Four buses, two ferries, a taxi, four cashpoints and a mouse

So there I am busy enjoying the delights of Isla de Ometepe when I realise I am running out of cash. My blissful state of mind (see the "Magical Isla de Ometepe" entry) is temporarily interrupted by this reality. When I say "temporarily", it's important to understand that nothing here happens fast...

10:30am From the rustic side of the island, I take two buses across the bumpy roads to get to the town of Moyogalpa, home of the island's one and only ATM... 

1:15pm ...And of course the sodding thing is not working. I enquire inside the bank as to when it might be fixed. "Maybe next week". Crap. Screw the peace and tranquility, and sod nature - who wants to be at one with it anyway? I never ran out of cash in London. Grrrr.  

1:30pm I decide moaning isn't going to achieve anything and realise I don't have any option but to get off the island in search of civilisation. Per the timetable, the next boat leaves at 3pm. This seems like a better option than swimming. I have a slight panic that I will need my passport which is back at the finca on the other side of the island, but the guy at the boat office assures me it won't be necessary. Not quite sure what I will do if I get stuck the other side, but one thing at a time; I'll figure that out later. 

3pm Boat to San Jorge. It's a small boat (lancha) and it's pretty choppy today. Bloody lake. Water sloshes in from both sides and I feel seasick but stubbornly continue to read my book in protest.

4.30pm Arrival in San Jorge. There are two boats returning to the island this evening: one at 5pm and one at 5.45pm. I've no chance of making the first but am determined to get back for the second so I can make it back to the island tonight. I take a taxi into Rivas, the neighbouring town, as there is nothing in San Jorge, and am very pleased to see a cash machine. It's not so pleased to see me. Although it accepts my card, I have also brought my new friend Dianne's card with me, but it refuses to give me any cash on her card though it proceeds through the usual screens, leaving me very concerned that it will debit her account without giving me the cash; and after entrusting me with her bank card, Dianne is going to think I have run off with her cash! No! I try another cash machine. Nada. Slightly panicking now, and the clock is ticking. I don't want to return empty handed! Okay, one more: hooray, third time lucky.

5.15 Taxi back to San Jorge. I ask about the next ferry and am now told it leaves at 6.30pm. I reconfirm I haven't misunderstood the Spanish somehow. I head over to board it anyway and it turns out it leaves at 5.30pm. Okay, whatever. I'm back on my way to the island. 

7.00pm Arrive at Moyogalpa. My luggage is back at the finca on the other side of the island with Dianne, who I have no way of contacting. I remember those days before mobile phones when we made plans to meet people and then waited till they showed up. Dianne is in for a long wait. There's no more buses this evening so I find a room in Moyogalpa and head out for some dinner and a well-deserved beer.

9.30pm Return to my room. The next few seconds happen in slow motion......

Ladies and gentlemen, there is a mouse feasting on my rucksack. A BLOODY MOUSE.

I stare in horror frozen to the spot for a couple of seconds wishing I'd checked in somewhere else, then it scurries away under the bed. I jump on the bed, suddenly not wanting to make any contact with the floor. 

The bed offers no comfort. In fact there's a spring actually protruding from the mattress which I nearly do myself an injury on. I wonder how many bugs are living in there and long for the shower curtain I acquired in Guatemala, which is back in my big pack the other side of the island. This is not exactly party town, and everything here has closed up, so I decide I'm just going to have to brave it tonight. I wrap myself up in the sheet and hope for the best.

6.00am I get the hell out of there.

6.45am I am sitting on a bus, with other people, and the engine is running.

But oh no, it's not going anywhere. The driver says there'll be a bus at 8.30am and throws us all off.

I decide it's time for breakfast.

8.30am I get on another bus, which claims it's going to the other side of the island.
First stop is the town of Altagracia at 9.30am, which is on the way as far as the buses here go.

"Una hora aqui" announces the bus driver. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I get off and wait for an hour as instructed.

10.30am I get back on the same bus and finally head off back to the other side of the island. Ironically, Dianne and I tried to get this 10.30am bus the other day and it never showed up. Well apparently it does exist!

11.30am I arrive back at the finca where Dianne is waiting for me in a hammock, pleased to see I have made it back....a mere 25 hours later.