Leon, Nicaragua 12/27/2017

Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Leon, Nicaragua

I don't seem to have any control over the sequencing of pictures or where the text ends up.  I hope you are able to make sense of these posts as the order is quite random when I check after posting.

Leon, Nicaragua is located along the Chiquito River and boasts innumerable well-preserved Spanish colonial churches, residences and other buildings.  Leon was the leading educational center until the mid-18th century and is home to the second oldest University in Central America.    Leon is the gateway to some of the world’s most visually arresting vistas, including vast tropical rain forests and soaring peaks.  Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua.   

Cristobel?  My bus driver was so accommodating.  He just stopped in the travel lane and those of us that wanted a picture got out and took one as the other drivers waited.  No horn blowing, no impatience.  

While Nicaragua has economic issues, most of the homes we saw today were a little better kept than the other Central American countries we have visited.  We also saw more commercial industry along these roads.  Like its neighbor, Costa Rica - Nicaragua is home to dozens of volcanoes.  On our 90 minute drive to Leon, we passed through pretty farm land with volcanos in the distance.  Nicaragua claims to have some of the most fertile soils on Earth.  Its farming culture has thrived for centuries.  Exports include sugar cane, cattle, peanut, plantain, and sorghum.  Coffee plantations are called fincas.   

Basilica Cathedral of Leon.  We visited the Basilica Cathedral of Leon/Our Lady of Grace Cathedral/Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The church is a UNESCO sight.  Built between 1747 and 1814.  It is the largest cathedral in Central America.  The design is a blend of Baroque and Neoclassical styles.  The walls thickness have allowed the Cathedral to survive tremors, volcanic eruptions of Cerro Negro volcano and wars.  The church has seven tunnels under the church that led to other churches in the city.  Seven cellars increase the building’s stability and help with earthquake survival.   Thirty-four domes provide light and ventilation making it one of the best naturally illuminated cathedrals in America.  Twenty-seven prominent Nicaraguan people and church leaders are buried in the crypts designed to survive earthquakes.  

Creche inside the cathedral

Creche inside the Cathedral

Tomb of Dario, the father of the Modernist movement in Spanish-language literature is marked by the leon/lion which was carved by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.  

Creche constructed on the square in Leon.

Creche created on the square in Leon.

Creche constructed on the square in Leon.

Large figures facing the Leon Square.

Creche constructed on the square in Leon.

Leon's Cathedral interior

The sculptor Jorge Navas Cordonero sculpted Neoclassical statues of the Twelve Apostles next to each column of the central nave.  The sculpture of Christ marks Monsignor Pereira's tomb.  

The sculptor Jorge Navas Cordonero sculpted Neoclassical statues of the Twelve Apostles next to the columns of the central nave.  I believe this is the statue of San Pablo.  

The crew welcomes us home with singing, clapping and champagne.  

Not sure what the story of these huge figures is, but here's Julia.  

Creche on the Leon Square.

FACEBOOK  Docked in Corinto, Nicaragua and traveled ninety minutes to Leon.  

Like its neighbors, Costa Rica and Guatemala, Nicaragua is home to dozens of volcanoes.  The pictured volcano is San Cristobal, the highest and among the most active in Nicaragua. My bus driver was so accommodating.  When asked if he could stop for pictures, he just stopped in the travel lane and those of us that wanted a picture got out.  The drivers following us, waited patiently with no horn blowing until we climbed back on the bus.  

While Nicaragua has economic issues, most of the homes we saw today were a little better kept than the other Central American countries we have visited.  We also saw more commercial industry along these roads.    On our 90 minute drive to Leon, we passed through pretty farm land with volcanos in the distance.  Nicaragua claims to have some of the most fertile soils on Earth.   Exports include beef, coffee, gold, sugar cane, bananas, tobacco, peanuts, plantain, and sorghum.  Coffee plantations are called fincas.   Looks can be deceiving.

When doing some research I learned that Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America.  Cruel dictatorships, civil war and natural disasters have all negatively affected the people.   Nearly fifty percent live at an extreme poverty level, mostly in rural areas.  Nicaragua has the lowest minimum wage in the world.  The poverty rate has been falling but indigenous people are still neglected.  Poor health conditions and violence against women continue to be problems.  The people have many grievances with the government.  Recent demonstrations in April, 2018 resulted in nineteen dead and over 100 missing.  There were more demonstrations in May.   Outside organizations are working to help the people.  One group is educating farmers to improve production, opening technical schools and helping to meet specific needs of communities.  

Colonial Leon -  We visited the Basilica Cathedral of Leon/Our Lady of Grace Cathedral/Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The church is a UNESCO sight.  Built between 1747 and 1814.  It is the largest cathedral in Central America.  The design is a blend of Baroque and Neoclassical styles.  The walls thickness have allowed the Cathedral to survive tremors, volcanic eruptions of Cerro Negro volcano and wars.  The church has seven tunnels under the church that led to other churches in the city.  Seven cellars increase the building’s stability and help with earthquake survival.   Thirty-four domes provide light and ventilation making it one of the best naturally illuminated cathedrals in America.  Twenty-seven prominent Nicaraguan people and church leaders are buried in the crypts designed to survive earthquakes.  Around the square in front of the church different groups had created life-size creches.  I'm not sure if it was a competition or an opportunity to show the true meaning of Christmas.  
Sixty-thousand Americans visit Nicaragua each year helping the tourism industry to grow.  There also was a bill approved to grant a 50-year concession to finance and manage a canal to compete with the Panama Canal.  HK Nicaragua Canal Development Investment is headed by Wang Jing, a Chinese billionaire.  It would seem that the Chinese investor has backed out.  I cannot find any information to indicate that the construction has begun although the Nicaraguan government indicates it will go ahead with dry land expropriations (eminent domain).  There is concern about polluting Lake Nicaragua, a fresh water reservoir.