We just returned home so just getting it out. It is much easier to put together on my computer rather than my phone - which is what I have been doing on the road.
We'd love to get your feedback and hope to see ya'll real soon!
We are at the tail end of our six week sojourn in Central America and our three weeks in Nicaragua. This has been an amazing trip in part because we got to visit my nephew Ben and his family in Mexico City and then stay with our friend, Margarita jn Guatemala, Now in Nicaragua we enjoyed staying at my cousin Glenn Frame's hotel on Ometepe Island. Glenn and his wife Margaret still teach in Washington but their retirement plans involve Ometepe!
After our 3+ weeks in Mexico and Guatemala one of the biggest adjustments in Nicaragua was the heat! March and April is the hot and dry season so temps have been in the 90s every day and in Leon up to 100 degrees. It's one thing on the coast, but in the cities it is a challenge.
We have definitely enjoyed our time here - the people, the culture and countryside have been amazing. The people are warm and friendly with the youthful exuberance of a people still discovering there place after endless conflict and dictatorships. The countryside varies from tropical to arid (especially this time of year) and has not only long coasts on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but two huge lakes with Lake Nicaragua being the largest in Central America. Scattered across the country are many volcanoes, some still active and fuming.
One of the reasons Nicaragua has had so much internal conflict is the cities of Leon and Granada fought over which city would be the capital. Unfortunately for both, Managua ended up with the honor. Leon is the second largest city and though doesn't quite have the charm of Granada it is an historic city and has the largest cathedral in Central America, Our Lady of Grace, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Leon is also only 20 minutes from the Pacific coast which is a nice feature when temps run up to 100 degrees.
So a couple of days exploring Leon (known as the city of churches) with a day at the beach in between, the third reason people head to Leon is to volcano board on Volcan Cerro Negro where (some) will don helmet and other protective gear and ride makeshift wooden sleds down volcanic ash at speeds up to 60 kmh. Would we have done it if it wasn't pushing 100 degrees? Well, we'll never know will we!
The roof top of Leon's Cathedral
Last Pinellas Beach near Leon:
From Leon we hired a car to head to Granada and we enjoyed walking the streets, peaking into churches and courtyards, hanging out in the Parque Central, listening to hundreds of birds in the trees at sunset. Granada is very colorful with colonial architecture and a long pedestrian avenue lined with restaurants and shops. if you follow it all the way it runs right down to Lake Nicaragua., about 15 long blocks. we enjoyed the city, but the highlight was our 2 night stay in Las Isletas, and archipelago of 365 small islands just off the lake coast of Granada. Small boats ply the waters giving tours and carrying locals to and fro. Many are single family homes and there are a few with hotels, restaurants., even a school and hospital. we located an airbnb on its own island with kayaks to paddle island to island and felt like we were in paradise!
Pics from Granada:
Musicians along Calle Calzada
Paella on Calle Calzada
Las Isletas:
From Granada we took a car to Isla Ometepe via shuttle and 1 hour ferry ride and will also short 2 minute walk we arrived at The Landing Hotel- Glenn and Margaret's place.
http://www.thelandinghotel.com/
They arrived the same day with their son and daughter and 3 friends, so as a big group we were able to explore the island in a big van. Ometepe is known for its 2 massive volcanoes which loom high on the horizon from miles away.lots to do here - hiking, swimming, fishing, butterfly sanctuary, petroglyphs, etc.
Pics from Ometepe:
dinner at Sunset Point
With Glenn, Margaret and friends at Charco Verde
Concepcion Volcano
Getting some refreshing coconut water from the courtyard of Glenn and Margaret's hotel
Last Stop: Playa Maderas!
Our last 3 nights were at Playa Maderas which is just north of the bustling surfing town of San Juan del Sur - which is just north of the border with Costa Rica. This was a lovely hotel with great staff, a beautiful swimming pool and indivdual bungalows that were scattered along the hillside. It has a very nice restaurant and is only a short walk from 2 nice beaches.
Lunch in San Juan del Sur
The Beach Play Marsellas
The Pool and Restaurant at Casa Maderas
