“Nicaragua is the largest Central American nation and has stunning landscapes, vast cultural treasures, and an intriguing history.
Until recent times Nicaragua was unfortunately known for the civil war (Sandinistas and Contras) that raged from the late 70s through much of the 80s. Today, the soldiers and guerrillas have given way sightseeing in a beautiful country. From strolling the cobblestone streets of colonial Granada on Lake Nicaragua, to exploring one of the many volcanoes, Nicaragua has something for even the most seasoned traveler.” – Princess Patter
We got an early start from San Juan Del Sur on our way to Managua. We were told that it was a two and a half hour drive and we hoped to make it by 10:00 am. During the ride, our guide gave us a fairly thorough background on the history and politics of Nicaragua. She began with Bolivar’s war of independence from Spain for Central America. Then the U.S. occupation of Nicaragua and Sandino’s war to throw the U.S. Marines out. The assassination of Sandino and the installation of the U. S. puppet Anastasio Somosa which led forty years later to the Nicaraguan Civil war between the Sandinistas (named after Sandino) and the U.S. backed Contras. The Civil War ended with a treaty which established, among other things, an election for President with both sides putting forward a candidate. That first presidential election was won by the Contra’s candidate but five years later the Sandinista Leader, Daniel Ortega won in a three way contest and he has been re-elected three times since then.
When we arrived in Managua, we found a busy modern city. We noticed a huge black silhouette on a hilltop in the center of the city that looked like a cross between the Marlboro man and Pancho Villa. As that hilltop was our first stop in Managua, we soon learned that the black figure was the profile of Augusto Sandino. (Pictures, posters, statues and every other type of likeness of Sandino are everywhere in Managua.)
The hilltop on which the Sandino silhouette stands is the site of the old Presidential Palace. The Palace was destroyed by earthquake in 1972 as was most of the capital city’s center. On one side of the hill you can see what remains of the old city center and on the other is sprawling new city.
From the hilltop we went to a recreation area on shore of Lake Managua (Lake Xolotlan), Paseo Las Alameda.
Next we travel to what was the center of the city prior to the earthquake and which is now an open plaza where the old cathedral still stands … roofless and full of cracks.
Just off the plaza is the Nicaraguan National Museum …
As baseball is the national sport of Nicaragua, we had to pass the baseball stadium …
We were treated to a Salvadoran lunch and then we went to another hilltop where we could look down on a dormant volcanic crater which is now a lake. In the distance we could see the colonial city, Granada, and beyond it Lake Nicaragua.
Finally, as we drove back to San Juan del Sur, we were reminded of the volcanic nature of the geography as the active volcano, Conception, loomed on the horizon …
