San Juan del Sur, Rivas, Granada, Masaya Volcano, Masaya and Catarina Nicaragua
The Nicaraguan Port of San Juan del Sur is, to say the least, picturesque. Fishing boats swarmed by frigatebirds and pelicans fill the bay as if posing for a painter. Mansions as well as more modest, but charming, Victorian houses hanging from the cliffs welcomed us while a local band played lively local music. Although it drizzled, the sun was out and both the weather and the friendly smiles of the Nicaraguans made us feel at home. Our first stop was the city of Rivas which we explored aboard local bicycle taxis known as “pepanos.” Then we continued to Granada.
Founded in 1524 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba (after whom the Nicaraguan currency is named), and having beautiful adobe houses painted in lively pastel colors and crowned with tile roofs, Granada is not a colonial town. In 1857 the American filibuster William Walker burnt it to the ground and left an infamous sign which read “Here was Granada.” Soon after this dark episode, the inhabitants of the city rebuilt it and slowly brought back part of its old splendor. Nature and wars damaged it again, but now the city is slowly and constantly being restored. It now rivals with other old gems in the region like Antigua Guatemala. After walking through the city and visiting a museum and a church we stopped for a sample of Nicaraguan cuisine at “El Zaguan” Restaurant.
After lunch we left Granada and visited Masaya Volcano. In the 16th century the Spaniards who discovered this site named it “the mouth of hell” and placed a cross at its summit to keep evil from escaping. Such was the fear inspired by the fumes coming out from its depths.
A shopping stop at Masaya Marketplace gave us the opportunity of seeing the amazing creative energy of the Nicaraguans. The “primitivist” paintings portraying the lush nature of the country and the colorful traditions of its people summarized what we had experienced throughout our first day in Nicaragua. We then drove back to the ship making a short stop at Catarina View Point where we enjoyed a spectacular view of Lake Nicaragua, Granada, and Mombacho Volcano which we will visit tomorrow. But perhaps most memorable was the chance to see the local people enjoying themselves on their independence day holiday. It was a long day, but it was well worth it!
The Nicaraguan Port of San Juan del Sur is, to say the least, picturesque. Fishing boats swarmed by frigatebirds and pelicans fill the bay as if posing for a painter. Mansions as well as more modest, but charming, Victorian houses hanging from the cliffs welcomed us while a local band played lively local music. Although it drizzled, the sun was out and both the weather and the friendly smiles of the Nicaraguans made us feel at home. Our first stop was the city of Rivas which we explored aboard local bicycle taxis known as “pepanos.” Then we continued to Granada.
Founded in 1524 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba (after whom the Nicaraguan currency is named), and having beautiful adobe houses painted in lively pastel colors and crowned with tile roofs, Granada is not a colonial town. In 1857 the American filibuster William Walker burnt it to the ground and left an infamous sign which read “Here was Granada.” Soon after this dark episode, the inhabitants of the city rebuilt it and slowly brought back part of its old splendor. Nature and wars damaged it again, but now the city is slowly and constantly being restored. It now rivals with other old gems in the region like Antigua Guatemala. After walking through the city and visiting a museum and a church we stopped for a sample of Nicaraguan cuisine at “El Zaguan” Restaurant.
After lunch we left Granada and visited Masaya Volcano. In the 16th century the Spaniards who discovered this site named it “the mouth of hell” and placed a cross at its summit to keep evil from escaping. Such was the fear inspired by the fumes coming out from its depths.
A shopping stop at Masaya Marketplace gave us the opportunity of seeing the amazing creative energy of the Nicaraguans. The “primitivist” paintings portraying the lush nature of the country and the colorful traditions of its people summarized what we had experienced throughout our first day in Nicaragua. We then drove back to the ship making a short stop at Catarina View Point where we enjoyed a spectacular view of Lake Nicaragua, Granada, and Mombacho Volcano which we will visit tomorrow. But perhaps most memorable was the chance to see the local people enjoying themselves on their independence day holiday. It was a long day, but it was well worth it!
