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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 Berb
April 9th 2008

Masaya, Granada,

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

Active Volcano

We started the day with a hike up an active volcano. The dome had collapsed so the view down into the volcano was quite impressive. It was hard to breathe because of the gases and the warning signs to park backwards in the spaces made you aware that it could errupt at any time. A view in the adjacent inactive volcano showed how the vegetation filled in, while the lava flow from the active volcano showed little vegetation. Sat down for a rest and realized there was a wasp nest next to us. We enjoyed stopping at a small, but informative [View Full Entry]

By TimWood
February 28th 2008

Coyotepe

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

Perched on a hill outside Masaya, Nicaragua, with a stunning view of the town and volcano-riddled countryside, is an abandoned stone fortress called Coyotepe. It´s construction dates back more than 100 years, but its infamy comes from its use during the Somoza regime, when it housed dungeons and torture chambers for political prisoners. It was also the location of an infamous massacre, when during the revolution, as the Sandinistas stormed the hill, the National Guard slaughtered all prisoners inside moments before the fort was captured. I arrived there this morning, entering through th [View Full Entry]

By Hot Foot
February 8th 2008

Mercado Masaya.

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya » Mercado National ds Artesanias

Mercado Masaya.

The Masaya Mercado was interesting, although I ended up arriving late, by Nicaraguan standards. In Toronto time, it does not get completely dark until quite late and even then the streetlights are on. Here, the smaller towns are pitch black by 6:30pm. The merchants were closing up by the time my bus dropped me off, but I still managed to stuff myself with bread. From what I can tell, Nicaraguan cuisine is somewhat similar to Costa Rican, but tastier. Although, nothing beats the gallo pinto and huevos I found in Costa Rica. I could eat rice and eggs for the rest [View Full Entry]

By El Scook Y Natalia
December 16th 2007

Flote como una Mariposa...

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

A traditional pre flight beer
We arrived at Guatemala city airport hungry and thirsty and a bit worried about what the facilities were giong to be like. We needn´t have worried, there was a cafe, various rum shops, and ALL THE STA... [more]

Hola Muchachos, It was rather nice of Antigua to give us a proper send off: a bit of a fiesta at the Burning of the Devil festival (call me naive, but I reckon as the guy spends most of his time in the fiery pit, I´m not sure this is the best way to punish him - how about a cold shower?), followed by some very impressive fireworks from Volcan Fuego as we left. Driving off in a combi van as the volcano emitted vaguely pathetic puffs of volcanic ash and pumice, I was overtaken by the desire to don coconuts [View Full Entry]

Me in the back of La Mariposa´s camioneta

By draak
November 3rd 2007

The grubbiest market we have seen yet

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

The bus to Masaya

We took a day trip to Masaya from Granada. The bus terminal at Masaya was the muddiest we had seen so far and the market the most disgusting. But we were here for the Old Market - Mercado Viejo. This one was very civilised with lots of stalls full of tourist tat. We couldn't help it, we had to buy a little painted box with Nicaragua written on it. We walked, pausing to see the churches on the way, down the waterfront where we had a lovely view of the volcano and lake. On the way we saw lots of hammock [View Full Entry]

By Dragongypsy
August 13th 2007

Masaya Volcano

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

Masaya Volcano
Twilight At Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua

Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua is one of the most georgeous volcanoes in the world. Masaya is located in Volcano National Park near Granada. It is easily accesible by car or by walking trails. Although Masaya remains technically active, presently Masaya emits a steady cloud of steam and gaseous fumes for which you need to wear protective gas masks. You are able to walk right up to the crater's edge. When Masaya's fumes are blown to the other side of the crater you can see the parrots that live in the crater's rim as they fly about inside the fumeous gases. At [View Full Entry]

By Nica Nancy
February 18th 2007

I´m learning how to cook-Nica style!

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

the bus ride
there's plenty of room for everyone. No one is ever turned away!

Over the last couple weeks I´ve learned about some of the traditional foods of the people of Nicaragua. Last Sat I went to the market with Yamilet´s mother, names Auxy. You can buy just about anything at several of the large markets in the Managua area. This one was in Masaya, a town outside of Managua, generally close to the project and where I am living. As you can imagine people are cooking and selling food everywhere. Including in the buses! While a bus is waiting for people to enter at a bus stop 3 or 4 people will walk through [View Full Entry]

By Nica Nancy
February 17th 2007

Keep praying for Fito

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

Well we have had our ups and downs with Fito, the 18 year old who lives at the project. I mentioned a while back that I thought I had taken him over the edge with my tutoring. He was doing so well with the regular home work I was giving him. I figured if he wasn´t up for doing the homework, he just wouldn´t do it. That´s how I would imagine the kids in the states would react. Well he did it, and it was burning him out. For about 4 days he was really struggling with going back to the [View Full Entry]

By Nica Nancy
February 11th 2007

Lessons from my first month

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

OK, it´s been now a month, I´m more than half way finished with my mission. I´m taking stock on what has happened --the big picture. What have I learned and what will I do for the remaining 2 weeks? There´s been the good and the bad and the ups and downs. I had (have) dreams of what I wanted to accomplish and I´m happy to report that those dreams are happening as I had envisioned, and at different degrees! My relationship with the families is better than ever. My spanish is coming along! I didn´t know what to expect in the¨"lows". [View Full Entry]

By Nica Nancy
February 4th 2007

Yesterday I split concrete blocks with a hatchet

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya

One of my "jobs" at Chacocente is to tutor "Fito" (short for Gabriel) in 3rd grade Spanish, Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Science. Fito is 18. I don´t know anything about his parents as he stays in a house with another young adult on the project. Cherito is thinking of bringing in a few other young adult men in, if they can promise to go to school and help with the development of the project. Fito and I eager went at it Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs. We worked him understanding the various digits in 4-digit numbers (like 6,476) and being able [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Masaya