Granada - Cultural Gem

Granada is a beautiful city on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Founded in 1524 by Franciso Hernandez de Cordoba, it is a masterpiece of colonial architecture. As it grew in importance, it became the target of pirates in the mid-17th century, who sailed up the San Juan River from the Caribbean and across the lake to raze the city several times. The city was again destroyed in the 1850s by the troops of the mercenary William Walker, an American who tried to establish control over Central America. But Granada was rebuilt again and lived on. We stayed in a nice colonial hotel with a refreshing pool and very nice staff (Hotel Real la Merced across from the beautiful Iglesia La Merced). Walked around the city, enjoyed some good meals, visited volcanos, did laundry, washed the truck, and got organized for the next legs of our journey.