needs to go here.
Walking around the Costa Rica customs building on our way back to Nicaragua
If you can only use cash, either this building or the one next to it is where you pay your Costa Rica exit tax.
Paid a $7 tax each to exit Costa Rica
With a credit card (make sure your bank knows you are going to Costa Rica) you can save $2 per person on your Costa Rica exit tax.
Each side requires custom forms to be filled out. Bring your pen & your patience.
Another line - the Costa Rican boarder.
Back through this passport checkpoint
At this building they ask you how many people
Then give you this piece of paper with number of people listed on it.
Another passport check.
The Nicaraguan customs building
Window to pay the Nicaraguan government tax
$1 each tax to the Nicaraguan government
Last line - Nicaraguan customs.
Local artist's creations
A quick walk back to our car and then to drop Azalea off at school at 10:00am!
Our car still in the dirt lot safe & sound.
Titus thought the boarder run was exhausting too
Today was Mother’s Day in the United States. I love Facebook because I am able to see how all my friends & family were able to celebrate it and all the sweet gestures by husbands and kids. My tradition used to be mimosas & breakfast at a not-so-busy restaurant with the family then I would get dropped off to enjoy a massage. It was perfect. I could get the same thing every year and be completely satisfied.
Last year was our first Mother’s Day in Nicaragua and my husband tried to keep this tradition going. Sadly, as the US Mother’s Day is always on a Sunday, it was impossible to find a spa open for my massage. We had to settle on just breakfast and the hope that I’d be able to celebrate more fully on Nicaragua’s Mother’s Day on May 30th.
Kharron’s mom is in town and she’s been wanting to spend the day at our most beautiful beach, Playa Hermosa. We left the house around 9am and were able to score the large palapa with comfy couches. It was a fabulous & surprisingly relaxing day.
Both kids were able to take a nap so we were able to stay longer into the early evening. Azalea boogie boarded for the first time, and even Kharron & I got to play in the waves.
Kharron’s mom did discover that at Playa Hermosa they still do massages on Sundays, so she was able to enjoy her Mother’s Day fully.
I think Mother’s Day is better than my birthday and I feel so lucky not only to get to celebrate it, but that I have such an amazing family to celebrate it with.
When you come for a visit make sure you check out sjdsdirectory.com
My husband & I built this website out of necessity. When we moved here we could not find the stores we were looking for and had no idea the variety of products that could be found in San Juan del Sur.
SJDS Directory includes not only a description of the store, but also hours, products, Facebook & website links, as well as photos and menus.
They say it takes a village and San Juan del Sur Day School is part of ours. This week Titus started going to the same amazing school as his sister, for two days a week. I love how Nicaraguan families live and raise their kids together, its a practice that disperses the responsibility of a family outside of the North American norm of just mom & dad. This allows their children to be cared for by the family members who are not working. Younger siblings help cook and clean, and grandparents grow old and are cared for in the same home they were born in. Even with my envy of these strong family values, I am thankful that my family can afford to send our preschoolers to a formal school where the goals of education, growth, and independence can be nurtured.
On the first day of school for Titus we took the bus from our normal spot by the park. It was fun riding the bus with all the crazy kids and singing “The Wheels on the Bus” as we made our way up the hill to school.
Titus & Azalea were excited about going to the same school together and we made sure Azalea knew that as a big sister she needed to be a good role model and show Titus how to be a good student.
It was hard to leave him the first day, when I said goodbye and walked away I could hear him crying and pleading, “Mama…” I know that this is what is best for him and his growth to independence. I ran the 6km back to my car by the park, which I think I’ll make my weekly routine.
Titus’ wonderful teacher sent me pictures of him throughout the morning enjoying his first day at school.
The second day of his first week I parked at the bottom of the organic farm where the school is located and we road up to school on the bus from there. He was a little more hesitant when we got to school and didn’t want me to put him down. I finally coerced him to the floor by playing with an animal puzzle. As soon as he seemed more comfortable I said goodbye and gave him a kiss. Again, I walked away to the heartbreaking sounds of his cries. Again I had to tell myself that this was what was best for him and reminded myself that on the first day he only cried for a few minutes after I left. I had a nice leisurely walk down to my car and then enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Barrio Cafe with some friends!
Titus had a blast at school the first week. He arrived off the bus very sleepy. I am so glad that San Juan del Sur Day School is part of our tribe. I look forward to watching him grow and now get to participate in all the fun school events.
I wanted to share a fun event we went to on Sunday, Mango Rosa’s first annual Chili Cook Off!
For only C$100 (less than $4) you could sample 9 different delicious chili’s. Each set of cups came with a judging sheet & crackers. My method was to sample half at a time. It was great! One came with corn bread, another with a mini corn tortilla. Each chili had a creative name and was served to you by the chef.
My kids not only enjoyed trying the different types of chili, they also had a blast swimming in the huge
pool, jumping on the trampoline, and playing in the grassy area with corn hole games, tether ball, and soccer.
A local band, Pippy’s Posse played music that my son bobbed his head to all afternoon.
Its events like these that make me so happy that we’ve settled into San Juan del Sur. We have lots of friends and there are always a lot of kids around.
