What a contrast this Granada was with the one we had seen in Spain, the city this one was named after by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524, after having, along with Ponce de Leon and Hernan Cortes, conquered the country!
Things did not go so well for him in later years when his patriotism lost its luster in the eyes of the new king. He was beheaded. But – on the positive side – his head was immortalized on the new national currency named after him – the cordoba!
The Guadalupe Church, at the end of Calzada street is, in my opinion, the best example of colonial architecture of the entire area. It was built in 1626 by Fray Benito Baltodano, but rudely repurposed as a fortress by William Walker in 1856. That man sure caused a lot of trouble for this city and country.These next two or three articles will feature, along with the current city, Diria, Masaya, and Jinotepe. See map.Cemetery, left and right: Not too far from our hotel was this cemetery. Along with the beautiful carvings and interesting descriptions there were delicious mangoes on the ground. Everywhere. Unpicked – because they clearly come from all those dead people nearby! Some people are strangely squeamish about this. Every few days we left with a whole bagful. Center: One of several memorial markers on a side street.A horse is getting good exercise along Lake Nicaragua. This is by the dock area, where ships used to go to Ometepe Island.Hotel Arca de Noe. In our eighteen months away from the US on this particular trip we have stayed here more than any other hotel. It truly is our home away from home. Great staff, accommodations, and fellow guests. Great value for the money. Highly recommended. We made friends here from China, Germany, Poland, France, just to name a few. It was a pleasure to compare travel notes and put some of other language skills to use.
Every morning here starts out with breakfast, coffee and, more often than not, interesting convo.Left: Cinnamon Hummingbird, Amazilia rutila Right, top: Blue-gray Tanager, Thraupis episcopus Center: Northern Jacana, Jacana spinosa Bottom: Scrub Euphonia, Euphonia affinisIt was a pleasure exploring the streets and alleyways of this town.Trash day. Hustling instead of hydraulics gets the job done here.Left: Iglesia de la Merced built in 1534, just a decade after the establishment of the city itself, oldest church in Granada. For a fee of 30 cordoba (less than a dollar) you can ascend to the bell tower to get a great view of the town and lake. Center: Young Granadians trending down the Paseo de los Mangoes leading to the lakefront. The street is well-named. We would do our best some mornings to get as many fallen mangoes as we could before the street-sweepers gathered them as trash. Right: Iglesia de Xalteva, named after the indigenous people who lived here before Spaniards took over.. “Ortega assassin” is written on the battered wall. Nearby here and also battered – burnt and blasted, as well – was the Palacio. It had been targeted by mobs about a month before we arrived here the first time. And the second time we returned next year it was still not repaired. Who burned it down? Government or anti-government elements? Who knows? Each side blames the other.
From NOwhere 2 nowHERE 