yellow cathedral, the city’s star attraction.
Though up on a terrace, the surround-sound
of Nicaraguan nightlife drifts into my eardrum;
clanking of picnics, laughter of families and
salsa music from the busy street across the
square, where adults sway to classical salsa
whilst the youth bop to nouveau fusion by
popular artist, Romero Santos. Behind me,
the night skyline is punctuated with the dark
outline of Mombacho volcano, omnipresent
over Granada.
Masaya Volcano
After hiking Mombacho, we charge up a
mountain road in an old pick-up truck towards
Masaya volcano. It’s a steep but steady incline
to the mouth of Masaya. Surrounding open
plains are gusty and the wind whistles. In the
440
trees, we spot the national bird of Nicaragua,
the ‘Mot Mot.’ A short walking trail leads to the
edge of the crater, where I attempt to peer into
a sunken hollow, greeted only by sulphurous
outpouring of thick white plumes of fog. The
crater is overlooked by a 33-foot cross, erected
by Spanish conquistadors in the 15th Century
to bring peace to the ‘gates of hell.’
The drive back takes us through Masaya, the
hotbed of Nicaraguan folklore. Famous for it’s
artistic gardens, handicrafts and traditional
folk dances, the air is redolent with the scent of
exotic florals. Apoyo de Laguna is a worthwhile
stop, for it’s all-encompassing views over the
volcanic mineral lake.
Whilst there’s much to see and do in Granada,
these sights are in close proximity, making it
an undisputable stand-alone destination.
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