To Bluefields in a Blackhawk

One of the fringe benefits of being involved in a ship visit is they offer to give you a lift to the site.

Rosa and I before take-off:



Bluefields, being on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, was a 1.5 hour flight over the almost completely undeveloped center of Nicaragua. Lt Commaner Kostenko arranged for some of the consular section to be flown out so we could hold a town hall meeting in conjunction with the visit of the USS Iwo Jima. The ship was there on Operation Continuing Promise in which they provided free medical care for 500 people everyday during the visit, performed minor surgeries on the ship as well as completing engineering projects in and around Bluefields, Rama Cay and El Bluff.


Somewhere over Nicaragua:




Driver's seat:




Volcano!:




Kostenko and I: