The rest of the tour finished quietly, without great shock or revelation.
The students and their teachers topped briefly at the museum store, but
held off on buying until they came back at the end of the trip. No one
wanted to carry books and pottery around for three weeks. "Though guys?
You might want to pick up some postcards. Until we get to Granada, it'll
be almost impossible to find any. If you want to send some out before the
end of the trip, now's the time to pick them up."
"Why's that, Professor?" Salia asked.
"While Nicaragua is trying to become more of a tourist country, it still is gaining the traditional tourist feel and gifts, such as postcards."
"Huh, that's interesting."
A few minutes later, standing on the stoop of the Palace Museum, they took in the square they faced. Opposite of them was the governmental office building and beyond that was Lake Managua. To the right was an old church, the municipal cathedral, which was being rebuilt. To the left was an elaborate fountain that was a focal part of the square itself.
"Okay, everybody, what next? I don't think visitors are allowed in the church, but we can certainly take pictures of the outside. The guards (and their guns) make it seem like avoiding the governmental building is wise. But we could walk down to the beach. I've been told we can see one of the volcanoes from there," Blair finished his speech and waited for people's reactions.
Everybody nodded and started for the church which was very beaten up and in the process of being restored. A few took pictures by the fountain, posing and playing around with the brightly colored gargoyles on the base. Within ten minutes the group headed past the government building. They had to pause as a car exited the driveway just as they were passing, but it didn't contain anyone famous so they quickly moved on. Within another ten minutes, they had crossed the road; Blair narrowly being missed by a speeding ex-school bus used for public transportation.
"Watch it Chief!"
"Thanks, BP. I knew you had my back!" Blair smiled sweetly up at Jim, twinkle in his eye.
*****
The group walked down the slight grassy slope, down to the beach. Though it was slightly overcast, everyone could still see fairly far, though the other side of the lake was too far away to see the edge. However, to the left, they could see mountains and a volcano in the distance.
As they stood around, in the distance, they could hear the traffic from the busy street. They were still in full view of the government building they passed. Several students started sitting carefully on the ground, while the rest of the group finished taking their photographs. Blair, Jim and Eli joined the group on the sand and started getting impressions from the students about their reaction to the country.
"Professor Sandburg," started one of the sophomore girls, Allison.
"Please, it's Blair, he's Jim and Eli?"
"Call me Eli; Dr. or Professor makes me feel old."
Allison smiled, "Blair, it's so different here; I can't believe we're in a major city and there were farm animals in the street. And those taxis - I've almost gotten run over twice!"
"Yeah. Dangerous roadways here. And the sidewalk - I almost fell in a hole because I tripped on a crack by the hotel." Sean, a junior anthropology major, added.
"Yup, you have to watch out for those tricky sidewalks; the traffic here is very non-structured. Taxis are out to make money and it's hard to do when it's only a few cents to travel from one end of the city to the other," Blair commented.
Eli and Jim both nodded their heads, agreeing with Blair. By this time the rest of the group had joined them, arranging themselves in a circle.
Blair glanced down at his watch. "Oh, hey, it's 2 o'clock already. Are you all hungry?"
Cheers greeted his question.
"Okay, why don't we grab on of the 'killer' cabs and go to TGIF's. It's pretty good and will give you all a chance to try out your Spanish while still being able to recognize the food. But wait, Jim, do you have the guide?"
"Yeah." Jim handed it over to Blair.
"It says here that the Huellas de Acahualinca closes at 4. Can you wait until we see that? It's a very small site - it'll only take us 30 or 40 minutes. Then we could have a late lunch/early dinner. From what I've heard, there are only the footprints and a small room with some information about them to see."
The group held a mini conference and decided to go for it. "But after lunch/dinner could we go back to the hotel and swim?" Allison and Sean asked in tandem.
Eli, Jim and Blair shared a look and agreed. It was hot out and the students weren't used to the humidity. The swim would do them good. They all got up and started walking back to the road. As they approached the street, rapid gunshots were heard in the distance. Jim and Blair immediately dropped to the ground, shouting for the rest of the group to do the same. A couple students stayed standing, stunned. They were grabbed by the knee and dragged down to the ground by Jim, Blair and Eli, who was used to unusual situations when he traveled.
