To beat the heat and enjoy some time chillin with our friends, we hopped on a bus that would take us to a party boat on the lake. For just $10 per person we spent the day on a large party pontoon boat, complete with booze, food and music. We floated the day away chatting with old friends and making new ones, arriving back on shore by four in the afternoon, tired for a day of too much fun.
While floating and chatting to a Canadian woman about Panama a small boat pulled up to ours to deliver fresh tilapia for lunch. Excited and hungry we climbed back onto the boat to order lunch. But as soon as the fish was safely delivered aboard to the boat crew, the fisherman passed out drunk in the small boat. Everyone watched and laughed as the boat began to drift away from the larger one while people yelled trying to wake up the drunken fisherman.
The next day was spent roaming around the city of Granada taking in the sights and sounds. Clyde and I boarded a horse drawn buggy for a one hour tour around the town. Our guide used his best English to tell us about the historic sights of the city.
Next stop was a visit to Mombacho Cigar Factory for a tour. Nicaragua is second in the world to Cuba for it's production of some of the finest cigars in the world. While admittedly I have absolutely no interest in cigars, learning how they are made was rather fascinating. While the tour of the small factory was interesting the smell of tobacco and nicotine was overwhelming, especially inside the humidor and other small rooms.
We popped into a small museum that featured pre-Colombian pottery and were given a private tour by its gringo owner named Geoff. The owner and his wife are both archaeologists from the states who have been living in Canada for many years. They have been coming here to Nicaragua for the past many years for digs and research. During one visit he was told about a local collection of pottery purchased by a rich gringo that had passed away. To make a long story short Geoff and his wife ended up managing the museum and will soon be moving here to make it their own. What a wonderful opportunity for them to be able to follow their passion in retirement and also bring something so interesting to the community of Granada.
Today we took a bus ride to the famous Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Basically a large lake set in the caldera of two extinct volcanos, we enjoyed another relaxing day of floating in the water. Lake Apoyo is said to be over 23,000 years old so it's safe to assume that the volcanos are really extinct, at least they were today. This popular tourist attraction is home to a variety of animals and plant life with a nearby hostel, restaurant, bar and plenty of family entertainment.
Granada is home to many wannabe Mexican restaurants offering up their version of food. Tonight we had some burritos at Taco Stop as we dined outside people watching. Just as we finished up our meals a young man approached us and pointed at our trays. Apparently he was looking for food scraps and since he refused to leave we let him take them. Immediately he sat down on a nearby step to rummage through our few scraps of food. We left the table soon after and headed back to our apartment sad to think about what we had just experienced. Travel is both fascinating and eye opening as we explore the world one country at a time, learning about other cultures along the way.
While Granada is a lovely Colonial village full of tourists it's also home to many poor Nica's just trying to live their lives. Yet what the Nica's lack in material things they make up for in friendliness, as they open their arms to tourists and foreigners alike who fall in love with their simple country. Some of those foreigners like our friends Pat and Rich have decided to call this place home, enjoying the benefits of an early, more affordable retirement paving their own way.........along the gringo trail.
Terry and Clyde are able to "Travel The World House Sitting" and so can you! We have created a website to help people who want to learn about house sitting. Information for both the prospective house sitter and for someone who needs a house sitter.
the New Website --> CLICK HERE
How to Get Your First House Sit --> CLICK HERE
How to find a house sitter ----> CLICK HERE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apoyo_Lagoon_Natural_Reserve
 |
| Transportation to our Party Boat |
 |
| Party Boat |
View Of Volcano
Tiny Islands Called Isletas
Houses On Some Of The Isletas
Pat, Rich and Terry
 |
| Lunch is here |
The next day was spent roaming around the city of Granada taking in the sights and sounds. Clyde and I boarded a horse drawn buggy for a one hour tour around the town. Our guide used his best English to tell us about the historic sights of the city.
 |
| Party in the Park |
 |
| Her Royal Coach Awaits |
Next stop was a visit to Mombacho Cigar Factory for a tour. Nicaragua is second in the world to Cuba for it's production of some of the finest cigars in the world. While admittedly I have absolutely no interest in cigars, learning how they are made was rather fascinating. While the tour of the small factory was interesting the smell of tobacco and nicotine was overwhelming, especially inside the humidor and other small rooms.
 |
| Sorting by color |
Drying The Tobacco Leaves
An Employee Rolling A Cigar
 |
| Our Guide |
 |
| Storage room |
We popped into a small museum that featured pre-Colombian pottery and were given a private tour by its gringo owner named Geoff. The owner and his wife are both archaeologists from the states who have been living in Canada for many years. They have been coming here to Nicaragua for the past many years for digs and research. During one visit he was told about a local collection of pottery purchased by a rich gringo that had passed away. To make a long story short Geoff and his wife ended up managing the museum and will soon be moving here to make it their own. What a wonderful opportunity for them to be able to follow their passion in retirement and also bring something so interesting to the community of Granada.
Cooking Pot later used as Burial Urn
Pre Colombian Pottery
Made Before Columbus Came To Central America
Today we took a bus ride to the famous Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Basically a large lake set in the caldera of two extinct volcanos, we enjoyed another relaxing day of floating in the water. Lake Apoyo is said to be over 23,000 years old so it's safe to assume that the volcanos are really extinct, at least they were today. This popular tourist attraction is home to a variety of animals and plant life with a nearby hostel, restaurant, bar and plenty of family entertainment.
Granada is home to many wannabe Mexican restaurants offering up their version of food. Tonight we had some burritos at Taco Stop as we dined outside people watching. Just as we finished up our meals a young man approached us and pointed at our trays. Apparently he was looking for food scraps and since he refused to leave we let him take them. Immediately he sat down on a nearby step to rummage through our few scraps of food. We left the table soon after and headed back to our apartment sad to think about what we had just experienced. Travel is both fascinating and eye opening as we explore the world one country at a time, learning about other cultures along the way.
While Granada is a lovely Colonial village full of tourists it's also home to many poor Nica's just trying to live their lives. Yet what the Nica's lack in material things they make up for in friendliness, as they open their arms to tourists and foreigners alike who fall in love with their simple country. Some of those foreigners like our friends Pat and Rich have decided to call this place home, enjoying the benefits of an early, more affordable retirement paving their own way.........along the gringo trail.
Terry and Clyde are able to "Travel The World House Sitting" and so can you! We have created a website to help people who want to learn about house sitting. Information for both the prospective house sitter and for someone who needs a house sitter.
the New Website --> CLICK HERE
How to Get Your First House Sit --> CLICK HERE
How to find a house sitter ----> CLICK HERE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apoyo_Lagoon_Natural_Reserve
No comments:
Post a Comment