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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 Otane
April 28th 2006

Lateinamerika - Woche 73 (Nicaragua)

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua

León

22.04.06 Ich lief in Begleitung von Lina und Tadea zum Oasis Hostal, wo ich mein Gepaeck deponiert hatte. Hier durfte ich kurz ins Internet gehen um zu sehen, ob Steffen sich mit mir treffen wird. Die Nachricht war leider negativ, er konnte zurzeit keine Ferien nehmen. Irgendwie demotivierte mich diese Antwort sehr, denn man macht sich halt immer schon Vorstellungen und Plaene, die dann in nichts aufgeloest werden. Ich versuchte in einem Laden und im Hostal Central noch ein Buch einzutauschen, fand aber kein Gutes. Nach dem Fruehstueck kehrte ich ins Hostal zurueck und ging zur Bushaltestelle [View Full Entry]

By chvoight
April 27th 2006

Two Hills

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Isla de Ometepe » Merida

A four hour boat ride took us to the island of Ometepe. The sun was setting as we approached and volanco Concepsion was in full view with smoke steaming from its crater. Ometepe is a very large island centered in the world's largest freshwater lake. It was formed by two volcanos named Maderas and Concepsion. Twenty years ago there were thousands of Bull sharks inhabiting its waters. They were able to enter through a lake connected to the ocean. As man would have it the sharks were eliminated from the lake with ten years. Thats ok because now it's safe for [View Full Entry]

By Seeta
April 27th 2006

First impressions

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Managua

setting off!

Well, here i am in Nicaragua: I can barely belive it! What´s strange is how at HOME I feel, and Í only just got here. Maybe it will hit me later... But all the stressing about the trip b4 I left, and the hours sitting on the plane and worrying myself to the point that I felt like I was going to throw up (but fortunately didn´t!) must have used up my worry-quota for at LEAST a year. So when I finally arrived, I wasn´t worried at all. I was barely even looking out of the cab windows, it was just [View Full Entry]

Thelma, Lin, me, and Steve at the airport

By A little of everything Not a lot of anything
April 25th 2006

Back in Granada

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada

Isla Ometepe
The closer and larger volcanoe is Concepcion. The farther is Mareda.

Once again I'm in Granada soaking up the comforts of the city. I'm staying at the plush Hostal Oasis. I came in last night from Laguna De Apoyo, a beautiful crater lake about thirty minutes outside Granada. I spent three nights there at the Monkey Hut, which is right on lake. They have kayaks and tubes to float around on, so that pretty much sums up what I did while was there. Before going to Apoyo, I was on Isla Ometepe, in Lago De Nicaragua. I originaly planned to climb up both volcanoes, but I only made it up the smaller [View Full Entry]

By miguelito
April 24th 2006

heaven??

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Bearded Monkey

maybe it is a little premature to say this, being that I-ve only been here 10 minutes, but I already love Granada and Nicaragua and the place I'm staying, the bearded monkey. I met some great locals on the bus, everyone at the hostel is really friendly. I find myself again in awe of colonial buildings. The town is quiet, at least what I-ve seen, and so is the hostel. The hostel has all of these great drawings and political articles posted on the walls, a nice courtyard with trees, and curry!! okay off to eat a bit but mostly just [View Full Entry]

By Beebe
April 24th 2006

Volcano Island, Peace Island

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Isla de Ometepe

Ometepe
This the largest and most active volcano of the two: Conception.

We spent two days on the island of Ometepe, the Island of Peace, in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. We had hoped to take the boat from Granada, but found out we had to wait 4 hours for the next departure..the time we'd been given was the time the ticket office opened, not the time the boat left. So we decided to take buses to the main port that connects to the island..mistake! We took a horse carriage part way to the bus station, dragged our bags through the public market, got to the bus which had standing room only for [View Full Entry]

By seadubtraveler
April 23rd 2006

Volcano Sunsets

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Isla de Ometepe » Santo Domingo

I got on the bus in San Jose last Wednesday at 7:15 in the morning, not really having any idea as to what I was in for. I had this bad feeling that it was going to be a free for all at the border, then chaos trying to get to the island...and for the most part, I was right. The border crossing from Costa Rica into Nicaragua at Penas Blancas is an absolute circus show. I have never been bombarded by salesman like that in my life. Aging women begging me to buy pictures of ¨el presidente¨and middle aged men [View Full Entry]

By Beebe
April 22nd 2006

Beautiful Granada!

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central

Horse Drawn Hearse
We saw this later, on the way to the burial, with the family walking behind..It circled the main park.

We spent the day both walking around Granada and touring the city by horse drawn carriage. Granada has consistently beautiful architecture throughout the downtown area, which is protected as a historical district and buildings must conform to colonial standards. We visited a few churches and climbed the bell tower in one, to look over the city. We also went to the public market and the museum where artifacts from pre-Columbian civilizations are housed. These people migrated from Mexico to this area, passing through Aztec and Mayan cities on the way and were influenced by these civilizati [View Full Entry]

By Otane
April 21st 2006

Lateinamerika - Woche 72 (Nicaragua)

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua

Big Corn Island - Judy

15.04.06 Diese Nacht schlief ich nur bis etwa 04.00 Uhr, da ich ploetzlich von Hundegebell und anderem Laerm wach wurde. Ich schlief spaeter nochmals ein und wachte gegen 07.00 Uhr auf. Jonny sass neben mir in der Haengematte, er hatte sich reingeschlichen. Es fing ploetzlich an, heftig zu regnen, so blieb ich noch ein bisschen laenger liegen. Um 08.00 Uhr stand ich auf und machte mich auf den Weg zum Flughafen. Ich wollte den Flug auf den Nachmittag vorverschieben, da ich keine Lust hatte, nochmals einen Tag und einen Abend alleine zu verbringen. Zwanzig Minuten zum Flughafen laufen, eine Fr [View Full Entry]

Big Corn Island - die Einwohner leben zum Teil am Limit

By Beebe
April 20th 2006

Escape from Honduras

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Granada » Parque Central

Escape from Honduras
Bill is waiting in line at the border to have our passports stamped and to pay the exit and entry fees.

We are now in Granada, Nicaragua, after too long in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. While we will miss our room, the view, the gym and our waiters Freddy and Darwin, 10 days was too long! The people were so very nice though, and that made the stay bearable.... However: I almost didn't make it out of Honduras, since my passport expires in July and Nicaragua requires that one's passport is good for at least 6 months...I had neglected to read that part of the travel guide...And we found out all this on my birthday... That afternoon, after spending the am at the Embassy [View Full Entry]

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