A Year of Saturdays: Nicaragua

We were very happy to be returning to Nicaragua, although the method was not very enjoyable - 8 hours from Tegucigalpa on a bus with no airconditioning - phew!

Our first stop was Leon, where we have been before. The city seemed much busier than last time, with far more options for eating, drinking and sleeping. We couldn't get into our first choice hostel, so stayed in the very young (in people terms), Hostal Auberge.

The Aussie/Kiwi travelling companions, Jack and Jess, first met in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, then shared sweaty bus ride to Tegucigalpa and taxi to Hostel, then we saw them again after this in San Juan del Sur, where once again we were in the same hostel! Austerity measures meant we were able to have a couple of the local beers with them and we ate steak too! A rare treat.

One of Leon's many fine churches.

A religious procesión that came past our hostel - they had spent all day walking from the next town. The Virgin looked very heavy.

Another of Leon's fine churches...

...and another, this time the one in the main plaza.

And now for something not religious, a close up of the belts of a stall holder. We especially liked the one with the gun.

A Very Hot Granada - two minibuses and a walk.

After beautiful Leon, we could not miss returning to Granada. We had such a fab time here last time, at the carnival and the Hippicampo horse festival, where we met our friend Emma who works in Germany.

One of the churches, with a view back towards the cathedral and the main plaza.

A funky, old car.

We did take time to visit a few museums. This is a photo from a pot museum, which is owned privately. These are all funerary pots, made to look lie the stomachs of pregnant women to symbolise rebirthing, our enthusiastic guide told us.

Dan, we thought maybe you would like to buy these offices - it's difficult to tell, but they are for sale!

It was so hot here, we had to find a pool, even we couldn't go out during mad dog time.

A typical street scene in the restored colonial part of Granada.

The Deck Chair Boat to Omotepe

Again, we have returned to a place we have been. Last time we were here though, we stayed in a dodgy hotel with a dry swimming pool, so left after one night. This time we stayed for two nights and did the volcano climb...8 hours of torture.

The deck chair boat to the Island, with our English friends, Gemma and Rob. Oh, we felt so British, just the hankie on the head missing.

The boat to Omotepe - it did make it!

A cheap, tasty, but as usual fried meal with Gemma and Rob in our hotel.

Angry with Richard, Becky considers going off with a guide, but then realises she would have a lifetime of trekking and decides against it. This was the near the start of walk - I am still smiling.

A surreal world: a peaceful lake inside the volcano's crater.

Rain made things very slippy. Becky managed to fall on a pointed stump, you can imagine the rest. She laughed so much she could not get up.

The rewarding view on our way down; the 4am start was worth it.

San Juan Del Sur

We returned to the Nicaraguan riviera to celebrate Becky's birthday with pizza (yes, pizza, that's what she wanted!), candles, cake and an international Harley Davidson convention on the beach. You can imagine the entertainment bikers need...we quite enjoyed it too.

Richard on VERY dangerous ground; trying it on with the bikers wives (actually they were really friendly).

This is what we are talking about. Hours of strutting, hip shaking and pouting and bossom shimmying. Richard's eyes had trouble staying inside ther sockets. There were also bands with live music, but they was a little overshadowed.