In and Around Grenada
29 October 2007 | Granada, Nicaragua
Julie
We left Merida on Monday morning and took the bus, ferry, cab and finally bus to Granada. We checked into the Hotel Oasis which was recommended to us - nice enough spot with a pool, free internet and direct TV. Our room was a bit stuffy and mildewy, but it was centrally located and did the job for one night. We wandered around the city and down to the lake at sunset. The city has some beautiful buildings, some parts are very run down but there is a redevelopment area around the cathedral which is very nice - colorful renovated buildings and lots of popular restaurants, cafes and bars. After a much needed shower, we went out for a glass of wine at a little wine bar on the main square and then had dinner at Dona Conchi, which had also been recommended. It was a nice setting, but the food was pretty average and overpriced. I guess we should have known by the fact that the only other couple in the place was American.
We enjoyed a little CNN and had an early night as we were getting up early the next day to hike up Volcan Masaya. We took an express bus towards Managua which was the best discovery of our trip. Express buses, that is. The bus dropped us off right the entrance to the park and we walked up to the entrance gate where they let us keep our bags while we walked to the top. It was a 5.5 km trip each way on a paved road. It was fairly easy but the view at the top was spectacular. You could see down hundreds of feet into the crater as well as miles and miles in each direction. We walked around the perimeter of the volcano before hiking back down to catch another bus on its way to Managua. This one was a mini-van and we were passengers #18 and 19. We sat in these little backward seats behind the drivers seats and it was hilarious. Good thing it was only for about 30 minutes. We changed buses in Managua to another similar minivan and continued on another two hours to Leon.