Granada

After a tough first week of classes and volunteer work we took our first group trip with the school to the colorful city of Granada. Twelve students from La Mariposa piled into a rickety van to tour this famous and touristy city. Our first stop was an old graveyard on the outside of town (photos below). Ruth, an intern at Mariposa filled us in on some interesting facts about the differences between American and Nicaraguan funerals.

Our next stop was a cigar factory where the President of Nicaragua buys his cigars. We watched as the cigar maker hand rolled the full leave tobacco and then got to sample the result.

Just down the road from the cigar factory we visited Guadalupes Church built in 1626 and the site of the famous sign reading "Here Stood Granada" after the city was burned by an exiting American conqueror. We went to the top of the church near the bells for an amazing view of the city.

We spent the rest of the day walking around the town taking in the views of the bright homes and businesses. The city was vibrant and alive with people, but we were happy to get back to our small town of San Juan - void of tourists and hawkers.