http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Nicaragua , Granada en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:50:45 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:50:45 BST We arrived in Granada shortly after leaving Ometepe but again travelling with the English girls it cost me a fortune in taxis. This is where I got my first real taste of what I expected of Central America its still touristy but has a very authentic feel to the place. I found it really easy to get around and knew a few people in the hostels near by which Id already met in other places so we were a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Bearded-Monkey/blog-303729.html 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 philo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Parque-Central/blog-302499.html 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. Im really starting to look forward to them if only for the Holy st can you beleive that just happened value. There is no doubt that many of the biggest laughs well have when were old and grey are seeded in the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-301899.html Beautiful city on Lake Nicaragua http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-300316.html 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 httppicasaweb.google.compete.waltonNicaraguaJuly2008Ok 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 mo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-298870.html 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 w http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-298034.html 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 redtile 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 abou http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-297718.html Hablas Espaol by GeorgeAfter 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 Caa the local rum. Popular suggsestions included They pack you in like chickens Its possible you could sit next to one and my personal favour http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-297627.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-297181.html 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 capit http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Parque-Central/blog-295834.html 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 desti http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Hostel-Oasis/blog-294846.html Yay Its my favorite holiday of the year my birthday Im back in Granada after spending yet another week in San Juan del Sur and still contemplating going back again before I have to be in Honduras.So after my near death experience I just indulged in my self prescribed hammock and cerveza therapy which was just as well because the weather on Ometepe was awful it just poured down rain an http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Hostel-Oasis/blog-292959.html Apres mon long chemin pour arriver jusqu'a la frontiere du Nicaragua il me fallait encore traverser la riviere pour rejoindre la ville de San Carlos afin d'entrer legalement dans le pays... ne sachant pas a quelle heure partaient les bateaux j'y suis allee pour 9h pour apprendre que le premier partait a 12h30... Pas grave je commence a avoir l'habitude de passer des heures a attendre les batea http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-289071.html Let's see this was probably the most culturally shocking adventure that I've ever had not in a bad way at all... So I'm not sure shocking is the right word but it was definitely different from anything I've ever done including my whole Istanbul experience...So we got to the border in our transportation where the driver let us out of the van. There was a crowd of guys surrounding the door be http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-287877.html So Granada...got here on Friday evening after catching a taxi with the folks that I met on the bus to the Plaza Roberto Huembes. There we boarded an short bus that was already both full and moving and on its way to Granada. I would have sworn that we could not have fit another person on that bus but that is why I would make TERRIBLE Nicaraguan bus driver. The bus stopped over and over again http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Hostel-Oasis/blog-287638.html So here I am finally sitting in a chair that is not moving in Granada Nicaragua. It has already been a busy trip I arrived in San Pedro Sula on Thursday night got whisked away to my hostel airport pickup was the best 15 Ive ever spent and prepared to crash before my 5 am bus to Managua. Tamarindo hostel had other ideas though there was an amateur band of hostel employees that were d http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Hostel-Oasis/blog-287269.html Es ist Regenzeit in Nicaragua. Das heisst es regnet fast jeden Tag. Meistens abends oder nachts und meistens nur ein paar Stunden so dass das eher ein bisschen angenehme Erfrischung bringt als stoert. Bei Regen sinken die Temperaturen auch mal unter 30 Grad.Bei den Temperaturen ist es allerdings nicht weiter wild ein bisschen oder ein bisschen mehr nass zu sein. Gefroren hab ich jedenfalls noch http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-287076.html Granada is the second biggest town in Nicaragua and a pretty colonial town with a very European main square and pedstrianised streets. The hostel was a pleasant surprise clean