The next stop on our Nicaraguan journey took us to the Colonial city of Granada, the oldest in all the America´s (established in the early 1500s). We found a wonderful hotel, The Hotel Colonial (but of course) and settled in for a 3-night stay. Granada is very clean and quaint for a city, with all the typical features - a shaded central plaza, ancient churches, and old-world architecture. There´s a nice mix of local life and travelers amenities as many ex-pats live in the city. One street is completely blocked off to traffic and is lined with outdoor cafes and a vibrant street scene - perfect for people watching with many children performers in colorful attire (stilt walkers, break dancers, etc.). We rode an old-school horse and carriage around the streets and viewed the cathedrals, local markets and the malecon (boardwalk) along the huge Lake Nicaragua - the largest fresh water lake in Central America.
On Stevo´s birthday (Feb 11) we took a trip up to nearby Mombacho Volcano, where we rode in a large, open-aired Mercedes army truck to the volcano peak and into the tropical cloud forest high above. The air was refreshingly damp and much cooler than in the city, and we strolled through the forest and around the entire crater (dormant) whilst viewing the colorful bird life, the butterflies, and the jungle terrain. There were grand vistas of the shimmering lake and the many isletas (small islands) dotting the shoreline near Granada - far below.
Another adventure found us in a rented kayak and on a self-guided tour of those same isletas on the lake. This was a great way to see the waterways that surround the lush little islands and again we saw abundant bird life and had some fantastic volcano views - enjoying calm waters in our small boat.
We moved on after a wonderful time in the city and escaped to peaceful Isla de Ometepe, a twin-peaked volcanic island in the center of Lake Nicaragua. The hour-long ferry ride was mostly uneventful and we landed ashore then taxied to the nature preserve called Charco Verde finding a rustic jungle lodge on the edge of the forest reserve. Hiking through the lagoon area and into the jungle allowed us to get very close to the slow moving howler monkeys that are living in the trees, and the overall natural scenery was green and spectacular.
Day 2 on Ometepe was Valentine´s day, and we celebrated with a guided tour by mini-van around the rather large island, enjoying the great views of the Conception and Madera volcanoes. Our guide, Henry Luiz, showed us the ancient petroglyphs, the lovely wind-swept beaches of Santo Domingo, and a forested, natural mineral spring called Ojo de Aqua, which was perfect for a refreshingly cool swim. We definitely felt the healing powers of the springs that bubble up from beneath, as we floated and soaked in the pools.
Along our way we've been savoring the delicious national rum - Flor de Caña - (as well as the more than occasional cold Toña ceverza), eating meals both international and typico, and mixing with wonderful new traveler friends and many friendly local people, while brushing up on our minimal but good-enough Spanish.
We moved on after a wonderful time in the city and escaped to peaceful Isla de Ometepe, a twin-peaked volcanic island in the center of Lake Nicaragua. The hour-long ferry ride was mostly uneventful and we landed ashore then taxied to the nature preserve called Charco Verde finding a rustic jungle lodge on the edge of the forest reserve. Hiking through the lagoon area and into the jungle allowed us to get very close to the slow moving howler monkeys that are living in the trees, and the overall natural scenery was green and spectacular.
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1 comment:
Your pic's and description make me think how much we miss on our own continent. I don't know which one of you is writing the blog, but you should write a travelogue. Your details are wonderful.....and that pic of Deb with her hair blowing in the wind....movie star..
Love, Mombo
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