Granada

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Things have changed a bit here since our last visit a year and a half ago. There has been more restoration work and more hotels and other businesses opening but there has also been an increase in crime and general seediness. There was an American ex-pat (who we actually knew from our previous trip) who was brutally attacked the night before we arrived and who died from her injuries two days later. I was approached in a cafe by a guy who---absolutely unsolicited and in broad daylight----offered to sell me drugs. I heard stories from both locals and ex-pats alike that crime is rapidly increasing in the city and that the local police is unable----or unwilling----- to do anything about it. I must admit, I noticed a lot of things here that I didn't remember from before and I felt on edge, maybe even a little paranoid, walking the streets of Granada.

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Photos

1
Iglesia Guadalupe

2
Calle La Calzada-----------
They were working on this street a year and a half ago (when we were here last) and now have it finished about halfway to the Malecon (eventually it will go all the way). Primarily pedestrian now, there are lots of sidewalk cafes, eateries, etc. here.

3
Kids playing baseball. These guys would absolutely kick the crap out of the average Little League team...

4
Courtyard

7
Hotel Dario on Calle La Calzada

11
Justine, my mom Elaine, me, Jelliot (please forgive me if I've misspelled your name), and my stepfather Randy

12
Granada by night

13
Inside the Convento San Francisco

15
Me in the courtyard of Convento San Francisco

16
Calle La Libertad

17
Approaching Monkey Island in Las Isletas

18
Monkey (upper right) on Monkey Island

19
Las Isletas

20
Mombacho from Las Isletas

21
Sunset over Granada from Lago Nicaragua

22
Parque Colon

23
Facade of Convento San Francisco

24
Lorena with the cathedral and Mombacho in the background