About earthquakes and volcanoes

I had no thoughts about volcanoes and earthquakes. I am Brazilian and have neither near where I live. If you go to Central America you will naturally climb some volcanoes and feel some earthquakes. So far we climb Pacaya (active), Acatenango (dormant overlooking Fuego, very active), Santiaguito (very active), Cerro Negro (dormant), Telica (active with lava) and Maderas (dormant overlooking Concepcion, active). Earthquakes have lost count and not all were felt. Today, for example, they say were over 40 in Nicaragua, all between 2.8 and 7.1 on Richter scale, and three of them in the city where we are, Granada.

My first earthquake was on top of Santiaguito when I was half asleep... when you're on top of a volcano, 200m from the crater, you don’t sleep well, and on the other hand you are super tired of hiking and climbing for over 7 hours, and therefore you see yourself in a mixed state of tiredness and alertness. Up there, every each hour the volcano gave us a big show. Between one and another I felt "dizzy", like sea sick. I woke Mic up, and said it was not normal, I was feeling strange. At the same moment our guide comes smiling and shouting: "You guys feel it?  I said, yes! But I didn’t know what it was. 

I was worried and the tour guide simply told us not to worry, because it always happens up there, due to the volcano activity. Okay, I thought it was a tremor only there in the volcano, after all it was the first time I slept on a volcano, the first time I saw lava, the first time I felt the rain of ashes... Next day, back to town people were commenting the great earthquake on previous day. Then I knew that we had suffered an earthquake. Since then I can’t stop thinking about earthquakes.

Facts known since the 5th grade are that (1) earthquakes and volcanoes are inherently linked, (2) lava is lovely to look at and (3) eruptions can destroy cities.

Taking the known facts as truth, and having seen lava a few times and suffered some earthquakes in the last two months I'll tell you what we are experiencing this week. The most active week of tectonic plates... they're crazed. They say that in weeks like this have the most beautiful volcanic activities! Lava and ash exploding upwards kilometers into the air, large mushroom-shaped clouds... we want to see that? Yes! Almost all tourists here are looking on the internet site that accompanies the world's earthquakes and volcanoes, ready to rush out, catch a bus and go to the nearest volcano. But, wait... no one is afraid? Really? Looks like not. I have fear and desire to see this wonder. Hoping to be an activity great enough to be seen and photographed and small enough not to hit the city.

A couple of friends yesterday went to Ometepe, a small island where there are two volcanoes, one active. They're staying at the foot of the active volcano, and he posted, with all the enthusiasm: “What to do when earthquakes dramatically increase? Go live on the side of an active volcano isle for a few nights". I wrote to him: “That’s the best option for sure! Remember to follow the evacuation route :-) If Necessary." Indeed, the island has an evacuation route that points toward one of the exits ferry or just throw yourself in the water and swim as much as possible!

Well, we made a friend here at the hostel. Widely traveled, full of stories and adventures, about 60 years old. He said today: "something is cooking; No me gusta. I think it's time to leave this country!" – I think he is right. We bought our ticket to Colombia. We will depart from Nicaragua in 2 days!

Shake Happens. Trip Happens.