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Short Term Memory

We just got back from a lovely night at one of Nicaragua's nicest getaways.  Normally the Jicaro Island Ecolodge would be out of our price range (I know, we're supposedly over-paid government employees), but a special January offer allowed us to visit over the long MLK weekend.  The place is amazing.

Jicaro Island Ecolodge is located on one of the 3oo islands in Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca), near the colonial town of Granada.  The island has 9 little but luxurious casitas, expertly designed to keep them cool without using any air conditioning and minimal fans.  The houses have sliding wooden panels that allow the breezes to blow through, block the sun depending on the time of day, and allow for both private and open living areas.

Sleeping under mosquito netting sounds rustic, but this place was pure luxury.

To get there you have to take a little boat from the mainland to the private island.  There were two staff people waiting for us as we arrived with little towels and cold hibiscus tea with bamboo straws.

The lodge is very conscience about minimizing their environmental impact.  The pool has a self-cleaning, salt-based system instead of using chlorine.  They ask you to pre-order dinner so that they don't waste food by stocking a full kitchen for every menu item. Everything is solar, natural, organic, biodegradable, etc. etc. etc.

Of course we weren't the only ones to take advantage of the special January rate.  Of the 5 or 6 casitas that were occupied, 3 of them were other couples from the US Embassy. Go figure.  None of us knew that the others were coming.  But although its a small island, there are all kinds of quiet nooks and crannies to curl up with a good book, have a drink overlooking Volcan Mombacho, or explore neighboring islands in a kayak.  I know I sound like I'm being paid to say all of this – but I'm not – and it really was that good.