I want to start this entry by letting all of the readers know about the embedded links I am using.  If you didn't notice in the previous post, some words were highlighted in red and underlined.  These are links to specific photos and at the end of the previous post is a link to a gallery featuring photos not including in the entry.  I want everyone to get the full experience!  And if you haven't read Part 1, please do!!

The second part of our trip with VIDA Volunteer was spent in Masaya, Nicaragua where we hosted two small animal clinic days.  We went from rural Costa Rica to one of the largest cities in Nicaragua.  It was so much different in so many ways.  It was much busier, it was much hotter, the conditions for the clinic were much worse, it was a total change of pace.  But, as a result, there were many more photo opportunities for me.

In the last entry I pointed out the condition of the school.  The school we worked at in Masaya was in such poor condition.  It was dark, it was hot, and it was surrounded by stone walls and barbed wire.  Light fixtures had degraded to hanging live wires.  When arrived and began setting up the clinic, we found a switch for the lights.  The switch didn't work.  So a couple of staff began rewiring the switch so we would have lights to work under.  Somewhere in the middle a man showed up, possibly the maintenance man, probably an average person, and disconnected the switch.  With his bare hands he looped the live wires and hooked them together letting them hang exposed, but the lights were on.

Waiting for Records, Masaya, NicaraguaWaiting for police records in order to apply for work in Masaya, Nicaragua.

One of the first things we saw, coming into town, was a line of people at the police station.  What we learned, in order to get a job in Nicaragua, people must have a copy of their police record.  It amazed me how many people were in this line, so it was one of the first places I made it back to after we set up the clinic.  I can only imagine how long the line felt to them.  The people wondered what I was doing there and were curious about my camera.  But, if you notice all the men in the background smiling, they were excited about having their picture taken.  And they liked my beard...seriously.  I shook hands with them and they stroked their face, as if to say, "Nice beard."  We shared a smile and a laugh and I was back about my business walking the streets.

I walked all over town looking for photos of animals and people.   For two days I saw street dogs all over the place.  I watched them check every trash can for scraps.  They laid in the park, under cars, on the concrete.  This is part of the reason we were there.  So many animals live in terrible conditions because there is limited population control.

Just Me and You, Masaya, NicaraguaJesus seemed to be looking directly at the seemingly lonely old man.

The more I walked, the more I saw.  I made my way to a cathedral a few blocks from the clinic.  I stepped cautiously into Igesia de San Jeronimo and removed my hat in reverence.  Cathedrals are beautiful places.  I like that they are always quiet and a little dark.  I scoped it out and found the stairs to the bell tower.  The gate was cracked, I looked over my shoulder expecting not to see anyone when I saw a young man waving at me gesturing me up the stairs.  I waved back and headed up .  The church overlooked much of Masaya.  I watched the streets move below me and looked at the tin roofs stretching into the distance.  When I came back down I saw an old man sitting by himself at a sort of side altar.  I watched as he raised his head toward the altar and lowered it again.  I crouched and framed him up to take this shot.  Sometimes situations happen perfectly.  In fact, one could argue that all situations, even in their flaws, happen perfectly.  I feel like this was one of those moments.  It seems like the old man and Jesus are looking at each other, probably sharing thoughts and prayers.  I love the symmetry of the photograph and I love that it is broken up by the old man offset on the pew.

On my way back from the church, some boys riding on hay bails in a horse-drawn cart yelled, "Foto! Foto!" as they passed.  I don't think they expected I would respond, much less chase them down the street snapping photos.  They laughed as they rode away, tickled with themselves.

I spent a lot of time sitting and watching things happen, absorbing the culture of Masaya.  This where I first had Mango verde.  Both days we were there, and I'm assuming everyday otherwise, a lady and her husband set up a fruit stand just outside the school.  She would bring in her fruit fresh and slice it right there to sell.  Mango verde was one of her options.  I had taken some photos of her and I watched people come and go, buying things from her.  One of the ladies who worked at the school offered me a slice of Mango verde.  Mango verde is green mango and is very common there.  They slice the mango just before it ripens so it is a little bit sour and almost starchy like a potato.  They put a little bit of red wine vinegar and salt in a plastic bag with it, shake and serve.  It is very good.

Chess in the Park, Masaya, NicaraguaMen play chess in Parke Central in Masays, Nicaragua. I spent a lot of time in Parke Central, again, watching people.  One afternoon I saw these men playing chess just outside a little restaurant in the park.  I usually kept my camera out hanging across my shoulder.  One, so I didn't have to pull it out of my bag if a quick opportunity arose, and two, because I think when people saw it, they expected to have their photo taken.  These men were so kind and so funny.  I watched them play their game from every angle except in the chair.  At one point they offered for me to play...um, no.  Chess is not my forte.  I politely declined and watched them play another.  I could not have handled the intimidation!  They were all playful and having fun, but I had to laugh because after every move they would all scoff and grunt and laugh and talk to each other, I'm assuming, about why or why not it was a good or bad move.  It was a lot more fun to watch, for me, than it would have been to play.  They drank their coffee and played chess and I don't know if this is coincidence or not, but they all wore blue and yellow.  In fact, everything in the frame, with the exception of the chair and table legs, is blue and yellow.

Masaya was another incredible experience.  We were very fortunate to have home-stay families that truly adopted us and made their home ours.  Masaya is full of vendors, stores, people, traffic, churches, and more.  The volunteers worked tirelessly to treat all the animals that came in in those two days.  Surgeries were gracefully executed and light was supplemented by headlamps.  Just as in Los Chiles, the people were very happy and very thankful for the service we provided.  

I wish I could share every photo and every story with you.  Some stories are more interesting than the photos and some photos more interesting than the story.   Check out the photos from last week, if you missed them, and be sure to check out more of my photos from Masaya.