Arrival in León, Nicaragua

After an early wake up today I was at 6 am at Jose Marti airport, in la Havana (15$ for the ride. No need to pay more! ). Got a scary surprise when I realized that the passport in my hands was not mine but Mylene's! - Mylene has been my "compañera de viaje" this past week in Cuba - I got hysterical and ran to a taxi to ask him to take me to my casa in Vedado and back to the airport as fast as possible... and as cheap as possible! The taxi driver took his mission so seriously that I found myself trapped in the French movie "taxi" for 30 min, holding tight the handle of the car door! Red lights, priorities and speed limits became suddenly so abstract and meaningless!
Nevertheless, we made it and I got my flight!
One stop in Panama airport after 2 months in the economic desert of Cuba drove me loca! Wifi, cellular reception,  chocolate shops, food, etc...a capitalist kingdom!

1 hour later I was in a small plane full of Americans!  Americans surfers very loud, very tattooed with big muscles, chewing gums like cows... certainly heading to San Juan del Sur, where I'll definitely stop by on my way to Costa Rica and perhaps enjoy some surfing lessons.

Managua, I finally decided to skip it. Heard too many bad reviews. I prefered to relax and not worry about the danger in the big city.
A taxi (shared with a NZealander) to UCA (estación de omnibus) costed me 10$ after some négociation.
I traveled for an hour and 1/2 in a local mini van (is it what they called the chicken bus? I'll know soon... I certainly felt like a chicken in cage!), squeezed between 2 fat people, on a very narrow seat...The worst was the very vertical back seat that beaks you back and neck! Good practice before the long journeys I might go through later. This ride costs only 2$!

Now settled in El albergue de León. A youth hostel very laid back, arty, where a bed in dorm & breakfast costs 5$, where the kitchen is for everyone to use, and where you can meet all kind of nationalities. After an afternoon of rest, internet use and reading I'm ready to discover the city tomorrow!

Buenas noches...