Today, we left Granada for Leon, a more cosmopolitan city with a population of 212,000. Instead of taking hot and crowded chicken buses, this time we opted for a tourist shuttle. The driver picked us up at noon in a 12-passenger, air-conditioned microbus with a total of five passengers, making for a comfortable 3-hour ride.
Lodging: Hotel Cacique Adiact, Leon. Our last hotel was exceptional, but this one is great too! A big, clean, comfortable room with a view from the balcony of Volcan San Cristobal, the tallest volcano in Nicaragua, smoking in the distance. There's also a restaurant and swimming pool - very welcome in the 95-degree heat. We'll be here three nights.
Hotel Cacique Adiact
Private balcony
Volcan San Cristobal from our balcony
Another nice pool
After settling in to our new room, we headed out toward Parque Central. There are more crumbling colonial churches and historic buildings in Leon than you can shake a stick at - and lots of political murals as well. The second largest city in Nicaragua, Leon has an energetic, big-city vibe, exciting after quiet Ometepe Island and laid-back Granada.
Santuario Diocesano Nuestra Señora de La Merced
Altar of Nuestra Señora de La Merced
Political mural
El Enano Cabezon and La Gigantona
Facing the park is the gleaming white Catedral de Leon, also know as the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the largest church in Central America. Supposedly, the building was meant to be built in the “more important” Lima, Peru, and a more modest structure built here, but the architect purposely switched the plans. You'd think in the 67 years it took to build, someone might have noticed...
Catedral de Leon
For $3, you can ascend to the top of the cathedral. You have to take your shoes off before stepping onto the roof to preserve the white rooftop. The roof itself is beautiful, covered in domes and decorations. While we were up there, it came time to ring the bells, which is done manually. It was SO LOUD!
Gleaming white rooftop
Domes and spires
Additional roof decor
Bells, bells, bells!
From the cathedral's roof, you have spectacular views of Leon as well as much of the volcanic chain that bisects the country. Arriving shortly before 5:00, were allowed to stay until just after sunset. Wow!
Volcanic chain
City of Leon
Iglesia de la Recoleccion
Iglesia El Calvario
Softening sky
Sunset from the cathedral
At dinnertime, we made our way to Beers and Pallets brewpub, where we enjoyed several craft beers with our carnitas tacos and pulled pork. We also got some beer to go to enjoy later on our balcony. Perfection!
Cheers from Beers and Pallets!