24. Managua, Nicaragua

24.

Managua, Nicaragua:

The clock in the ruined bank tower in the city center always reads 1:30.

It stopped when the terrible Managua earthquake struck and has never been restarted.

Thousands died. Buildings toppled into President’s Lake. Cathedral, hospital, businesses and apartments were flattened in moments.

Now thieves and perhaps frightened ghosts are the only inhabitants of the ruins in the old city.

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There is a young American woman on today’s bus who tells me she came from Boston to Mexico City with a rich old man who spent two thousand dollars on her-- then she ditched him to go and live with two Mexican brothers she met in a night club.

She was having sex with both of them until they got the word that their sister had committed suicide by jumping off a ship leaving a five-year-old child fathered by one of the brothers.

The American didn’t want to care for the child so she took off herself and was now adventuring southward.

I’ll say one thing. The bus ride to El Salvador was educational and far from boring! The American woman stopped in San Salvador town.

I stay in San Salvador for a few days and then head west to the Pacific beaches.

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