Masaya - Week 9

16th Nov

We left Granada at lunchtime and got the chicken bus to Masaya which is a little town on the shores of Lake Masaya. It is famous for its arts and crafts markets and hammock makers. We resisted a hammock as we just couldn't fit it in the bag but did buy a few lovely little local things in the markets.

The "attractive" chicken bus station in Masaya!!

Every Thursday night in Masaya there is a local fiesta around the market with dancing and food etc. We went to take a look and there was a big stage and hoardes of people. We had a typical Nicaraguan meal of tortillas, fajitas and beans (nicer than it sounds but maybe we're just getting used to it!!) while we watched some strange international dancing.

Afterwards, everyone else got up to dance and the highlight was a drunk middle aged man who got up on stage by himself to take the mickey out of the professional dancers. Everyone was laughing and encouraging him and his family were really embarrassed!!

Flor de Caña, reputed to be the world's finest rum. Easily tastier than Bacardi but that's not hard.

My new travelling companion, Burt Reynold's Moustache. The re-birth of the handlebar moustache starts here. Lets have your comments then, I can take it!!

We left Masaya town at 7am to get a bus to Volcan Masaya. It is a 5km walk to the top and we heard that there is no shade and it's a bit of a trek so we managed to invite ourselves on a school trip from the bottom! The teacher was lovely and let us share their guide (in spanish but not a problem for us any more!) and we got a lift all the way to the top.

The view was amazing and the volcano is active so letting off fumes and gases constantly (there are signs at the top to tell you to stay only 20 minutes). After an hour walk around the crater we walked ourselves down (never let it be said that we're too lazy to walk DOWN a volcano!).

Thought to be the mouth of hell, we sure as hell wouldn't want to fall down there...

Barum ching!!