Last Ride Granada, Nicaragua 2013

This is the only hearse I saw in Grenada, so can’t say whether or not horse-drawn hearses are the norm or special. It’s certainly the first one I’ve ever seen actually in use.]]>

Hearse Driver Granada, Nicargua 2013

A somber or bored (or perhaps both) hearse driver waits at the church door during a funeral.]]>

Nap Time Grenada, Nicaragua 2013

One more color one I forgot to post before switching to black and white for a while.

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The Best Spot in Town Granada, Nicaragua 2013

I hope you enjoyed the unusually long string of color images in the recent POTD posts. But, maybe it’s because we are back in Montana where it’s a pretty much a monochrome world due to all the snow on the ground, I’m switching back to my normal mode of posting black and white images (except where the color just screams to be heard). This bell tower was truly the best spot in town, not only for the view but also because the height gave it unobstructed exposure to the cooling breeze coming off of Lake Nicaragua (seen in the background of the photo). On a hot afternoon that is much appreciated. Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America and in the top 20 worldwide. It is thought to have originally been an ocean bay that was later isolated by volcanic eruptions. Over time the salt water gradually became fresh. The marine life gradually adapted and it is reportedly the only freshwater lake containing oceanic animal life, including sharks, swordfish, and tarpon.]]>

Market Musician Granada, Nicaragua 2013

A troubadour of the Municipal Market in Granada, taking a lunch break at one of the food stalls.]]>

Camera Hounds #4 Grenada, Nicaragua 2013

This young lady came up to us when we were sitting at a table on the street one night eating ice cream. She was selling suckers and gum out of a basket and spent quite a bit of time trying to entice us to buy some (which we finally did). At one point she started messing with my camera so I asked her if she wanted me to take her picture. This is the pose she chose to strike.]]>

Camera Hounds #3 Grenada, Nicaragua 2013

These guys took time out from lighting firecrackers in the street and asked me to take their photo. The kid in the green shirt was trying to get out of the picture.]]>

Camera Hounds #2 Grenada, Nicaragua 2013

The guy on the right was the one who hollered at me to take his photo; the fellow on the left was more camera shy and trying to get away.]]>

Camera Hounds #1 Grenada, Nicaragua 2013

I try to be relatively discrete when taking photos of people on the street, not wanting to intrude (at least too obviously) in people’s lives. When people do notice me taking photos of them the biggest reaction I generally get is a quizzical look. Grenada though has been a different story. It’s the only place I’ve been where someone has seen me just carrying my camera and implored me to take their photo. At first I expected perhaps they’d want me to pay them for privelege but they seemed just pleased to have me take the picture and then show it to them on the camera.]]>

Municipal Market Grenada, Nicaragua 2013

The municipal market is where they separate the serious tourists from the lily-dippers. It takes some gumption (or at least it did for us) to dive right in and experience it up close; and once you’re in there, close is the only choice there is.]]>