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| Equestrian show at Cortijo El Rosario Estate |
Another rainy day greeted us when we docked in at Corinto but at least the heat was bearable. The rain cleared by the time I headed onto the pier to meet up with the tour group I was assigned to but the air felt quite muggy.
The tour I was assigned to was ‘Cortijo El Rosario Estate & Equestrian Show’, something that I looked rather forward to as it is a totally different tour to those which I have done. Cortijo El Rosari is a 300 year old farm which is well known in Central America for its breeding of pure bred Spanish and Lusitanian horses.
The drive to Cortijo El Rosario Estate took us about 25 minutes and we were welcomed at the venue with a nice refreshing drink. Prior to the horse show guests could wander around the arena area to see some of the horses in their stables and also see a farrier at work, making a shoe and putting the horse’s hoof. The arena was wet and muddy due to the recent rain and workers, along with a tractor, were doing their best to clear the water that had collected in the arena. Unfortunately the drainage pipes had blocked up due to the mud… The show began. There was a pole display – a rider used a long pole over and under which his horse moved. There was a display of beautiful carriages, including small one pulled by a miniature horse. Two women danced beside and in front of their men’s horses as they moved. Horses were brought on the arena and showed their leg crisscross skills, different paces and steps, and also balancing on hind legs. I felt sorry for the horses and their riders – it was not easy to do a show in muddy, slippery conditions but they did very well despite the circumstances. The dancers’ dresses got quite muddy too.
Whilst waiting for a tractor-drawn carriage to collect our group for the next bit of the tour (a children’s therapy clinic which is on the property) I saw the farrier at work and also went to see some more horses. In hindsight I could have walked to the children’s clinic instead of taking the carriage – it wouldn’t have been too far to walk.
The children’s clinic, run by the Coen Foundation, is free and caters for those whose parents are too poor pay for treatment. It offers physiotherapy treatments, play treatment and horse therapy for children with either physical or mental handicaps. Twice a week children and their mums are picked up by minibus for treatments at the centre. The treatments and therapies are specific to each child’s needs. We saw two children on horseback with their therapists, very calm and relaxed. It was lovely to see. Sadly there is no hydrotherapy pool. Currently there are no funds to build one and also water is very expensive. The staff welcomes feedback and suggestions from professionals as well as volunteers to help them. The centre also relies on donations to help to continue to provide this valuable service.
At the clinic we met with staff and saw a 10 year old lad having physiotherapy on an outdoor therapy table. He had been paralysed down his right side since birth and had been having treatment since the age of 2. The lad’s mother was also with him, keeping him occupied by talking to him but at the same time observing the physiotherapy techniques so that she could continue them at home. Inside we also saw children drawing and working on their colouring-in books. The discussion by one of the doctors, translated by our guide, was very interesting as was what the other therapists had to say.
Next we were taken to the Estate’s shop where guests could purchase coffee and gifts. At the entrance to the shop a gentleman on a rudimentary pottery wheel gave a lovely demonstration of making his pots with clay. He had taught himself, by trial and error, to make various shapes and sizes of pottery.
Lunch was buffet-style underneath a large circular open air thatched roof. The filled tortillas were delicious. Musicians and dancers entertained us while we ate. It was a lovely atmosphere. After lunch we had time to explore the property on our own or take a horse carriage ride. The property is very beautiful and peaceful. I would certainly say that it would be a place of healing too – there was just something about being there … I came across the therapy horses, some in their stables, others tied up in the yard. One of the stable-hands gave me a mango to feed a horse – he walloped it down with great gusto – oh yum!
It was soon time to leave and head back to the ship. Fortunately the rain held off but it started to drizzle on the way back.
The ship left an hour later than her scheduled departure time. Two people were missing and the port authorities would not let the ship leave without them – the Nicaraguan government didn’t want to take responsibility for the guests if they got left behind. Well… when the missing guests rocked up an hour later the captain was not at all pleased nor were the majority of the guests. They were jeered at and booed when they reached the gangway. The errant pair will be ‘read the riot act’ in due course but for now they are not at all popular among their fellow guests. No doubt they will be lying low. Apparently they said that they had been mugged by guests from another cruise ship. It could be an unlikely story because they were found in a bar! It turned out that, when the Maasdam was in Mexico a few days ago, the same guests were also an hour late back to the ship – also been drinking. Fortunately at that time the Maasdam had to wait for another ship to leave the harbour before it was her turn. So the late guests made it back just in time before the gangway was drawn up. If the Maasdam had left on time the late guests would have been left behind.
Life goes on!
Please see my pictures on facebook via this link: Cortijo El Rosario Estate & Equestrian Show
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| Route to our next destination: Puerto Caldera |
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