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.]]>

Run Rabbit Run Grenada, Nicaragua 2013

A little urchin running through the spotlights at the Guadalupe church in Grenada. The name for the photo was a lyric in a song I just happened to be listening to before putting this post together. Any guesses what the song was? Hint, I’m old so it wasn’t Eminem’s song by that name.]]>

Family Night Out Granada, Nicaragua 2013

One of the many, many families that were going up and down our street one night during the week long celebration of  La Purisima Concepción de Maria in Granada which takes place the first week of December every year. During the celebration a float related to the immaculate conception is paraded down a different street each night and a huge gathering of people ensues, much like a gigantic block party with food stands, music, sirens and constant fireworks. Each street’s float and celebration is a bit different, some more elaborate than others. The fireworks are a constant though. In fact they’ve pretty much continued non-stop throughout the day and night here since we arrived a week ago. And one morning there was a small parade past the house where we are staying at 5:30 in the morning. Thank goodness for the thick adobe walls that muffled the sound somewhat.]]>

Eyes on the Prize Granada, Nicaragua 2013

Some of the crowd intently watching a piñata being attacked by children in the central park of Granada. They had to watch for quite a while to see the candy come flying out as that was one tough piñata.]]>

Happy Feet Granada, Nicaragua 2013

Sometimes the cruise ships over on the coast at San Juan del Sur send folks over to Granada on buses to take in the sights here. When they do, they arrange for entertainment in the plaza. There are folk dancers for the tourists but also a clown and piñatas for the local kids. We were told that keeps them busy and less likely to beg money from the cruise ship visitors.]]>

Smoothie Bar Masaya, Nicaragua 2013

Fruit smoothies are very popular in Nicaragua, or at least they are a popular offering for tourists. They certainly have a variety of locally grown fruits to choose from in making smoothies, many of which I’ve never heard of before.]]>