Raphael Kessler

When I first got to Nicaragua I spent a few days on the island of Ometepe. Ometepe was formed by two volcanoes, Concepcion (photos 1 & 3) and Maderas. A number of petroglyphs and anamorphic stone carvings were found on the island (photos 2 & 3). There were lovely sunsets every night across lake Nicaragua (photos 4 & 5).

The Corn Islands lie off the east coast of Nicaragua in the Caribbean, although Big Corn (photo 1) is not particularly attractive, Little Corn is a good place to chill out and also to do some diving. The fitness centre on the island was not as modern as some I have seen, but is apparently adequate for the islanders needs. 

The old colonial city of Leon has some pleasant architecture including its large cathedral (photo 1). I got to see an old fashion style funeral complete with horse drawn hearse (photo 2). Leon is also the home of the intellectual and artistic heart of Nicaragua, having been home to Ruben Dario and Sandino the icon of the Sandinistas, and the subject of a number of murals around town (photo 3), mostly with an understandably anti-US theme, considering the history of interference from Nicaragua's northern neighbour.