Nut Vendor

I'm busy and have no new stuff to tell you about, so I'm posting a few pictures from years past.  New to the blog, but not necessarily current.  This photo of a girl selling nuts in the main square in León, Nicaragua, was taken by Ed.



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2015: Western Blaze
2014: Where The Boys Are
2013: Trimming The Family Tree
2012: Waking Up With A Fat Man
2011: The King Lived Here
2010: Love
2009: Over The Hill And Over The Top
2008: Mr. & Mrs. Javelina And The Carb Encounter
2007: Disk This
2006: Ghostly Landmark
2005: Shopping In Hell

The Whitewashed Domes Of León

Ed on the roof of the Cathedral of León in León, Nicaragua.



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2014: Tormenta De Polvo
2013: A Bridge To Baytown
2012: Sometimes We Like To Lay Low
2011: Pick ‘Em Slowly And Gently
2010: Listen, Learn, And Laugh
2009: Where Is Robin Hood When You Need Him?
2008: All American Eddie Friday
2007: A Hippie Dippie Woo Woo Town Sporting Lots Of Leg Hair
2006: Flowering Rocks
2005: The Cool Mom

There's Always A Church

You can't miss the Real e Insigne Basílica de la Asunción de la Bienaventurada Virgen María (Real and renowned Basilica Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), also known as the Cathedral of León.  It sits in the center of town.  It seems no matter where we go in the world, there's always a church of significance on the touring agenda.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nicaragua's third UNESCO nomination, the cathedral is an important historical landmark. It was designed by a Guatemalan architect, Diego José de Porres y Esquivel. Construction began in 1747 and took 67 years to complete.  It is the largest cathedral in Central America.  

The interior is large and lit by windows at the top of the columns.  The structure is robust enough to have survived several volcanic eruptions and earthquake tremors.  Beneath the cathedral in earthquake-proof crypts are the remains of 27 people.  One of them the famous Nicaraguan poet, Rubén Darío.

Wikipedia states, "The tomb of Darío, father of the Modernist movement in Spanish-language literature and considered Prince of Castilian letters, is to the foot of the statue of San Pablo."  You can see the statues here at the front of each of the columns.

 A shot of the imposing altar.

The aging walls of the cathedral interior, with a holy water receptacle just inside the front entry area.

Agua Bendita (Holy Water)

After we toured the inside, we were taken up to the roof.  The stairwell was skinny and the steps similar to the ones we climbed at the Leaning Tower in Pisa.  There just weren't as many.

The view from the top was beautiful.  We had to take our shoes off before walking onto the pristine white rooftop.  I was surprised it was in such beautiful condition considering all the tourists climbing all over it.  We continued up one more level and got a great overview of the surrounding area.  

Here's Ed coming down from the top level.  

Another feature in the cathedral.

If you know me or are a reader for any length of time, you'll know I often see things with a critical and sometimes judgmental eye (not all things, but some things).  I tell you what I think and I don't always hold back.  I like to present reality.  But, I am learning to be a little softer in some aspects when it comes to the reporting part.

The guide who took us through his city was extremely proud of his people, his country, and the history that went along with it.  He also exuded a certain excitement having the opportunity to share it with us.  And when he was talking I realized that while I was seeing a run down city in an extremely poor country with living conditions that were not even livable by my standards, he was boasting about the university, the cathedral, and the two largest freshwater lakes in Central America (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua). He mentioned them several times and even showed us their location on the country map he had taped inside the front of the tour bus.  He had a great love for all of it.

I like comfort,that's no surprise.  I like a latte.  I need air conditioning.  I don't like to go out of my way or be inconvenienced.  But even if it's a bazillion degrees outside and my feet hurt from all the walking I'm doing, I always travel with an open mind and look forward to what new facts I might learn to enrich my own existence. These countries have rich histories, with civilizations and people who have existed for thousands of years, and I love learning about them.

I also love being able to use my resources to ferret out a good place to eat or get a cup of coffee.  And I always try to find a unique trinket or small souvenir (that's not made in China) to take home with me.

And if I can't find that, I'll keep what I did find tucked away in my mind to think about someday in the future.



