Volcan Masaya

Ok,

So if the Nicaraguan tourist agency ever owners about what they can provide as an exclusive, special thing, I'm going to go with volcanoes, lots and lots of 'em.  "Come to Nicaragua and see if you get blown up or not"!  It's an interesting tag line!

So, last night wasn't so much of a hike as a drive up to the crater of an active volcano, Masaya.  It's pretty impressive, especially the amount of gas it is putting out as you can see.......

All in all a pretty impressive display, but it was lacking the noise of Telica, that one really made you think it was ready to blow its top at any time.  Mind you, Masaya did have something Telica did not..........

Religious protection!

Ok, so the nuns were there by chance but the cross on the top is pretty impressive, not to mention whoever built it!

So, moving on from the active crater, Masaya also has a dormant crater, again, very impressive hole in the ground.

From here it was a short walk up to the look out point where you can see both together.

A pretty impressive site, honestly I dread to think the relative amount of explosives need to create something like this.  Not worth thinking about.

Anyway, here the pictures kind of end because we descended down into one of the lava tunnels created years ago.  Did he fall down again?  Did he embarrass himself again in some way?  Well....... No and yes.  They gave us all hard hats which given the number of dents I put in mine was probably a good idea all around.  Unfortunately it's difficult to get the idea of the tunnel without being in it.  We got to the end and the guide told us to turn off our torches - could not see a thing!

This was followed by a visit to one of the bat caves (no, not the one in the movies!) and standing there as they were whipping out on their morning hunts was pretty impressive I have to say, they get amazingly clos before turning away!

Then everything got kind of strange, we all (the hopeless group of tourists that is) that we were going to a craft market.  Not something I was particularly bothered with since I have negative space in my bags right now.  However what we actually saw was a Nicaraguan traditional dance show.  This on its own would have been fine - they served beer so we were happy - but the bit in the middle where the guy in a bright white suit came out and started lip syncing to what were told was a popular Mexican singer it was just weird!  Apparently it was done as a parody but I'm not sure I believe it.

Anyway, back in Granada around 945, a late dinner and to bed.  This place is dead quiet at the moment, even the one bar tender I've found who speaks English is confused.  Oh well..........  One more volcano tomorrow.