We’d heard good things about Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America, and we were ready to experience it! So to kick off the new year, we headed to Nicaragua for our family vacation.
· Nicaragua is one of the most beautiful countries in all the Americas. Last January, the New York Times ranked Nicaragua as one of the top 3 places to go in the world.
· Nicaragua is among the safest in the world with a lower relative crime rate than the US, France, and Germany.
· Nicaragua is a peaceful and friendly land, but it is not wealthy. A long civil war sapped the economy, as well as various dictators, an earthquake that leveled the capital in ’72, and the devastating hurricane Mitch in 1998. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
· There’s a lot of history concerning Sandinista guerrillas, US marines, Contras, and pirates, but I won’t be discussing those things in this blog.
We flew into the bustling capital, Managua, after many long hours of travel. We used our Hilton points to stay one night to rest and acclimate at the almost embarrassingly posh Hilton Princess before setting out on the real adventure!
The first day was spent getting over the jetlag and chilling by the pool…
The next day we were off to Granada! This lakeside city offers a taste of colonial Spain.
Cobblestone streets lead to the central park and cathedral.
Here the girls pose outside of Guadalupe Church. It was built in 1626 by the monk, Benito de Baltodano. The church was very important during the Colonial time because of its strategic position, at the entrance of the town from the lake.
The meals we had were fresh, simple, and delicious!
At night, the streets of Granada come alive. Here we witness traditional dancing in the street.
We took a great boat cruise in the Isletas, a collection of 365 islands in Lake Nicaragua.
Many of the hundreds of islands are inhabited.
Some were luxury affairs or hotels, while others are occupied by the local folk. Everyone has their own personal island.
After a teary-eyed start to the journey, Z gives the experience a thumbs up!
The horse-drawn carriage ride back into town also gets the coveted thumb and a wink.
Our hotel in Granada provided the perfect escape from the heat and activity of the city. A walled courtyard with a refreshing pool just outside our door made the experience top-notch.
Z jumps for joy near Lake Nicaragua.
My wife makes a new friend.
On our way to our next destination, we viewed Ometepe Island, about 100% Volcano.
We were on our way to San Juan Del Sur, the hub for exploration of Nicaragua’s southern Pacific beaches.
We hiked up to the top of the hill overlooking the bay, where a statue of Jesus keeps watch.
Freshly squeezed juice with just-caught seafood for lunch at a local eatery is hard to beat at $3.
Our hotel room was nothing to boast about, but the location and the beachfront pool were outstanding!
High above the town, Zhenya and daddy prepared for Z’s first zip line adventure!
Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiip!
Sunset on the beach.
The end of another beautiful day in paradise.
Our final stop was the Hacienda Iguana, where we found our paradise.
Our beachfront condo from above.
The view from our patio. No complaints from this gringo. It was really time to relax.
And, in case you’re wondering, that is a baby bump! My lovely wife gave birth to Princeton Jonady Nommesen three months after this photo was taken!
Pool time, recharging the batteries.
Daddy getting his workout.
Mommy relax time!
We had to pause all this relaxation to eat another fresh fish taco meal.
We watched the Charger Bronco playoff game with some local expats. One prego in each fan club!
Zhenya jumping for joy!
My wife makes pregnancy look fun! And baby gets his first brush with tropical water.
Bodysurfing warm water in the middle of winter… To think I could’ve been sitting at a desk!
How could it get any better? Maybe a round of golf?
My wife looks as though she may actually drive this ball down the fairway!
Ball, meet Big Bertha!
Even crustaceans enjoy a day out on the course.
We thank God for a thoroughly awesome adventure in Nicaragua!
Now that we’re back home, we’ve been busy with our latest edition.
Expect this little guy to play some supporting roles in future blog posts! J
Peace and Love,
Christian and family!
