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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 peteontherun
July 21st 2008

Viva la Revolution!

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central

Dinner for 27
Here's me attempting to make dinner. Went great!

Sorry for the late entry. My computer has been upset at me, but it seems to be working now. This past week has been very exciting for those of us in Nicaragua. Julio 19th is the anniversary of the revolution some 30 years ago. It was when the real fight between the Sandinistas and the Samozas broke out. The Sandinistas were Che Guavara and Fidel Castro inspired and had adopted the Marxist philosophy. In the end, they had won the battle. However, the government was no better if not worse than before. Presently, a former prominent figure in the movement, Daniel [View Full Entry]

By Exodus
July 19th 2008

Central America I

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Central America
hot, relaxed, and tropical

Onwards to Central America! Another 20 hour bus ride across the Andes to Lima, relatively uneventful, in the way only a third world bus ride could be "relatively uneventful". I´m really starting to look forward to them if only for the " Holy s$%t, can you beleive that just happened" value. There is no doubt that many of the biggest laughs we´ll have when we´re old and grey are seeded in the fertile grounds of challenge, discomfort, and disbelief experienced on the roads of South and Central America. As I learned standing on a trading floor in the close proximaey to [View Full Entry]

By peteontherun
July 12th 2008

My First Week in Nicaragua

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Old Church
One of the many churches and cathedrals in Granada.

Hola me Amigos! Well my first week here has been great. It's turning out to be a real good find. I'll update this blog in a little bit, but until then here are some photos of this weeks' adventure: http://picasaweb.google.com/pete.walton/NicaraguaJuly2008 Ok, now I have some time to write. Where to begin... I guess the easiest way is to tell you is to explain how my average day goes. Every morning I get up around 7/7:30 to have breakfast. For breakfast I go out to the first house next to the volunteer house for so [View Full Entry]

By peteontherun
July 8th 2008

Made It Alive

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Hola Friends! Well I made it to La Prusa and Granada without too much trouble. The flights were short (two 3 hour flights). Customs was easy. But the first snag was trying to find my ride. Hugo was suposed to pick me up and drive me right to where I was staying. However, there was no Hugo to be found when I exited customs. I started asking people "hay Hugo?" No Hugo. So I walk up and down the taxi strip trying to find my ride. Finally a woman comes up to me and says, "Pete"? and holds up a sign [View Full Entry]

By Keren
July 6th 2008

Granada & Masaya

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central

The past week in Nicaragua has been so full that it has left little time for journalling. Today we left the Island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua at 5am to arrive in the old Spanish colonial city of Granada at 9am. After exploring the main cathedral and the art school both off the central park and independence square, we boarded a 'chicken bus' to Masaya. We took the bus too far, almost to the capital- Managua. We got off and hitched on a 'chicken van' back to Masaya and walked at least 2 kilometers to the Mercado Viejo, which is an [View Full Entry]

By KateK
July 5th 2008

Hablas Español?

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Marching Band
You´ve got to give it to them. The Nicaraguans know how to make noise...

¿Hablas Español? by George After an important stop in San Juan Del Sur we once again packed our "sacks" and got on the chicken bus. Despite pontificating with Rob and Rachel about the name we were still none the wiser after a whole bottle of Flora de Caña, the local rum. Popular suggsestions included "They pack you in like chickens", "It´s possible you could sit next to one" and my personal favourite "It´s what the drivers like to play". Anyway, despite our ignorance as to the name´s derivation we arrived safely in Granada, the oldest continually i [View Full Entry]

By Jamiewlim
July 4th 2008

Granada - Day 2

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Colorful House

Despite the increase in tourism to Granada and the many new developments, one cannot go anywhere without being besieged by children asking for money, or selling food or cigarettes. It is hard to know what to do, and whether to give or buy anything. I find it difficult to turn a blind eye when an eight year old boy with no shoes asks me to buy his pastries. Plus, the look of happiness on his face when I give him a few cordoba (a few US cents) breaks my heart. This happens in a place where speculation by American investors has [View Full Entry]

By KTreehugger
July 3rd 2008

Still here in Granada

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Hostel Oasis

But I swear I am leaving today - and not in the sense of the 3 lies of traveling (which are 1. I'm not drinking tonight, 2. I'm leaving tomorrow and 3. I love you). I haven't decided yet whether I am going to slowly make my way back up and stop in Leon and Esteli (both in Nicaragua) or if I am going to to undertake the long trek backup to Honduras (12 hours! and that's not even to my final destination). (I'm apparently feeling very parenthetical today.) Granada has been lovely, or I should say Hostel Oasis has been [View Full Entry]

By Jamiewlim
July 3rd 2008

Granada

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Patio de Malinche

We are in Granada now, a Spanish colonial town in Nicaragua. The hotel we are at, The Patio de Malinche, is a beautifully restored Spanish building with red-tile roof, and gorgeous brick courtyard with swimming pool. Granada is the most developed of all the places we have been to. The buildings have been restored with fresh paint, the roads are free of potholes, and there are tourists milling about. Similar to Leon, the city centers around the Cathedral and Central Park. The houses are brightly painted in shades of orange and blue, and horse drawn carriages wait for patrons. Like Leon, [View Full Entry]

By Swans
July 1st 2008

Granada

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Granada was a really pretty place with old Spanish style buildings

Beautiful city on Lake Nicaragua [View Full Entry]

Just before ringing the bell much louder than intended!

Travel Blog » Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada