Managua, I’m Pleasantly Surprised
Managua pleasantly surprised me, as have the locals. In my first 48 hours in Nicaragua, I've felt nothing but welcome, as my route through this entirely unfamiliar country seems to be materializing.
Hello from Granada, Nicaragua! I arrived into the country two days ago, spending my first two nights in the capital city of Managua at a lovely hostel called La Bicicleta. I had/have zero expectations for Guatemala in general, so everything I’m experiencing is fresh and firsthand.
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When I checked into my hostel in Managua, the host was quick to fill me in on U.S.-Nicaragua relations. Apparently, their allies are America’s enemies, thanks to some unpopular U.S. involvement in placing a dictator at their helm decades ago. His words definitely planted a seed in my mind to be on the more cautious side as I move about this country.
While, yes, I did notice a lot of military presence and military pride while wandering the capital city’s parks and promenades, I must say I have felt nothing but warmly welcomed by everyone I’ve crossed paths with so far, often receiving smiles and “hola” from passerby. Yes, the uncomfortable male gaze is unfortunately as alive and well here as it is in other Latin American countries, but we’ll focus on the good instead. Like how safe I feel, even when wandering the neighborhood around my hostel after dark. I was assured by my hostel staff that it is safe, but I can honestly say it felt that way too.
After one full day and two nights in Managua, I did feel quite ready to move on to my next destination. There’s not a lot to do besides walk to the windy lakefront past lively eateries, a crumbling cathedral, and various parks and government facades. The area around my hostel, however, did have some great cafes and restaurants, which made work and meals quite enjoyable. I’ll be sure to include where I ate in the Managua Foot Tracks to come.
Side note real quick. If you weren’t aware already, I’ve been uploading what I call “Foot Tracks” for each city I visited in Costa Rica. These are essentially round-ups of where I ate, drank, slept, and explored, all for your future reference should you ever follow in my foot tracks. I’ll be doing the same for Nicaragua and every destination here forward. Here’s where you can find my Costa Rica Foot Tracks. Okay, back to Nicaragua.
I’m in Nicaragua with zero plans per usual. But within the first night, I already had a rough idea of where to next, thanks to a conversation I quickly fell into with a Swedish guy and an Indian guy at my hostel. Initially, I was leaning towards heading north to Leon, but after chatting with them, Granada appealed. Both cities boast some of the aesthetics I’ve been known to love with their colonial buildings and cobblestone streets, but Granada’s a bit better placed. All of the other spots I’m thinking I may hit are an easy trip from Granada, unlike the isolated Leon up north. Also, saving Leon for the end means I could potentially squeeze in a quick visit to El Salvador too, hitting Leon on the way back across the border into Nicaragua. I’m not saying I will, but the option’s there if I feel complete with Nicaragua in a few weeks.
That’s right! I haven’t told you how long I’m here. I’ll be here through March 25th, so I have a little over a month to explore. Unlike my time in Costa Rica, I hope to stay longer in each place. Moving every three days was a bit exhausting, I must admit. I can feel myself craving a slower pace or at the very least having enough time to feel somewhat settled before I move on.
I just arrived in Granada this afternoon via public minibus. I’m pretty sure I overpaid for the fare, but there are some battles you just shrug off as you’re finding your footing in a new place. Lucky me was the last to hop on the bus before it took off, meaning no wait for them to fill the bus, but also that the only “seat” left was by the driver on a piece of plastic next to the gear shift and staring into the steadily packed bus aisle and the faces of everyone else facing the direction we were actually going. It was an experience but also a reminder of just how kind the Nicaraguan people have been to me so far. The number of genuinely warm smiles I received every time I accidentally locked eyes with someone continuously added to my overall sense of comfort in this country.
Within minutes of arriving at my hostel in Granada, I already have plans for tomorrow with a few others. We’ll be visiting the Islets de Granada, a series of islands on the lake right next to Granada, on a multi-hour boat tour. Apparently, there will be monkeys, forts, and mansion sightings that belong to prior presidents and millionaires. The best part, it will cost me a whopping $2 USD. Can’t say I’m hating the lower price point of Nicaragua, especially after Costa Rica - “the Switzerland of Central America,” as my Managua hostel host called it.
That’s all for now. I’ll report back in a few days. Thanks for coming along for the adventure. I love bringing you!
Talk to you then!
Amber
