Background: The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
April 18th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Bearded Monkey granada, colonial town, really pretty, very touristy, supposed to be great party but believe me we looked for it! at night by the lake, the typical horror movie start, a group of young guys try to go ... 36 photos[full story]
April 28th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Bearded Monkey Hola
I think Amy finished her last entry the night before our 3am start to go and see the sun rise over the Mayan jungle ruins of Tikal. After a slightly bleary eyed bus journey we did a 30 minute ... [full story]
April 14th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada Talla otsikolla kai kirjoitin joskus aiemminkin? Taallakin se varsin hyvin pitaa paikkansa, nimittain koko viikoksi on luvattu lampotilaa valille 33-35c ja auringonpaistetta... taytynee piakkoin lahte ... [full story]
April 6th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada Although not currently in Granada right now, I will use this time to reminisce about the Nicaraguan past-time of cockfighting. We woke up that morning with no intentions of watching two potentia ... [full story]
March 30th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada The ferry was less rough than we had been warned, the rest of the travelling was not. From the ferry terminal we took taxis to the bus terminal for the first bus to San Pedro Sula. It was actually a f ... 12 photos[full story]
April 10th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada I think I just consumed the most amazing creation of my life... it was a smoothie, and not just any smoothie but the ¨puta madre!!¨ smoothie, I will not translate as the english expression is pretty v ... [full story]
April 7th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada Here it was, a peaceful, hot as hell sunday morning in Granada. We had spent the last few days wandering around the city, checking out the lake, and watching in horror as the Bruins continue to stak ... [full story]
March 23rd 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada We spent just a week in Nicaragua - the largest country in Central America - but saw and did a lot! What made it especially fun was travelling with our friends Joe and Cathy. Joe has been to Nicaragua ... 49 photos[full story]
March 10th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada We arrived in Granada just before sunset and stumbled around in search of a good hostel for a bit.
The wider streets and taller buildings with over-sized doors made it feel as if a smaller Nica ci ... 15 photos[full story]
March 3rd 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada I wanted to post some pictures of some friends that had stopped by for a day or two in Granada. We tried to make the best of our short time together by doing some hiking and a ropes course with Jen a ... 22 photos[full story]
Map of Nicaragua
Nicaragua's Flag
