Well, I guess I lied about the laptop. Once I gave up and installed ubuntu desktop on it (I had been trying to go with server) it worked like a charm.
It also helped that I burned a new cd at 9x instead of whatever ungodly fast speed I was burning the install disk before.
So, the ethernet works (though where I'll be able to plug in and get internet I don't know.) Also, I don't trust the battery as far as I can throw it. Though I don't think throwing it could make it any less useful than it already is. So, I have Emacs, but beyond that I guess I'll still be posting in cyber cafes.
I'm looking to travel light, and so far I've outdone myself (though I haven't been a light packer in the past, so that's not saying much.) My backpack and suitcase both have room to spare. I don't know about the weight limit, but they do have room. I'm also worried about my suitcase on the bus to Matagalpa.
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Matagalpa is in north-central Nicaragua, about 2.5 hours by bus from Managua. It seems like there are a fair number of Gringos around the area - I don't know how this compares to the rest of Nicaragua. Like a lot of Latin America, tourism is fast becoming a primary industry, so I don't know how that compares to the rest of the country. I shall see soon enough. In the meantime, a bit of sleep would not be amiss.