"IN LOVE WITH GRANADA" Top 5 Page for this destination Granada by Sininen

Granada Travel Guide: 386 reviews and 1,152 photos

Hat with feathers - celebrating independence

I am not a fan of cities and planned to spend max. two days in Granada. Countryside and nature in Central America is so beautiful and unique and I ahd decided to skip cities as much as possible. Anyway I ended up staying a week with some side trips to the neighbour towns and villages. Though I had read about Granada beforehand and knew that there are colonial houses I didn't think that there would be so many of them. I fell in love with that colourful city and its people. Still I don't think that I would have stayed there seven days if I hadn't met a Finnish lady who has a school for homeless girls there and she took me to places I would not have a chance to go alone. Sometimes destiny or whatever you want to call it makes the decisions for us.

Beautiful balcony

I was having what I thought would be my last breakfast in Granada when the waiter asked where I was from. "Finland" I answered and was expecting the bewildered look which would have told me that he had no idea where Finland is, but I was surprised. "Finland! My English teacher is from Finland!" he said. He continued: "You are coming here tomorrow?" I had planned to leave Granada that morning but changed my mind. One day wouldn't do any harm, so I told him that I might come back. I thought that he wanted to intoroduce me to his English teacher and my fellow country woman.

Selling fruit from door to door

So early next morning I walked to that café and had my breakfast and coffee and just as I was finishing it Silvio (the waiter) came to me with a blonde woman and told her that he wanted her to meet somebody. She greeted me in English and asked where I was and imagine her surprise when she learnt that I was from Finland. We chatted for a while and she invited me for a lunch and I agreed. I had decided that it would be definitely my last day in Granada, but I was wrong!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Colonial houses, Lago Cocibolca, people
Cons:Tourists -maybe...
In a nutshell:Stay one day, another day and you don't want to leave!

Last visit to Granada: Sep 2005
Intro Updated Jun 30, 2006
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Reviews (25)

ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE Shopping (1)

There are a couple of small supermarkets in Granada but local people still do their shopping in the market. Market is... more travel advice

PUBLIC BUSES VS EXPRESS BUSES Transportation (2)

To get to nearby towns and villages or to Leon and Managua you've got two options. You can use public buses, which are... more travel advice

VISITING CHILDREN'S HOME Local Customs (6)

The Finnish lady I met in Granada asked if I would like to join her when she went to children's home to play with the... more travel advice

LAS ISLETAS, PART II Things to Do (10)

We stopped at one island where there are the ruins of a fortress and beautiful views to Granada and Volcán Mombacho. Our... more travel advice

Nightlife (1)
CASA DE LOS TRES MUNDOS
Hotels (3)
See All HOMELY ATMOSPHERE

Comments (13)

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Jim_Eliason Feb 25, 2011 at 6:42 PM

Great tips!
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Pequen Mar 26, 2010 at 1:25 PM

I am from Nicaragua, I have been to Hanko Finland. Stayed with a Finnish friend and her spouse. I miss the cloudberry wine and jam (Lakka Lapponia?) and the karelia pies.
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blint Apr 1, 2008 at 5:22 AM

Great page, I especially enjoyed your local custom tips :)
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Hermanater Nov 27, 2007 at 11:16 AM

Thank you for the birthday wishes...I too, would like to go back to Nicaragua...beautiful place, beautiful people.
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mvtouring Jan 26, 2007 at 1:10 AM

Very interesting page with some excellent tips. Thanks for sharing.
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Sue08080 Jul 15, 2006 at 4:56 AM

Excellent writing, Sini. The children's home broke my heart. I'll be back to read more. Thanks!
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barryg23 Jul 9, 2006 at 1:50 AM

Hi Sini, this is a very informative page. I'm hoping to visit Central America next year and from what I read of Granada it sounds like an interesting city.
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Kuznetsov_Sergey Jun 30, 2006 at 12:00 AM

Hi, Sini! Granada is really great and your tips are very interesting and informative. Thanks.
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DPando Feb 14, 2006 at 11:50 AM

nice shots and lovely place to be there
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jacquisuiza Jan 6, 2006 at 1:51 PM

Hi Sini, best Nightlife Tip i ever read. Still not finished yet watching your site. Really can’t wait to go there.