Jim kept a look out for the shooter, but couldn't see anything. Blair grabbed his shoulder as Jim stretched out his hearing and sight, piggybacking sight to see where the shots had come from. He quickly zeroed in on the government building that they had passed. The driveway had a car half in and half out, the gate open. He could see guards on the ground, not moving. He stretched his eyesight even further. Jim caught movement on the far side of the building; a man was fleeing the scene. The man was stuffing a gun into the gym bag he was carrying.
Jim knew that he'd never be able to catch up with him and he hadn't caught sight of the face. "Blair, Eli, we need to get out of here. Guards were killed. We don't want to get involved with the police over here. The students don't need that. We didn't see anything; we wouldn't be of any help anyway. I can hear sirens, but if we go back to the shore and walk up to that park over there, they'll never know we were here."
"Jim," Blair whispered, "did you see who did it?"
"No, I saw someone running away, with a gun, but didn't see his face. We'd be useless and most likely get harassed for being American and in the area. Let's go."
The three chaperones quickly and efficiently forced the frightened students back towards the lake. Once headed in the opposite direction of the shots, the students seemed to come out of the shock they were in. "What was that?" "What happened?" "Those were shots!" All the undergraduates seemed to be in a daze and were trying to find an answer to the violence they had just experienced. As the group ran away from the scene, Jim and Blair tried to check the students to make sure no one was hurt. Fortunately, no one seemed to be.
After a few minutes, the group was far enough way that Jim felt that they would be safe from the authorities. He slowed them down and when they reached a small park area, had everyone sit down so that they could catch their breath and make sure that everyone understood what had happened and that they couldn't act rashly.
Blair managed to calm down Allison who was hysterical. She had never even been near a gun before and she couldn't believe that someone had been shot. "Allison, it's okay. You have to calm down. We need you to be calm and rational so we can decide what we're going to do. Please?"
"O o okay, Blair. But I can't believe that happened!" Allison was so upset, she was stuttering.
"It'll be okay, I promise." Blair patted Allison on the shoulder and turned around to look at Jim who was comforting George what seemed to be hyperventilating. As he moved to go help, George seemed to have calmed down enough to function.
Once everyone had calmed down and stopped fluttering around, Jim turned to the group. He asked, "What did everyone see?"
After looking around at each other to see who would talk first, Sean finally spoke up. "I didn't really see anything. The fence that surrounds the building was in the way and it was too far to see. I heard the shots and screams. My face was planted in the ground so I didn't see anyone afterwards, either."
Mumbles agreeing with Sean came from the rest of the students. "I think someone shot someone coming out of the building. I got us out there because we didn't really see anything.only heard the shots. If we had stayed around we would have had to talked to the authorities and I didn't really want to chance that. Probably it would have been all good, but it would have taken ages and we don't really have a lot of time to stay around Managua waiting for the police to talk with us. Also, whoever did it, would have found out that there were witnesses. As it is, no one except us, realize that we were there." Jim's speech was met with concerned glances and whispers.
"But the guards saw us pass!"
"But it was almost an hour before the incident. They'll maybe report that several Americans walked by and never returned, but it'll be assumed that we walked back this way. Which we did. I don't want anybody to worry. No one realizes we were there. The police will be taking care of the matter and none of us are in danger."
The students quickly glanced around and tried to let Jim convince them that they were safe and that they weren't going to be killed at any minute. "Um, Professor? I don't think I really feel like going to the museum right now, I don't know if there is even time," Allison spoke up hesitantly.
Blair looked at his watch and grimaced. "Yeah, it's getting late. We should stop to get something for dinner and then go back to the hotel and relax. Process this and move on."
Eli gave himself a shake and seemed to come back into the present. "I agree with Blair. We've all had a shock and we need to get some food in us. We can finish seeing the sights either tomorrow or at the end of the trip when we come back through. Let's go eat, then go back and relax at the hotel."
Everyone gave agreeing noises and started to walk toward the road. Several taxis passed by and as they got closer, the taxi drivers started calling out. Eli called out in Spanish and a few cars stopped, waiting for directions. Eli rapidly found out the price to take them to the restaurant and arranged for the cabs to all meet at TGIF's. He had prearranged the price and made sure the students knew how much to pay at the end of the trip.
