Foto: The great cathedral of Leon (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Nicaragua - In just over an hour, I arrive in León. On the way, I have a view of the Momotombo volcano. The old city of León used to lie at the foot of this volcano. When it erupted in 1523, the city was completely destroyed. The old city, León Viejo, is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After its destruction, the new León was founded 35 kilometers further away. My hotel is in the center of the new city, one block from the central square. On this square, the Parque Central, stands the Cathedral of León, the largest cathedral in Central America. Standing in front of the cathedral, I’m struck by how wide it is. It looks bulky. Inside, the church is beautifully decorated. I struggle to find the famous twelve apostles, but a guide points them out to me on the twelve pillars. He also shows me the tomb of the famous poet Rubén Darío. For a small fee, I can visit the roof. I follow the guide up a narrow staircase. From the roof, I have a view over the mercado behind the church. The mercado is a large market hall filled with small shops. Around the streets of the market, all kinds of things are being sold. I wander among the stalls. I see fruit, meat, and also pots and pans for sale. Everything you might need is here. At the end of the market, I arrive at the Iglesia El Calvario. A beautiful church painted in various colors. Inside, people are singing. I think a mass is taking place. I peek inside from the back. Back at the central square, I order a drink. From the terrace, I watch people passing by. I end my walk through the city center with a visit to the Iglesia de la Recolección, a beautiful baroque church.
By car to the Masaya crater
Nicaragua - After about half an hour, Belisario turns off the main road, and the bus drives into the parking lot of Masaya National Park. The gate is still closed. It turns out the staff is in a meeting, so we have to wait. The Masaya volcano is one of the most active ...
Kayaking among the Isletas de Granada
Nicaragua - I take a minibus to the lake to go canoeing among the Isletas de Granada. Off the coast of Granada lie numerous small islands, which were formed by a volcanic eruption of the Mombacho volcano. Francesco is the guide this morning. He hands me a life jacket ...
Lava at the Telica volcano
Nicaragua - After more than an hour and a half, the Jeep stops at the base of the volcano. I see the mountain giant towering in front of me. A thick cloud of volcanic gas rises from the crater. Miguel, my guide for this volcano, hands me a flashlight. He also distributes ...
Sliding down Cerro Negro
Nicaragua - Cerro Negro is a relatively young volcano, formed in 1850. The 400-meter-high volcano is very active. In recent years, it has erupted frequently. Like the Telica volcano, Cerro Negro lies on the boundary of tectonic plates, about 35 kilometers outside ...
The Concepcion on Isla de Ometepe
Nicaragua - At a local family’s home, a small table is set up in the yard. In the little kitchen, my breakfast is being prepared. I also meet Louis here. Louis is my guide for today, an enthusiastic 24-year-old guy. After breakfast, I'm driven to the starting point ...
The old town of Granada
Nicaragua - I’m on my way to Granada, an old colonial town located on Lake Nicaragua. Granada was founded after the Spanish invasion in 1524 and named after the Spanish city of the same name. Thanks to its favorable location 20 kilometers inland, it was an ideal ...