Granada In The Rear View
Granada, Spain conjures up visions of the fabled history of Andalusia, the breath-taking magnificence of the Alhambra, the Moorish conquerors turned overlords.
La Catedral
But Granada, Nicaragua? Before our Nicaragua sojourn our conversations with travelers suggested to us that we would prefer Leon, Granada’s sister city on Lake Managua, which is the larger of the two cities, the liberal bastion, the university town. Granada is smaller, more commercial, more conservative, favored by tourists seeking more amenities. We were fully prepared to be drawn more to Leon; so it came as somewhat of a surprise that we were captivated by Granada, Nicaragua.
The Old Hospital Ruins
In Granada the colonial architecture around the city is being refurbished and upgraded; its charm enhanced with each renovation. The city has begun to effectively lure the tourist – the more affluent class beyond the transient, back-packer crowd.
Hotel on Avenida Calzada
Avenida Calzada, jutting out of Parque Central, is a vital, bustling, pedestrian thoroughfare crowded with restaurants catering to many tastes. The adjoining streets offer more eateries, watering holes, souvenir shops selling traditional handicrafts and shops seeking to accommodate the needs of a growing city.
Kathy’s Waffle House
Scattered around the historic city center are the cathedrals and churches which lend an air of dignity and accentuate the beauty of the skyline. Breezes blowing off Lake Nicaragua help cool the air, in all but the dry season, vitalizing the city.
Iglesia Guadalupe
The physical expression of a city is fundamentally important; it’s the first impression, it’s what keeps you wanting to dig deeper, to know more. And what began to emerge, what drew us back for the third and extended stay was the relaxed feel and hospitality 
exerted by the expat community of varying backgrounds and nationalities. There is an eclectic mix of full-time residents, part-time residents and visitors driven by a multitude of personal motivations. The mix includes retirees, entrepreneurs, gap-year students, NGO professionals, volunteers, vagabonds and thrill-seekers. And most have those ex-pat qualities of gregariousness and affability. It is the norm to run into acquaintances on any short journey as we walk about the city and, since shank’s mare is the preferred mode of travel, social contact is amplified.
Old Train Depot
To augment the welcoming ambiance provided by the architecture and the expats, there is also the availability of world-class medical care and international transportation options found in the capital, Managua, just a short drive north of Granada. Vivian Pellas Medical Center, a newly constructed facility and private hospital, offers exceptional health care services at extremely affordable costs; it’s possible to ensure medical coverage through a monthly payment option. International flights are readily available at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport to whisk tourists and expats to the States, Canada or any onward destination. Tica Bus Line has daily routes to all the capital cities in Central America and Mexico, so low-cost modes of transport are available for shorter jaunts.
So it’s hard to leave a city that we have come to appreciate and friends with whom we’ve had great conversations and with whom we could develop deeper bonds given more time. But we both agree that it’s time for new experiences and locations; time to leave a city and a country that have imprinted themselves upon us and move south, leaving Granada in the rear view.
La Iglesia Xalteva
By Anita and Richard, May, 2014
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“We both agree it’s time for new experiences and locations”–Granada seems like an ideal place to be and will surely be hard to leave behind. Heading south many other fabulous adventures await you, Costa Rica on the horizon? We were there for one short week this past February and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We have two post of our week in the Guanacaste region that might interest you. I can’t wait to read about your next destination. Happy and safe travels. -Ginette
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I’ll be sure to check out your posts on the Guanacaste region as we’ll be here for several weeks after our visit to the Caribbean side of the country. This is our second visit to Costa Rica and it’s living up to our expectations again as a place of spectacular beauty, interesting animal and plant life and people who are warm and friendly.
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What a colorful and charming colonial city – I love the architecture and all those colors, would love to visit
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Granada truly is a magical and inviting city. The architecture is beautiful and the people are some of the friendliest and most welcoming that we’ve met anywhere.
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You’ve really whet my appetite to visit Nicaragua. What beautiful colonial architecture1
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Nicaragua has just begun to get noticed by travelers and tourists and is long overdue for some positive reviews as it is a beautiful country with open and friendly people. There are many fascinating towns and cities to see but Granada is definitely the crown jewel.
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Best wishes for good health and delightful surprises on the next spot in your journey. Looking forward to meeting you in New York.
Keep well.
Maida
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Thanks, Maida, for your good wishes and friendship from afar! It’s good to be moving south again and exploring new places but we’re looking forward to our visit back to the States, too. We’ll let you know when we have an itinerary figured out.
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Wonderful stories and pictures.
Lindsey will be in Toro Nicaragua to surf in July. We all miss you and talk about your travels, especially on Sunday during our beach meeting. Well, after the meeting. Love you both, am just thrilled when I get a new “place to go” with you. Chris
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We’ve been to a couple of beaches near where Lindsey will be going and he’ll love Nicaragua’s clean and amazingly beautiful beaches. There are great beaches for everyone from good surfing to calm swimming so he’ll have to try a few! So sorry we won’t be in the area.
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