From Ian

Jan. 6 – First Day – Managua, Nicaragua

What an amazing first day in Managua.  We started our day to a tasty breakfast, serving fresh fruit, tortillas, and omelets.  After breakfast we all got on a bus and traveled to Palacio Nacional, La Cathedral Viejo, and La Casa De Los Pueblos.  They were all in the same location and were very pretty.  As we explored Palacio Nacional we learned a brief history of Nicaragua, including the revolution.  Contained in this building were many beautiful murals as depicted in the pictures.  The old cathedral was destroyed in the last earthquake and has since been condemned; however it still shows its beautiful architecture.  The house of the people was originally where the president resided; however, Ortega has turned this into the house of the people and is unoccupied. 

Our next stop was a mall.  This mall was very upscale and had an American feel to it.  There were stores such as Lacoste, Benetton, subway, papa Johns and more. The prices were all in American and were equivalent to the American price.   

We stopped for lunch at Ola Verde an all-organic local restaurant.  Carla was the owner and she is American.  She has a vision of a healthier Nicaragua, moving away from the packaged/fast-food industry.  The restaurant was upscale and caters to wealthy Nicaraguans.  The food was great! There was also a small store many people bought souvenirs from. 

Following lunch we arrived at el Mercado.  Many vendors had similar items including from handmade pottery, baskets, and food.  Today was three kings day so, not many shops were open, but we were still able to have an enjoyable time and experience the market. 

After the market we went to a favorite spot of ours Tiscapa Hill.  This offered us a wonderful view of the city as we overlooked an old caldera.  There was a huge figure of Sandino, a revolutionary hero, on the top of the hill.  Some of us were feeling very adventurous, including myself, so we took a zip lining tour down the caldera.  We had an amazing time.  Some of us went down backwards and upside down, which made the experience even more thrilling.  

As the sun started to fall we set out for our last location, a local bookstore and Pan Y Vino.  At the bookstore we were able to hear from Susan; she offered a unique view of the political turmoil in Nicaragua, as well as Sangria! We walked next door to the restaurant after hearing from Susan for another delicious meal.  We ate pasta, pizza, and more at Pan de Vino.  Many of us were tired at the end of our meal and were ready to go back to the hotel, sit by the pool, and reflect on our day. 

---------- On a side note I did end up getting food poisoning later in the night, but I am feeling better today.  I appreciate everyone’s concern.  This is why the blog is going up a day late. 

Ian