Corinto & Leon, Nicaragua

Corinto is a port city in Chinandega Department (state). It is the northernmost in Nicaragua on the West Coast. Nicaragua is situated between Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The port itself is pretty industrial, but quite colorful.

Nicaragua is a relatively poor country of 6 Million people currently governed by the Sandanistas (socialists) with plenty of corruption to go around. There is a reasonable police presence and, like in Chiapas, we felt perfectly safe. While this isn't a glitzy place to visit and the poverty is apparent in the shanty-like houses and scrawny looking animals grazing by the side of the road, the people are really friendly and some of the scenery is beautiful.

In contrast to cruises that take you to Eurpoean Capitals our Cruise Director reminded us that places like this serve to remind us to be very grateful for the lives that we live!

Not arriving until 11am we dashed off the ship and were lucky to find Carlos offering his tour guide services on the dock. (If you want to book with him in advance his email is carloramirez_79@hotmail.com). Carlos had spent time in California and Florida and speaks English like a native. He also does translation for the Navy when they have joint events with the U.S. Military. We had a comfy 14 passenger, air conditioned, van which held 12 of us, plus Carlos and our driver. 

We left the port of Corinto, which was evacuated two nights ago due to a tsunami warning precipitated by a 7+ earthquake that was a few hundred miles offshore. Carlos told us that he, his wife, and his 3 kids ages 8, 6, and 2 years, went, when the sirens sounded, to the next town of Chinandega (20 minutes) in the pouring rain, at 3am, on his motorcycle! Luckily, there was not a lot of damage and they were able to return the next morning only to be unnerved at each aftershock.

Back to our tour. After driving down the wrong side of the street to avoid the car, truck, and bicycle pedi-cab collision which had just occurred, we traveled on to look at some of the volcanoes. The visibility wasn't great as there were some low clouds lingering from recent rains. October is the end of the wet season which might be why everything was a beautiful green. In addition to being in an Earthquake zone, there are still a handful of active volcanoes in Nicaragua. We felt right at home. 

Onwards to Leon, the Capital City of Leon, the next Department south. The Departments are named after the largest city which seems imminently sensible to me. Leon is home to the 3rd largest cathedral in Latin America--behind a cathedral somewhere in Peru and one in Mexico City. From the outside it's not terribly imposing, and Carlos was horrified that the exterior painting, begun 3 years ago, is not yet complete.

The inside is quite stunning with beautiful plaster work. It was built in the mid 1700's and took about 100 years to complete. 

Just behind the Cathedral is the public market with the usual array of quite fragrant fish, locally grown vegetables, local pottery, and something I haven't seen before--condiments in plastic bags. Apparently you can purchase your mayo, ketchup, mustard and other items in bags of varying sizes--to suit your needs. 

We grabbed a quick bite and local beer, Tona, at a nice restaurant on the square just in front of the cathedral. Andrew tried to buy one of the restaurant's green and blue t-shirts because they are the same colors as the Sounders. However, with his inadequate Spanish (and no helpful cheat-sheet or sibling) the waiter must have thought he wanted his personal shirt because he just looked horrified and escaped to the kitchen.

On the return trip we stopped at some mud pots, similar to those you find in Yellowstone. The local children scope you out as you arrive, they grab your hand and won't let go, and they serve as helpful guides reminding you to watch your step and asking your name and where you are from. With the help of my language cheat sheet I managed to confuse all of the children, apparently addressing them as you would a respected adult--causing much giggling! They referred to Mark as Santa Claus!