New Photo Set: One Day in Granada

December 5th, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

There’s no better way to see Granada than to explore it by foot—and there’s no better time to do this than early in the morning: The sun is rising, tourists are still sleeping, children are going to school in pressed uniforms, and a soft night breeze blows in from the lake. Last Tuesday, December 4, began with my usual pre-dawn recorrido and continued until I watched the sun set from the Iglesia La Mercéd bell tower. I wish I took more people shots, so that’s what I’ll try to do today in Masaya. Enjoy.

Iglesia La Mercéd Part II: Ringing of the Bells

December 5th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

The view was so good, I had to go back for more—at sunset, which happens to be bell-ringin’ time. Volcán Mombacho rises between the pillars, its cloud forest–carpeted flanks oblivious to the bells, as it has been since the first Christians arrived five hundred years ago. Click here for video.

Exploring Granada—Nicaragua’s Colonial Jewel

December 4th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

I discovered the best view in all of Granada this morning—from the bell tower of Iglesia la Merced. I had to pay twenty córdobas (a buck) to don Mauricio, and he let me climb the tight spiral staircase above Granada’s sea of roof tiles. Lake Cocibolca makes the eastern horizon, and the towering Volcán Mombacho to the south… A new “must-see” for Moon Nicaragua:

Bags are packed, I’m ready to go—a Nicaragua, hijueputa!

December 1st, 2007 | By Joshua | 2 Comments »

It’s been ten years since I first set foot in Nicaragua and I’ve been lucky enough to return many times. Still, every trip to The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes is a vividly unique experience. Nicaragua is comfortable for me—yet still insanely foreign. On this trip, I’ll be stomping around Granada, Masaya, and Los Pueblos Blancos, the first places in which I was introduced to the country in 1998. This is Nicaragua at its lushest, greenest time of year … stay tuned for pretty pictures.

Building New Hope: More good work in Nicaragua, more voluntourism opportunities

November 30th, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Building New Hope is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization with years of experience doing community level development work in Nicaragua and El Salvador. They are particularly active in Granada, Nicaragua, where I am going this Sunday. I’m very excited to dine at Cafe Chavalos, a remarkably successful—and delicious—endeavor to turn high risk street kids into gourmet chefs. Building New Hope is also selling high quality Nicaraguan fair trade coffee, oozing with dark roast richness and good karma. These are only two of BNH’s many projects, about which I hope to write more soon. In the meantime, read about their volunteer opportunities. Bueno pues—see you in Granada…

Herbal Studies Retreat this January in Nicaragua

November 30th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

ATRAVES, a Nicaraguan nonprofit association working “to support creative, small-scale, locally controlled initiatives in development, education, health and social justice,” has a few unique opportunities I’d like to share. In addition to building health clinics, schools, and running other projects throughout Nicaragua, ATRAVES offers volunteer opportunities and can help plan and manage group delegations of “students, professionals, women’s groups, service organizations, your five best friends and your uncle—any group with an interest in learning or working in Nicaragua.” They also host a number of themed trips to Nicaragua and there still spaces available for their January Herbal Studies Retreat to Estelí, Juigalpa, and Managua.

I’ll let ATRAVES tell you all about it:
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