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Several flights later the plane landed in Managua.  After landing, I wandered down some corridors until I came to a room with long lines of people waiting to go through customs.  My name rang out over the din of voices and I was directed to a diplomatic entry with only one person ahead of me.  I was astounded and thought there must be a mistake.  No mistake.  The hotel sent over a shuttle with a very special agent who had me through customs and baggage in just a few minutes.  Was I grateful?  Yes, he received a big tip and many thanks.  I stayed at the Camina Real de Managua which is a few minutes from the airport with luxury rooms and great service.  Two days later, I took a puddle-jumper to Big Corn Island and a ponga from Hell to Little Corn Island.  The sea was rough and the driver inexperienced? or demented.  We were airborne over some of the ten to twenty-foot waves before landing hard on the water's surface.  On one of those landings I felt my spine crack and let out with a loud scream--- and yes, I later learned I had a burst vertebrae.  A real  ferry service is desperately needed along with some safety regulations before I'd recommend going there.  Once on the island the locals told me that another ponga had flipped over and killed an entire family.  BEWARE!  I love the island and the hospitality, but I'd have to think hard about going back.