NICA FERRY: PART TWO

​After my nerve racking arrival to Isla de Ometepe (check out part one), I was finally feeling much better and was ready to relax. Throughout our days, Thomas and I enjoyed bike riding around the island and indulged in relaxation from the local hot springs heated from the volcanoes. In the evenings we ate magnificent meals at our hostel including a mac n’ cheese and stir fry that filled my stomach with pure satisfaction. The restaurant within the hostel was so good, we didn’t even venture out to other places because we wanted to try every item on the menu! During the nights we rounded up as many other backpackers from our hostel to join in on the 2 for 1 mojitos being served at the bar just up the street. The owner of this bar was so surprised when twelve backpackers in search of a good night had arrived for the $2CAN special! The result of having a large group was the bar running out of clean glasses for us to use but in good backpacker nature we just explained to the owner that we would reuse our glasses throughout the night.
 
Two days later, Thomas and I decided to head back over to the mainland; making the trek to the south of Nicaragua. I was relieved when we woke up in the morning to see that the weather was cooperating with us. My only desire was that we would not have a repeat of the ferry incident. While purchasing our tickets, I mentally prepared myself for the ride back, praying that I would not get sea sick. After all, I had stayed away from anything hamburgesa… 

​When the return ferry had arrived I was pleased to see that it was much bigger, holding more passengers and appeared to be much more secure than our last ride. The ferry boasted two decks providing passengers with the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors during the ride. Because the weather so beautiful, I took to the upper deck to get some photographs of the island. Thomas stayed on the main deck at the front of the ferry and continued enjoying a conversation with two other Canadians who were joining us on the venture to San Juan Del Sur. As I enjoyed capturing everlasting memories of Isla de Ometepe in the distance, the journey was thus far a success. 

While the crew packed up the last of the belongings and strapped everything together with an old rope, the engines started and our trip back to the mainland began. My natural anxiety about our bags being secured properly was in full effect due to the fact that everything was practically sitting at the back of the boat…on an open deck. One sway….one quick movement and those belongings would be lake-bound. As I continued to enjoy the scenery, my focus suddenly turned to the crew chatting about an odd sound. As I listened intensely to their conversation, I began to head towards the narrow stairs to Thomas….
 
…And as quickly as I grabbed the post to the stairs a sudden jerk forced my body forward and I grasped onto anything to stop myself. The ferry came to a sudden stop.
 
A turbulence sound from the engine suddenly shocked everyone on board. The crew began to scurry around the ferry trying to resolve the problem. In between individuals trying to move around, I was unable to move myself back to the stairway. Instead I continued to hold onto the inner post of the covered area of the ferry. Thomas yelled out to me ensuring that I was ok. I yelled back in English with a nervous ‘yeah’ but while the crew moved around bumping and pushing past me I noticed that the ferry began to slowly turn against the current of the waves. With the boat at a complete stop, it began to rock back and forth… stronger and stronger. The familiar feeling of two days prior began to hit my body once again. I began to feel that sensation of uneasiness in my stomach.
 
Back and Forth…
Back and Forth…
Back and Forth…
Back and Forth…. the passengers became quieter…

​The next 40 minutes everyone held onto the poles on the upper deck; the ferry rocking closer to the water each time. I began to think about the possibility of us capsizing!!! Without being able to move closer to Thomas, I vividly remember other passengers looking very scared. An older gentleman who was holding onto an outer post asked me in Spanish if I knew how to swim, my response was a simple “Si y Ustedes?” …and with a worried expression on his face he replied with a simple “no”.
 
On the main deck, the boat was rocking so much that water was flooding through the bottom of the railings, entering the cabin of the ferry.  While Thomas and the other Canadians held on, Thomas watched a man seated just inside the doorway appearing SO green… that he looked like he was going to puke all over the place. 

​On the upper deck, I continued to make a plan in my mind ensuring I was close to an ‘exiting’ area for when the ferry made that final tilt over. Surprisingly the belongings at the back of the boat continued to stay in place. I was relieved that our bags were in the center underneath other bags because with each wave brought more water up on deck soaking most items. However, at this point, our backpacks were the least of my concerns. While we continued to feel the rocking motion of the boat, I realized that my camera was still around my neck. Keeping one hand on a post, I managed to get my camera bag open with one hand and began to put my camera away safely. With all the craziness from the crew trying to resolve the problem, one individual pushed passed me… and in slow motion I saw my camera get knocked out of my hand. My heart dropped. With open arms… everyone around me attempted to grab the camera and luckily someone gripped in time.
 
Back and Forth…
Back and Forth…
Back and Forth…rumble...rumble…
 
When the sound of the engine began…everyone waited intensely. “Todo es Bueno…es Bueno!” - "All is good...all is good!" the crew began to yell out and everyone on board sighed with relief. The mood of the ferry changed from worried expressions and silence to instant smiles and laughter. Once the ferry arrived at port and I was finally able to be reunited with Thomas on the main deck we looked at each other speechless and relieved. Holding hands and taking a step onto the mainland of Nicaragua… our Nica ferry escapades were finally over.