NICARAGUA

Location - Central America; Capital - Managua; Population - 6 million; Currency - Cordoba

A surprise package for me was Nicaragua, with its lovely island and beach getaways, volcanoes and picturesque colonial cities - October 2001.

The Nicaraguan Cordoba

Locals celebrating the patron saint of Leon, San Jeronimo, outside Leon's cathedral

A parade through the streets of Leon

Sandinista campaign for the 2001 national elections in Leon - Daniel Ortega for President

16th/17th century ruins of Leon Viejo with Momotombo volcano in the background

The bubbling mud pools at San Jacinto

San Jacinto bubbling mud pools

Posing in the sweaty San Jacinto hot springs

The birthplace of Carlos Fonseca, founder of the Sandinistas (FSLN), Matagalpa. The Sandinistas overthrew the Somoza regime in 1979

The sign says 'Carlos Fonseca - your work is immortal' - Matagalpa

PLC campaign for the 2001 elections in Matagalpa.
Presidential candidate Enrique Bolanos was dancing on stage - despite this (or because of it) he won the Presidency

War murals in Jinotega, a Sandinista stronghold

Masaya volcano overlooking Masaya lagoon

It's possible to drive all the way to Masaya volcano - these 2 photos don't quite fit together but you get an idea of the scene

Masaya volcano - there had been a lot of landslides due to volcanic activity and certain areas were off limits (allegedly)

Waiting for Sandinista Presidential candidate Daniel Ortega to deliver a speech in Masaya.

Daniel Ortega was one of Ronald Reagan's arch enemies when the US discovered that he was arming rebels in El Salvador and collaborating with Cuba.

The US funded the Contras in their fight against the Sandinista government.
The Iran-Contra affair was later exposed. Daniel Ortega ran an unsuccessful FSLN (aka the Sandinistas) campaign for President in 2001.
In 2006 he tried again, and won.

More info on the Iran-Contra Affair

After several hours Daniel Ortega arrived. He's to the left of the flag in front of the El Gallo sign, honest! Masaya

The tomb of Carlos Fonseca in the Plaza de la Republica, Managua

The earthquake damaged old cathedral in the Plaza de la Republica, Managua

Monument in Managua

Managua's Presidential Palace

Tiscapa lake, a volcanic crater lake in central Managua

On the boat down the Escondido river to Bluefields

The Caribbean town of Bluefields

Between Masaya and Granada is Apoyo lagoon

Granada's colonial buildings

You may have noticed that Central America has plenty of volcanoes - this is Mombacho volcano as seen from Parque Colon, Granada

Parque Colon in the picturesque city of Granada

Sunset over Lake Nicaragua from Moyagalpa on the beautiful Isla Ometepe

Madera volcano as seen from Magdalena, Isla Ometepe

Island life in Magdalena, Isla Ometepe, with Concepcion volcano behind

Concepcion volcano and Lake Nicaragua from Finca Magdalena, Isla Ometepe

Concepcion volcano, Isla Ometepe

The forest trail on the slopes of Madera volcano, Isla Ometepe

An ancient petroglyph inscribed by the Chorotega Indians, near Finca Magdalena, Isla Ometepe

Rural life in Magdalena, Isla Ometepe

The sun sets on Isla Ometepe

Lazing around on Santo Domingo beach, Isla Ometepe

Santo Domingo beach - it's a pity it's full of sandflies - Isla Ometepe

The beach and Pacific Ocean at San Juan del Sur

Darren and Sarah at Bahia Majagual. We shared the area with toads, monkeys, snakes and the occasional scorpion

Bahia Majagual's Pacific beach

Another sunset, this time at Bahia Majagual

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LINKS

www.innicaraguaguide.com

www.vacationsnicaragua.com

www.visit-nicaragua.com - in Spanish only

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.