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2014: The Parking Problems For A Big Rig Never End
2013: Need I Say More?
2012: Despite The Name, This Might Not Be Your Place If You’re Truly Bashful
2011: Then Someone Lit The Flame And Plain Rode Away On Lion’s Mane
2010: It Once Had A Life
2009: Life’s A Planet Beach
2008: I Wasn’t Even Fishing, But I Certainly Got A Great Catch
2007: Royal Air Force Typhoon Blows Into Nellis
2006: This Dandelion Needs Rogaine
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Única…Original

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We entered Nicaragua at the Port of Corinto, the country's largest Pacific port, and only deepwater port.  Our excursion for the day was taking us to León, the second largest city in Nicaragua, 90 miles away. As we drove through the area outside of the port and through the residential areas on our way to León, the constant thought in my mind was, Oh my god.  They are so poor.

The houses - if you can call them that - had corrugated tin roofs, thatched window coverings, open doorways.  They were shacks.  As we got closer to the city of León, although still run down, the residences looked a little better.  Colorful, maintained a little better.

But it's still one of the poorest countries in the Americas.  Wikipedia says, "According to the United Nations Development Programme, 48% of the population of Nicaragua live below the poverty line, 79.9% of the population live with less than $2 per day, and according to UN figures, 80% of the indigenous people (who make up 5% of the population) live on less than $1 per day."

One to three dollars PER DAY!  So that means if some little girl is selling a handmade string bracelet for two dollars, she'll be getting that two dollars.  I'm not haggling when I spend more on a cup of coffee than they make in three days.

Because it's so expensive to own a car, and then have to pay for gas for that car, many people ride bicycles.  They were everywhere.  In addition to the same kind of tuk-tuks we saw in Guatemala.

A food vendor at the street fair selling rice, plantains, etc.  

We noticed a lot of young people in this area - students - because the UNAN (National Autonomous University of Nicaragua) is located here.  Founded in 1813, it's the oldest university in Nicaragua and the second oldest university in Central America.

In front of the Museo Historico de la Revolucion (Historical Museum of the Revolution) men sat on the steps, bikes parked nearby, watching the tourists stream by.  The sign above and the writing on each side of the doors says Asociacion de combatientes y colaboradores. Historicos Heroes de Veracruz (Association of combatants and collaborators . Historic Heroes of Veracruz.)

The red bottom portion of the wall held a graffiti message.  It said, Bush genosida.  Enemigo de la humanidad.  Muerte al invasor imperial.  (Bush genocide.  Enemy of mankind.  Death to the imperial invader.) 

I checked Wikipedia regarding Nicaragua and did a little Googling about the whole genocide thing - too much political crap and information to include here - if you're interested, you'll have to do your own research on that one.

In closing, I'll leave you with another building that flanks the town square, and the fact that although it may be a very poor country, Lonely Planet ranked Nicaragua #4 on their "Best in Travel 2015" list,  and National Geographic Traveler included it on its "50 Tours of a Lifetime 2013" list.  

Start packing! 

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2014: Living The Examined Life
2013: Trucking Like We're On Fire

2012: Looking For A Coffee Fix
2011: Container Port, You Are No Friend Of Mine
2010: Encased In Plastic
2009: No Lifeguard On Duty
2008: Palm Sketches
2007: You Know Who You Are
2006: I Fear The Family
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Pre-Colombian Toothlace

A toothy artifact  (toothlace - tooth necklace) at the Chorotega Museum in Chinandega, Nicaragua.



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2014: Who Needs Sochi? We've Got Watertown.
2013: Pit Stop At Home
2012: Adding A Few More Wheels To The Big Rig
2011: Again And Again And Again
2010: Hood Ornament
2009: Eddie Out Of Control Friday
2008: My Boyfriend Simon Is Back In Town
2007: A Little Taste Of Miami Beach
2006: Ooooohhhhhh, Jabra!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Grand And Important

León Cathedral, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this one located in León, Nicaragua.  It is the largest cathedral in Central America.



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2014: Winter Is A Table Set With Ice And Starlight
2013: The Romance Of The Road
2012: Celebrate With A Wild Desire
2011: Powerful Stuff
2010: Falling In Love With Ugly
2009: A Love Like This Can Know No Death
2008: Peace To This House
2007: The Sultan Of Love
2006: It’s Even Better Than Arbor Day
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!