We returned to the mainland and jumped in a cab to the colonial city of Granada that sits on the edge of the huge Lago Nicaragua. As has become tradition we spent our first day wondering around the city to get a real feel for the place. It was really buzzy with lots of cafés and stalls (gorgeous jewellery - oopsie!) lining the streets and central piazza. There is a crazy daily market there also and walking through it made it feel like we were in Bangkok instead! We've always been surprised by how quiet so many of the towns we've visited have been but Granada was very alive. Keith even treated himself to a haircut (ok head shave) by a very cool Nicaraguan old boy. A craving for non Central American food resulted in us ending up at a pizzeria that night for some delicious pizza and wine (also a novelty against our usual beer).

The following day we headed to Laguna de Apoyo, a lake that sits in the crater at the top of a volcano west of Granada. You obviously couldn't see the volcano it sat in from the shoreline but it was so easy to imagine based on the shape and landscape around the lake. It was stunning and we had a great time swimming in the (surprising) waves, floating in rubber rings and lazing on pontoons (or as I called them platoons, saloons and numerous other words ending in -oons before remembering the word much to Keith's enjoyment). The water was gorgeous to swim in and apparently very good for you due to the volcanic minerals in it. After using up a huge amount of energy we retreated to a lakeside lodge where we hung out for the rest of the day lazing in hammocks, reading, drinking beer and eating (more pizza!).

We spent our last morning in Granada looking around some of the beautiful buildings including visiting the oldest church in Central America and walking up the bell tower giving us stunning 360 views of the city skyline, volcanoes and Lago Nicaragua.

In Nicaragua there is real rivalry between Granada and Leon which stems from the number of years spent moving the capital between the cities. Both are stunning cities steeped in history but if I was forced to choose Granada just pipped it with it's buzzing streets and the stunning Laguna Apoyo.

On to Playa Maderas!
SM