Granada

Granada.
Nicaragua.
UNESCO World Heritage City.
Nicaragua feels safe - other than the dogs.
Nicaragua has the lowest crime rate in Central America.
Nicaragua has several picturesque cities - not just one.

Nicaragua has one really ugly city - only one. 

Nicaragua has a really dirty countryside that is strewn with plastic and other debris that bakes in the sun.


People smile here a lot and they smile to each other a lot.

People don´t make such a big deal here about us travelling with kids.  Or at least, less of a deal than in the past few countries. 

People ride horses here.  Ride them for real; not just to take you around for buggy tours of the city - but they´ll do that too if you like. 

People tout tourists here.  For dollar exchange, for weed, for boat tours.  It´s a UNESCO Heritage city afterall.

The architecure here is great.
There are lots of old churches.
The buildings are all painted beautifully - like paint chip samples that all match.
The churches date back to the 1500´s.  Think about it.  Columbus was still alive.  But then you think about the Mayan ruins and they are still a bit more impressive, and older....but the paint doesn´t match on them.




I´d say this country is easily worth repeating.  A flight to Managua and you can take a shuttle bus or taxi from there to so many cool places in a very short distances.
Mountains, volcanoes, remote beaches, good surfing, a very large lake that you can boat tour across - also with twin volcanoes inside the lake, pre-columbian ruins, a Carribbean island called Corn Island with white sand beaches.

I should also mention that we found a flight for 69 bucks - that´s 130 with taxes in - from Panama city to Montreal.  Don´t know if we´ll book it yet or not, but I do suggest you check out spirit air if you have a job that lets you take holidays in random times of the year in January or February.  They are starting service to Toronto on Jan 27th. Ridiculously cheap - but you have to pay to check in your luggage....so what?



We´re moving on today.  South.