He gave one last look back toward to the government building where the shooting took place before getting into the cab and shutting the door.
****
The Huellas de Acahualinca museum houses the ancient footprints of people and animals running toward the lake from a volcanic eruption.
"Why's that, Professor?" Salia asked.
"While Nicaragua is trying to become more of a tourist country, it still is gaining the traditional tourist feel and gifts, such as postcards."
"Huh, that's interesting."
A few minutes later, standing on the stoop of the Palace Museum, they took in the square they faced. Opposite of them was the governmental office building and beyond that was Lake Managua. To the right was an old church, the municipal cathedral, which was being rebuilt. To the left was an elaborate fountain that was a focal part of the square itself.
"Okay, everybody, what next? I don't think visitors are allowed in the church, but we can certainly take pictures of the outside. The guards (and their guns) make it seem like avoiding the governmental building is wise. But we could walk down to the beach. I've been told we can see one of the volcanoes from there," Blair finished his speech and waited for people's reactions.
Everybody nodded and started for the church which was very beaten up and in the process of being restored. A few took pictures by the fountain, posing and playing around with the brightly colored gargoyles on the base. Within ten minutes the group headed past the government building. They had to pause as a car exited the driveway just as they were passing, but it didn't contain anyone famous so they quickly moved on. Within another ten minutes, they had crossed the road; Blair narrowly being missed by a speeding ex-school bus used for public transportation.
"Watch it Chief!"
"Thanks, BP. I knew you had my back!" Blair smiled sweetly up at Jim, twinkle in his eye.
*****
The group walked down the slight grassy slope, down to the beach. Though it was slightly overcast, everyone could still see fairly far, though the other side of the lake was too far away to see the edge. However, to the left, they could see mountains and a volcano in the distance.
As they stood around, in the distance, they could hear the traffic from the busy street. They were still in full view of the government building they passed. Several students started sitting carefully on the ground, while the rest of the group finished taking their photographs. Blair, Jim and Eli joined the group on the sand and started getting impressions from the students about their reaction to the country.
"Professor Sandburg," started one of the sophomore girls, Allison.
"Please, it's Blair, he's Jim and Eli?"
"Call me Eli; Dr. or Professor makes me feel old."
Allison smiled, "Blair, it's so different here; I can't believe we're in a major city and there were farm animals in the street. And those taxis - I've almost gotten run over twice!"
"Yeah. Dangerous roadways here. And the sidewalk - I almost fell in a hole because I tripped on a crack by the hotel." Sean, a junior anthropology major, added.
"Yup, you have to watch out for those tricky sidewalks; the traffic here is very non-structured. Taxis are out to make money and it's hard to do when it's only a few cents to travel from one end of the city to the other," Blair commented.
Eli and Jim both nodded their heads, agreeing with Blair. By this time the rest of the group had joined them, arranging themselves in a circle.
Blair glanced down at his watch. "Oh, hey, it's 2 o'clock already. Are you all hungry?"
Cheers greeted his question.
"Okay, why don't we grab on of the 'killer' cabs and go to TGIF's. It's pretty good and will give you all a chance to try out your Spanish while still being able to recognize the food. But wait, Jim, do you have the guide?"
"Yeah." Jim handed it over to Blair.
"It says here that the Huellas de Acahualinca closes at 4. Can you wait until we see that? It's a very small site - it'll only take us 30 or 40 minutes. Then we could have a late lunch/early dinner. From what I've heard, there are only the footprints and a small room with some information about them to see."
The group held a mini conference and decided to go for it. "But after lunch/dinner could we go back to the hotel and swim?" Allison and Sean asked in tandem.
Eli, Jim and Blair shared a look and agreed. It was hot out and the students weren't used to the humidity. The swim would do them good. They all got up and started walking back to the road. As they approached the street, rapid gunshots were heard in the distance. Jim and Blair immediately dropped to the ground, shouting for the rest of the group to do the same. A couple students stayed standing, stunned. They were grabbed by the knee and dragged down to the ground by Jim, Blair and Eli, who was used to unusual situations when he traveled.
