Colonial Leon
Today our excursion took to the colonial city of Leon, known as the intellectual capital of Nicaragua. After beginning our morning at a small café where we had a chance to sample a delicious iced cacao drink, we made a walking tour of the small city center, taking in the university and the cathedral on the central plaza. Many of us have seen many cathedrals in many countries around the world, but this visit was made unique by the opportunity to ascend through narrow, winding staircases and hidden galleries to the building’s roof. Here we wandered though a maze of domes, which were the summits of the arches of the nave below, admired the volcanic landscape surrounding the rooftops of Leon, and photographed the cathedral bells and other architectural details.
Lunch was served in the hotel Convent, which was indeed a beautiful old convent, lovingly restored and converted into an intimate pensión. Following the meal, Lucia Salazar, the Minister of Tourism for Nicaragua and our guest from the previous evening, presented our Expedition Leader Ged Caddick with a certificate thanking Lindblad Expeditions for our participation in the growth of Nicaraguan tourism.
Our visit to Leon concluded with a tour of the Fundacion Ortiz-Gurdian Centro de Arte, a delightful art museum located in two beautiful colonial homes. The extensive collection included works by Picasso, Miró, Chagall and other internationally renowned artists, but many of us were particularly pleased by the large selection of works by contemporary Central American painters and sculptors. The power and beauty, humor and catharsis in these pieces impressed us greatly and were a highlight of the day. Soon it was time to return to the Sea Voyager; a “one hour bus ride” gave us time to reflect back on the many events and sights of our three-day visit to Nicaragua. From cloud forests and volcanoes to colonial architecture and bustling markets, Nicaragua has exceeded all our expectations. Most of all we have enjoyed our time among the Nicaraguan people, whose warmth has made us feel so welcome and whose strength and grace have allowed them to put a terrible civil war behind them and move together toward a peaceful and prosperous future.
Today our excursion took to the colonial city of Leon, known as the intellectual capital of Nicaragua. After beginning our morning at a small café where we had a chance to sample a delicious iced cacao drink, we made a walking tour of the small city center, taking in the university and the cathedral on the central plaza. Many of us have seen many cathedrals in many countries around the world, but this visit was made unique by the opportunity to ascend through narrow, winding staircases and hidden galleries to the building’s roof. Here we wandered though a maze of domes, which were the summits of the arches of the nave below, admired the volcanic landscape surrounding the rooftops of Leon, and photographed the cathedral bells and other architectural details.
Lunch was served in the hotel Convent, which was indeed a beautiful old convent, lovingly restored and converted into an intimate pensión. Following the meal, Lucia Salazar, the Minister of Tourism for Nicaragua and our guest from the previous evening, presented our Expedition Leader Ged Caddick with a certificate thanking Lindblad Expeditions for our participation in the growth of Nicaraguan tourism.
Our visit to Leon concluded with a tour of the Fundacion Ortiz-Gurdian Centro de Arte, a delightful art museum located in two beautiful colonial homes. The extensive collection included works by Picasso, Miró, Chagall and other internationally renowned artists, but many of us were particularly pleased by the large selection of works by contemporary Central American painters and sculptors. The power and beauty, humor and catharsis in these pieces impressed us greatly and were a highlight of the day. Soon it was time to return to the Sea Voyager; a “one hour bus ride” gave us time to reflect back on the many events and sights of our three-day visit to Nicaragua. From cloud forests and volcanoes to colonial architecture and bustling markets, Nicaragua has exceeded all our expectations. Most of all we have enjoyed our time among the Nicaraguan people, whose warmth has made us feel so welcome and whose strength and grace have allowed them to put a terrible civil war behind them and move together toward a peaceful and prosperous future.
