{"id":7065376,"date":"2026-09-24T02:09:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T02:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/a-wandering-widow-solo-travel-we-arrive-in-nicaragua\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T02:09:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T02:09:03","slug":"a-wandering-widow-solo-travel-we-arrive-in-nicaragua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7065376","title":{"rendered":"A Wandering Widow – Solo Travel: We Arrive in Nicaragua"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
How do I complete
this form?<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0No sleep and a 4am departure time made us a pretty exhausted group of travellers heading to the Nicaragua border.\u00a0 We dozed on the bus as much as we could during the four hour journey, only waking for a breakfast stop along the way. The border exit for El Salvador was in a small office near the boat harbour at the city of La Union. We were all confused by the documents we had to fill out which were in Spanish only but with the help of our guide, Nestor, we managed to get the job done.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Documents completed and then a walk down the jetty to the boat which would take us across the gulf of Fonesca to Nicaragua.\u00a0 The crossing took one and a half hours and, as luck would have it, especially after last night’s storm, the sea was like glass. Our small boat skimmed across the water at high speed while we enjoyed the views of various islands along the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0It was quite a strange entry into a new country.\u00a0 Our boat pulled into a deserted bay at Potosi, anchoring off shore, so we had to wade in, no trouble to we Intrepid travellers, though.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wading ashore on arrival in Nicaragua (Photo by Thomas Bauer)<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Fortunately a porter appeared to carry our luggage.\u00a0 We were in awe of his strength as he carried three suitcases at a time. Apart from the porter there was nobody around.\u00a0 Eventually a customs and immigration official sauntered out of a nearby office to complete our documentation at a small table by the beach. So now we were in Nicaragua, the fourth country of our trip.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

After loading up a new bus we were on our way to the city of Leon, stopping briefly for lunch at a roadside buffet.\u00a0 Hotel Real, was very pleasant and on a street within easy walking distance of the city centre and square.\u00a0 Once settled in Nestor took us on an orientation walk.\u00a0 I love the way all the places we have been to so far have vibrant city squares where people congregate just to chat and catch up. They sure are proud of their revolutionaries in Nicaragua, large portraits of them line the attractive main square and the street leading into it.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pictures of Nicaragua’s revolutionaries lining the street<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The next morning we went on a walking tour of the city, advertised as free but requiring a $10US tip!\u00a0 It was well worth it, though.\u00a0 Our articulate English speaking guide told us of the revolutionary history of Nicaragua pointed out many things of interest and took us to the university where pretty much all of the country’s writers, poets and historians had studied. Next it was on to the food market where for only $2US each we got to try a wide variety of traditional food and drink.\u00a0 This was great and the food was nothing like the fried, greasy food we have encountered a lot along the way. As we were leaving a cafe where we had had coffee with others on the tour the skies opened to torrential rain flooding the gutters but it was a brief downpour.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amanda Schofield made t<\/span><\/b>his fabulous collage of her photos
of our trip to the Leon Market\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Later that afteroon several of us went to the cathedral to climb up very narrow stairs to the roof for views over the city and great views they were too. A number of volcanoes could be seen in the distance.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On the roof of the\u00a0 World Heritage listed Leon Cathedral.\u00a0
(Photo by Thomas Bauer)<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On the roof of the Cathedral. Volcano in the background
Words say “God save our Church” Nicaragua has many earthquakes.<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As we were walking to a restaurant for dinner Marina and I stopped to chat to a couple who were sitting in rocking chairs on their doorstep right on the street, watching people passing by. They were very friendly and keen to talk. We were invited in to have a look at their home.\u00a0 It was absolutely magnificent, like a palace, furnished with beautifully carved Spanish furniture.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/a><\/div>\n


<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Who would have thought that this would exist behind an ordinary door right on the footpath. A Catholic family, they had huge religious paintings and statues decorating the walls and ledges. The woman proudly told us she never cooks, their live-in maid does the cooking.\u00a0 Such a lovely lady, well turned out, friendly and delighted to show us her beautiful home.\u00a0 Meeting locals is one of my favourite things about travel and this was a highlight of our time in Leon.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n