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Granada Travel Blogs

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.

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By linzcrowe
October 4th 2008

Español lessons begin

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Freddy and I

Tim version: * Learnt Spanish for a week with an awesome local family. * Got to see the local islands, and taste a whole lot of Nicaraguan Cuisine. Not very long for a full week of stuff version: A late get up from La Libertad Hostel and I mozied down to my Spanish school for the week, Nicaragua Mia! Id signed up for 28 hours of lessons, home stay with a local family, AND all activites. Usually Id go the bare essential lessons but I wanted to try the works this time... When down there they took me to my local [View Full Entry]

By supersnr ita
September 29th 2008

Despues de Nicaragua

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Volcan Masaya
Active volcano, how cool!

Hello again, We just got back from a week in Nicaragua and it was incredible. There are some Costa Rican’s who have prejudices against the country because it’s much poorer and there are many who come, illegally or not, to find work and medical care (remind you of US/Mexico?) Anyway, it was incredible. After a 7 hr trip by van with 10 girls and two professors, the first thing we see after the border is a giant lake with two volcanoes jutting out, a characteristic that literally shapes Nicaragua. Within no time we were seeing stark differences in standard of living [View Full Entry]

By linzcrowe
September 25th 2008

Granada - "The goose that laid Nicaraguan tourism's golden egg"

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

La Libertad hostel

Tim version: * Hopped a bus from Penas Blancas to Managua, then another to Granada. * Took a wander around Granada and signed up to learn some Spanish. The size that fits all version: Leaving the Nicaraguan border was simple enough except that a few taxis drivers wouldnt accept a no. I told one of them I think in my best spanish that if he wanted to taxi me from the border to Granada for $2 then he had a deal, but otherwise I was catching the bus, and I think I got it right because he was the one who [View Full Entry]

By peteontherun
September 16th 2008

Perdon. No entiendo ingles

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central

Volcan Beautiful

This past week I began a new challenge: Only speak Spanish. Aye! As impressive as it might sound, the reality is I don’t talk much. I can get by with the basics ok, but it’s hard to express opinions during discussions (as if I could really follow the conversation anyway). But I’ve started Spanish classes again and been studying everyday so I think I’ll make some bigger progress over the next few weeks, yo espero. Well, two weekends ago a couple of us volunteers went to the big island of Ometepe. This is a beautiful island formed by its two volcanoes. [View Full Entry]

By LostGumby
September 13th 2008

Still in Granada

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central » Cathedral

P1050494

Granada always has something happening. [View Full Entry]

By AandA
September 5th 2008

From Honduras to Nicaragua

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central

The first GAP adventures hotel...
Our private hot tub!!!

Hello everyone!! We´re both still in one piece after 8 days of our group Volcano trail trip! It was difficult getting used to travelling in a group after having three weeks of going it alone, and we were a little anxious as to who we would be travelling with and whether we would all get along! However, everyone is really great - there are a lot of Brits, two Canadians, one Aussie and three crazy Irish boys partial to ´a little´ Nicaraguan rum... so a good mixture. We seem to have got the nickname of Team America which is slightly bizarre, [View Full Entry]

By LegsAcrossTheGlobe
August 29th 2008

(Approx Day 24) - Granada

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central » Cathedral

Hola! It´s been a while ... And travelling has been continually very good. The concept of work is just so foreign and scary right now! After being very proud of my excellent health while others have been dropping like flies, today has seen some very odd symptoms for me. The room has fortunately just stopped spinning and I can kinda type. Also good is that I haven´t seen any random blue dots for a while. But I wish that I was on any of the other computers in this Granadan internet cafe as everyone else´s is in focus whereas mine really [View Full Entry]

By peteontherun
August 28th 2008

Salvaje Man

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Bright and True

So there´s a phrase here in La Prusia the chicos like to use, "Salvaje Man"(Savage Man). Its a favorite endearing expression here. Other necessary phrases include "eres beliiiiin"(your craaaaazy) and "whatzupman!" And no that last expression is not a part of my English curriculum. Life is active as always here in Nicaragua. Two weekends ago a few of us decided to take a weekend and go to Leon, a college town in the north. The town is very similar to Granada. It is very colorful and very laid back. Tranquilo, even. The city favors FSLN to the max and just loves [View Full Entry]

By Rach Travels
August 25th 2008

Nicaragua

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Yetserday crossed over into Nicaragua and arrived late in Granada after 2 very long travelling days! Needless to say we had a good Saturday night out at cafe nuit which didn´t bode well for ziplining today, especially when they bounced the wires up and down! Had an interesting afternoon, the usual thunder storm combined with no power all day meant there was not alot to do! We sadly left Roatan on Friday after spending the week chilling out on the beach and getting bitten alive by sandflies at the same time! The reef there is great and spent alot of time [View Full Entry]

By travelbug1970
August 18th 2008

Carnivals & Horse Parades in Nicaragua

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central

At night in Granada, Nicaragua

Here we are in the heart of Granada, Nicaragua..... and having a great time as always. What a great city this is, and when I say that we are in the heart I really mean it. Our hotel is on the main square.... facing the central park and Cathedral. We are staying for 4 nights at the lovely Hotel Plaza Colon.... and it has now taken me over an hour to upload these 14 pics... so I am done for the night and will keep this short. Everyone said that we would love this town, and I can see why. Granada [View Full Entry]

cooling down at the hotel pool - Granada

Travel Blog » Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada