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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 Barton
April 6th 2008

Good Ole' Fashion Cock Fight

Central 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 potential carriers of Avian Flu fight to the death with razors strapped to their feet. Around noon after walking around the colonial city of Granada and dodging horse-drawn carriages, a sort of Disneyland town within the middle of third world Nicaragua, one of the Canadian tree-planters asked if we had ever been to a cockfight. Realizing it was Sunday and the local Granadans liked to sit around and drin [View Full Entry]

By Hugh and Sarah
March 30th 2008

Honduras/Nicaragua through a bus window

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Las Isletas, 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 first class bus with quite a lot of room which required our photos to be taken before we got on but that doesn't make it fast. A wait of around an hour in a bus station in San Pedro Sula before another 4.5 hours to Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. From there we had a short taxi ride to the hotel [View Full Entry]

By ScobieDobie
March 23rd 2008

A week in Nicaragua

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Feb 2008 032 NICARAGUA Managua Cathy and Robin
Our welcome toast at our hotel -Maria La Gorda!

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 twice before -once in the 1980s and then again 2 years ago - so we were lucky to have a tour guide too! We flew on February 21st from Cancun to Panama City -then changed planes and flew to Managua arriving about 7:30 p.m. Joe and Cathy were there to meet us with the rental car (they arrived the day before us [View Full Entry]

Feb 2008 036 NICARAGUA Leon Education sign

Feb 2008 041 NICARAGUA near Leon laundry lines

Feb 2008 049 NICARAGUA house outside Leon

By bronore
March 10th 2008

Climbing Around in the Past

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

What a sight!
Looking west with the central catherdral in the distance

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 city had held it's breath, puffed out it's cheeks and forced itself to expand a few feet in every direction. We found our way to the chaotic market district and a glorious old hostel run by a classic old couple (she called him 'Jefe'). The building was ancient and character filled with 15-foot ceilings, palatial hallways and an untouched living room that was part christmas-light-Jesus-shrine [View Full Entry]

By SarahandRick
March 3rd 2008

The UC-Davis Connection arrives in Granada

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Hiking at Volcan Mombacho
Looking at the map for the hiking trail. Was a nice little loop around the top of a volcano. Had some beautiful views.

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 and a Kayak tour with Cheka. We are grateful for them to make the effort to see us. It was wonderful to reconnect, discuss some old times and create some new memories. We look forward to more visits. We'll soon post some photos of our adventures with Erica and Al. In the meantime enjoy these ones. [View Full Entry]

By JCastillo
February 13th 2008

Days of Heaven...conclude

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Life in Las Isletas

Day 18. This will be one of the very few declarations I will be making during my travels. Granada is the most beautiful town in all of Central America. It is Washington Square Park, the French Quarters, and the Montmantre district all rolled into one. The people are very generous, there is a strong vibe of cultural heritage, and the overall color of the town is like powdered paint- soft yet vibrant. I arrived here quickly after a 40 KM drive on the Carretera Masaya, coming out of the capital. It was close to 10 am in the morning, when I [View Full Entry]

By Hot Foot
February 7th 2008

Across la frontera.

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Obligatory palm tree shot.
By the Granada waterfront.

The bus ride across the border took only about 10 hours. It was nice to see the countryside, when I wasn't passed out. I also made a complete jackass of myself at both borders. Habla muy pocito español! Goddamn. I couldn't figure out where to get the immigration forms, as everyone else seemed to have one. I was in the line up, obviously ocnfused, when this older man took pity on me and actually went and tried to get me immigration papers. I'm confused about what was said, but she wouldn't give me them. He paid her and she finally relented. [View Full Entry]

By Swedadian
January 31st 2008

Been a while

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Toña
My hammock is down there somewhere.

Well all its been a while. As my travels continue my blogs become more and more sparse. We all know this was bound to be the case. The last we spoke I believe I was in Honduras and had decided I needed some beach time. So I caught about 5 buses, spent a night in Tegucigalpa, crossed over to Nicaragua, rocked up to the airport in Managua and caught the next flight to the Corn Islands. What a beautiful piece of unexploited carribean. The islands off the pacific coast of Nicaragua are definatly a little chunk o heaven. I say [View Full Entry]

By LittleDave
January 30th 2008

Sunny in Granada

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Bearded Monkey

On Sunday I got off at Harlem and 125th again, this time walking East, eventually I hopped on the Subway for two stops to Rockerfeller Center where I looked for tickets to SNL. Good thing I didn´t head there for the 6am free ticket call, as the writers are on strike and no tickets to be had. Took me another 30 minutes just to locate a bathroom before heading off to Jackson Hole for some of the best burgers in New York err not, tasted like a lot of chemicalized beef. My meal the night before at Bobby Flay´s Mesa [View Full Entry]

By el Jefe
January 26th 2008

Nicaragua: A tale of pirates and the best steak I've ever had...

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Main Cathedral

After a week of lazing around Playa Remanso we headed out on a road trip, first stop Granada. Beautiful colonial town, the architecture was amazing and enhanced by a variety of cool colours. Piled into town and set up shop at the Hotel Alhambra, right across from the main square, before settling down to some lunch and mondo burgers... No real plans here, mostly just poking around town and checking out the sites. Again the buildings were beautiful, went through some really cool churches and the local fort. The history of the city is also quite fascinating; it had been sacked [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada