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A grand day out

The day started early on 27th November for the children of El Ojochal del Listón.  It was still dark when the Nuevas Esperanzas Land Cruiser arrived to collect them to take them down the hill to the minibus which would take them to León.  For many it was the first time they had ever been to León and for the 29 children aged between 2 and 12, the 7 teenagers who were invited along to help, and three adults it was a great opportunity.  Getting so many people down the hill so early was no small challenge.  The pickup truck made two jouneys, each time carefully negotiating the 6 km of narrow mountain road with its precious cargo in the back.

The children had received an invitation from the children of Little Stars Pre-School in León to come and join them for an end of term Christmas celebration.  Children from both schools were equally excited about the day and at Little Stars the children had been making Christmas cards and pretty decorations to give to their visitors all week long.  The excited chatter died away as the buses got closer to León and the children from El Ojochal, so used to views of volcanoes and hills around their houses, began to see cars, buses and lorries on the road and the houses and businesses of the ‘big’ city.

After the inevitable initial shyness, the party at Little Stars was soon under way and the Little Stars children performed their Christmas dances for their visitors.  Then there was more singing and playing before the hosts gave Christmas presents to their visitors.  After lunch at school the visitors set off to walk across town to visit the Cathedral which many of them had only heard about in school.  Everyone enjoyed ‘raspados’, a Nicaraguan ice lolly, in the Central Park and gathered for a photograph on the steps of the largest Cathedral in Central America.  The statues of lions, a symbol of León, were particular favourites.  Then it was time to go inside to see the tomb of Ruben Dario, Nicaragua’s most famous poet, the beautiful paintings and the impressive architecture. 

Time had run out and there was nothing left but to load up the buses with all the presents and toys and wave goodbye.  Although tired and weary after a very long day everyone had enjoyed their grand day out! 

30/11/09