dorms with decent warm showers and even a pool The hostel in San Juan had not only caused my backpack to get soaked during the rain storm despite being in my room but had also had people removing cockroaches from the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Hostel-Oasis/blog-284748.html It's been a number of days since I last wrote you I realize. That said if I have nothing worthwhile to say it doesn't make much sense to just ramble on pointlessly...I can do that often enough without my helping that cause...So...with that out of the way I think I do have some to write about and share with you. I have returned to Granada in the country of Nicaragua. As far as sites to see I http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-283774.html Day 218 Beguiling GranadaI wasn't feeling so fabulous this morning but fortunately managed to wake up fifteen minutes before check in and after some speedy packing me and Chris went for a much needed breakfast. Not hugely disimilar from a traditional Costa Rican breakfast traditional Nicaraguan morning fare involves much beans rice and plantain. We skipped on the beers that the next table we http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-283444.html weiterhin unterwegs.. geblendet von der schoenheit und gelassenheit dieses landes.. welche ich so einfach nicht erwartet haette... ist doch krass.. dieses land ist das aermste in ganz centralamerika und trotzdem ist es das sicherste.... das soll mal einer verstehen.. weiter bin ich am rasen im flug oder wie die traveler sagen im flow.. aber dieses wort fuehlt sich komisch an.. auf jedenfall hat http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-280170.html Okay the title is admitted not very catchy. However I figured it was time to do some writing to my friends and family via the blog. Today was going to be another trip to San Juan de Oriente where most of the pottery that is sold is actually made. I was going to go with the person I met at La Merced church as he speaks Fluent English and think I can trust him some as he introduced me to the p http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-279719.html Ich bin da GrenadaNicaragua. Die Anreise war mal wieder alles andere als angenehm. Zuerst der 20stuendige Flug bis San JoseCosta Rica und von dort nach einer Nacht im Hostel weitere 8 Stunden mit dem Bus nach Grenada.Der Empfang in meiner neuen temporaeren Heimat war dafuer umso netter. Als ich im stroemenden Regen ankam warteten bereits fast alle meiner neuen Mitbewohner ein warmes Essen und http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-278710.html While I'm sitting here laying low for a day in hopes the ATM's will figure out my account so I can have more of my money sitting in my account back home I thought I would write. I think what is happening is the deposits are reporting a little bit slower so it thinks I'm broke. Now nobody worry especially you Mom I still have cash in dollars and Cordobas plus credit cards for those places http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-278052.html It's now been a few days that I've been in Granada able to see what changes have or have not occurred in this Spanish Colonial city in the country of Nicaragua. With this observation I can say there are two Granadas...the one of hope and that INTUR the Nicaragua Tourism Agency and the one that remains much of what Nicaragua still is...waiting in desperate hope of a better tomorrow.The city of http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-276660.html Hmmm.. so I didn't get round to updating within a month. At least the intention was there Been very busy since the last epic blog so I won't promise this will be short Diving in Utila was awesome the night dive was incredible. We saw a great big blue octopus chilling out on some coral and big hairy sea cucumbers and as promised cool phosflourescent stuff i forget the proper name. Diving http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Bearded-Monkey/blog-276288.html Today started bright well it actually wasn't very bright when my cellphone alarm went off at 4AM and early in San Jose. I had managed to find the Tica Bus ticket agency relatively close to my San Jose Costa Rica hostel and had purchased my ticket previously. I got up and ready for the long journey to Nicaragua with the taxi picking me up promptly at 5AM as arranged. The taxi driver quickly http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/blog-275653.html granada colonial town really pretty very touristy supposed to be great party but believe me we looked for it at night by the lake the typical horror movie start a group of young guys try to go party they scare each other in the absolute dark of the road and there a house with low light and a sign squeeking... visited a cigare shop that made one in front of us went around the churches and http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Bearded-Monkey/blog-272336.html HolaI think Amy finished her last entry the night before our 3am start to go and see the sun rise over the Mayan jungle ruins of Tikal. After a slightly bleary eyed bus journey we did a 30 minute sprint up hill through the jungle in the dark trying not to trip over too many tree roots or sleeping snakes as Amy thought they were as we passed the slightly ghostly shapes of various ruins. Eventual http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Bearded-Monkey/blog-270679.html