Leon, Nicaragua

Trip Start Apr 07, 2006
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Trip End Aug 18, 2006


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Flag of Nicaragua  ,
Friday, June 9, 2006

After SJDS I headed to Isla de Ometepe, an island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. Its made up of 2 volcanoes that have joined. While there I paddled out on kayaks with a couple other people to some smaller islands to see the monkeys. Unfortunately my intentions to climb the smaller volcano (an 8 hour hike) was scuppered by me being sick, as well as the intermittant rain.

After a couple of days on Ometepe I decided to go to Granada, which is apparently the best preserved colonial town in CA. It was nice and relaxed and touristy - a bit like Cuzco in Peru. It was great being able to eat something other than chicken, rice and beans. I also went out to Lago de Apoyo for a couple days. Its a clear water (cleanest water in Nica apparently) lake in the crater of an extinct volcano and was pretty nice.
01_Sunset over Isla de Ometepe
01_Sunset over Isla de Ometepe
Back in Granada I bumped into Zack (the guy I travelled up to Nica with from Costa Rica). We carried on up the Pacific coast to Leon. Both Leon and Granada used to be capitals of Nica, and are always competing to be the best town. Personally I prefer Granada slightly because it had more to do, but Leon is alot more ¨lived in¨ by the locals .

I've noticed than most Nicaraguans are really friendly and try and and dispell the media generated myths in the West about their country being full of Sandista rebels weilding guns. Even the drunks at the bus stops are firendly. Admittedly they might be saying ¨I'm going to steal everything you have you capatalist bastard¨, but at least they say it with a smile on their face.

Tomorrow I start the 2 day trek to the Bay Islands in Honduras. Not much fun but at least Zack is heading in the same direction initially.
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