Rivas, Nicaragua
A cool, breezy, shy morning welcomed the Sea Voyager into the beautiful bay of San Juan del Sur, with no clues of what was coming. Today we left our hiking boots and forest attires behind, we were ready for a different experience, a new culture, a new country, Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is known as the land of volcanoes and lakes, and it did not take long for us to understand why. After breakfast we were taken ashore where a cheerful band played traditional songs for us. Onboard two motor coaches, our Nicaraguan guides filled our ears with interesting information about their country, traditions and local food.
For the first activity of our day, we arrived to a small museum. It was the perfect representation of the colonial architecture of this city, Rivas. Thick adobe walls, breezy open corridors, red terracotta tail roof, almost like going back to the 18th century. But for our surprise the museum itself was not the reason we were there. As we went into the building the curious laughs and shiny eyes of at least 20 beautiful kids between 3 to 5 years old, captured everyone's attention. With their traditional dresses and as the music started playing, all these little dancers took their position and did such an amazing performance. They moved so gracefully, so enthusiastic, so proud.
To be more of a part of Rivas we all took a tricycle taxi known as “pepanos”. Couple by couple, everyone had their own pepano driver, who took us through the streets until we found the market. Inside it all kind of fruits, vegetables and food caught our attention. By going through its dark corridors, we were given the oportunity to admire the everyday life of these people.
Next on our cultural race, we were invited to have lunch on the beautiful property of the Amayo Family, on the western shore of the impressive Lake Nicaragua with the view of the Ometepe Island and its two perfect cone-shaped volcanoes. The Amayo Family not only prepared a delicious buffet lunch, but made all the arrangments for our kids to have a baseball game with the local little league from Rivas.
No one looked ready to leave the Hacienda, we all felt so embraced by this family, by this culture, by this country that we all left with a content heart.
A cool, breezy, shy morning welcomed the Sea Voyager into the beautiful bay of San Juan del Sur, with no clues of what was coming. Today we left our hiking boots and forest attires behind, we were ready for a different experience, a new culture, a new country, Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is known as the land of volcanoes and lakes, and it did not take long for us to understand why. After breakfast we were taken ashore where a cheerful band played traditional songs for us. Onboard two motor coaches, our Nicaraguan guides filled our ears with interesting information about their country, traditions and local food.
For the first activity of our day, we arrived to a small museum. It was the perfect representation of the colonial architecture of this city, Rivas. Thick adobe walls, breezy open corridors, red terracotta tail roof, almost like going back to the 18th century. But for our surprise the museum itself was not the reason we were there. As we went into the building the curious laughs and shiny eyes of at least 20 beautiful kids between 3 to 5 years old, captured everyone's attention. With their traditional dresses and as the music started playing, all these little dancers took their position and did such an amazing performance. They moved so gracefully, so enthusiastic, so proud.
To be more of a part of Rivas we all took a tricycle taxi known as “pepanos”. Couple by couple, everyone had their own pepano driver, who took us through the streets until we found the market. Inside it all kind of fruits, vegetables and food caught our attention. By going through its dark corridors, we were given the oportunity to admire the everyday life of these people.
Next on our cultural race, we were invited to have lunch on the beautiful property of the Amayo Family, on the western shore of the impressive Lake Nicaragua with the view of the Ometepe Island and its two perfect cone-shaped volcanoes. The Amayo Family not only prepared a delicious buffet lunch, but made all the arrangments for our kids to have a baseball game with the local little league from Rivas.
No one looked ready to leave the Hacienda, we all felt so embraced by this family, by this culture, by this country that we all left with a content heart.