Jim kept a look out for the shooter, but couldn't see anything. Blair grabbed his shoulder as Jim stretched out his hearing and sight, piggybacking sight to see where the shots had come from. He quickly zeroed in on the government building that they had passed. The driveway had a car half in and half out, the gate open. He could see guards on the ground, not moving. He stretched his eyesight even further. Jim caught movement on the far side of the building; a man was fleeing the scene. The man was stuffing a gun into the gym bag he was carrying.
Jim knew that he'd never be able to catch up with him and he hadn't caught sight of the face. "Blair, Eli, we need to get out of here. Guards were killed. We don't want to get involved with the police over here. The students don't need that. We didn't see anything; we wouldn't be of any help anyway. I can hear sirens, but if we go back to the shore and walk up to that park over there, they'll never know we were here."
"Jim," Blair whispered, "did you see who did it?"
"No, I saw someone running away, with a gun, but didn't see his face. We'd be useless and most likely get harassed for being American and in the area. Let's go."
The three chaperones quickly and efficiently forced the frightened students back towards the lake. Once headed in the opposite direction of the shots, the students seemed to come out of the shock they were in. "What was that?" "What happened?" "Those were shots!" All the undergraduates seemed to be in a daze and were trying to find an answer to the violence they had just experienced. As the group ran away from the scene, Jim and Blair tried to check the students to make sure no one was hurt. Fortunately, no one seemed to be.
After a few minutes, the group was far enough way that Jim felt that they would be safe from the authorities. He slowed them down and when they reached a small park area, had everyone sit down so that they could catch their breath and make sure that everyone understood what had happened and that they couldn't act rashly.
Blair managed to calm down Allison who was hysterical. She had never even been near a gun before and she couldn't believe that someone had been shot. "Allison, it's okay. You have to calm down. We need you to be calm and rational so we can decide what we're going to do. Please?"
"O o okay, Blair. But I can't believe that happened!" Allison was so upset, she was stuttering.
"It'll be okay, I promise." Blair patted Allison on the shoulder and turned around to look at Jim who was comforting George what seemed to be hyperventilating. As he moved to go help, George seemed to have calmed down enough to function.
Once everyone had calmed down and stopped fluttering around, Jim turned to the group. He asked, "What did everyone see?"
After looking around at each other to see who would talk first, Sean finally spoke up. "I didn't really see anything. The fence that surrounds the building was in the way and it was too far to see. I heard the shots and screams. My face was planted in the ground so I didn't see anyone afterwards, either."
Mumbles agreeing with Sean came from the rest of the students. "I think someone shot someone coming out of the building. I got us out there because we didn't really see anything.only heard the shots. If we had stayed around we would have had to talked to the authorities and I didn't really want to chance that. Probably it would have been all good, but it would have taken ages and we don't really have a lot of time to stay around Managua waiting for the police to talk with us. Also, whoever did it, would have found out that there were witnesses. As it is, no one except us, realize that we were there." Jim's speech was met with concerned glances and whispers.
"But the guards saw us pass!"
"But it was almost an hour before the incident. They'll maybe report that several Americans walked by and never returned, but it'll be assumed that we walked back this way. Which we did. I don't want anybody to worry. No one realizes we were there. The police will be taking care of the matter and none of us are in danger."
The students quickly glanced around and tried to let Jim convince them that they were safe and that they weren't going to be killed at any minute. "Um, Professor? I don't think I really feel like going to the museum right now, I don't know if there is even time," Allison spoke up hesitantly.
Blair looked at his watch and grimaced. "Yeah, it's getting late. We should stop to get something for dinner and then go back to the hotel and relax. Process this and move on."
Eli gave himself a shake and seemed to come back into the present. "I agree with Blair. We've all had a shock and we need to get some food in us. We can finish seeing the sights either tomorrow or at the end of the trip when we come back through. Let's go eat, then go back and relax at the hotel."
Everyone gave agreeing noises and started to walk toward the road. Several taxis passed by and as they got closer, the taxi drivers started calling out. Eli called out in Spanish and a few cars stopped, waiting for directions. Eli rapidly found out the price to take them to the restaurant and arranged for the cabs to all meet at TGIF's. He had prearranged the price and made sure the students knew how much to pay at the end of the trip.
He gave one last look back toward to the government building where the shooting took place before getting into the cab and shutting the door.
****
The Huellas de Acahualinca museum houses the ancient footprints of people and animals running toward the lake from a volcanic eruption.