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Nicaragua->Cities: >Managua<{Rivas}{Masaya}{León}{Granada}{East Coast} |
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Nicaragua
Cities: Managua
The Bride of Xolotlán |
Managua City has been the capital of Nicaragua for 152 years (as of 2004) and during this period of time, it has experienced prosperity as well as devastation. Nicknamed "La Novia del Xolotlán" (The Bride of Xolotlán ; Xolotlán being its bordering lake), this city is the financial, industrial and commercial center of the country and with its million plus inhabitants, it's the noisiest and busiest one.
| HISTORY |
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as
well as very bad luck. When the long time rivals Granada and the then capital
León were the top cities in the country, the village of Managua was
just a "resting" place for the merchants traveling from one of
these cities to the other. But due to a conflict between these cities' political
parties, the central government decided to move the capital to another city,
Managua, in 1852, to prevent a civil war.![](javascript:ViewImage('Managua7.jpg',501,376,'view from \"El Malecón\" (towards the south)'))
As
the country progressed, so did the new capital city, however, Mother Nature
and the current leaders decided to change the future into a darker one...much
darker one. At the end of the 1920s, the Government decided to detour all
the city's waste waters into the bordering lake (Managua)
resulting in the pollution of this once beautiful, crystal-clear waters.The bad luck didn't stop there for Managua. In 1931, it was debastated by an earthquake that killed hundreds, destroyed most buildings and of course, collapsed the economy. However, Nicaraguans were not about to just cry on their knees and let the country fall apart.
)
With
prosperity on their mind, Nicaraguans rebuilt the city and the economy was
blooming once again, just waiting to be knocked down one more time. It happened
again. This time, a 7.2 earthquake in the Richter scale hit the city on
a Dec. 23, 1972, bringning down almost every building, damaging others and
of course, taking thousands of lives. Thanks to many people around the world,
there was a lot of support to help the country stabilize, however, that
support, especially the monetary part, was turned into a personal fortune
for the current leaders; but that's another story. Not to forget is the revolution of 1979 that put an end to the "Somoza" 45-year dictatorship. This of course, freed the country but at the same time, damaged the economy.
![](javascript:ViewImage('managua14.jpg',503,378,'Metropolitan Cathedral & \"B.A.C.\" building'))
Now,
the country is the process of reconstruction as more and more buildings
are being built. But the question is, will they be destroyed by yet another
debastating earthquake? Studies show that every fourty-something years,
there's a major earthquake in Managua and the only way that could be prevented
is if the forces of the faults are released little by little; that has not
happened since 1972 so that means the energy has been accumulating. Will
Managua be hit by yet another major earthquake once again? We'll just have
to wait and find out. Hopefully not.| SIGHTSEEINGS |
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The
Managua "Malecón" is a recreational area overlooking Lake
Managua. Here, people can entertain theirselves riding the fairground attractions,
bikes or go rollerblading. Visitor can also have a typical Nicaraguan dish
and listen to music and they check out the view: the majestic Momotombo
Volcano & its little neighbor. Also, there's a museum with displays
of "Managua Viejo" and much more.
At El Malecón, there's the "Plaza de la Fé". This is where thousands of people came to see The Pope, back in 1994, I think. Now, every 19 of July true Nicaraguans celebrate the end of Somoza's dictatorship.
)
But
the most important thing in the area is the very modern Rubén Darío
Theoter. This building is named after the Nicaraguan poet that revolutionized
the "Modernism Movement" as he won dozens of awards and became
one of the brightest poets in Latin America. Behind the theater, there's
a monument to this outstanding Nicaraguan. '))
![](javascript:ViewImage('lp-mga02.jpg',300,218,'\"Carretera Masaya\" (copyright: laprensa.com.ni)'))
The
"New Managua" is now being built on "Carretera Masaya".
The Metropolitan Cathedral is part of the new Managua. It's located near
the Rubén Darío Circle. It was inaugurated back in 1993 making
it the last cathedral built last century.| OUTSIDE THE CITY |
"El Crucero", located at around 25 km south of Managua City, is a pretty "cool" to place to visit, literally. At night, the temperature can go as down as 50F. "Las Nubes", a community on this town, is a must if passing by El Crucero. This place has a lookout overviewing Managua City.
)
Before reaching El Crucero, on the South Highway, there is a house located
on the left hand. This is the "Quinta Angélica" and it's not a regular house...it's
a haunted one. This abandoned house has been haunted for decades, according
to people. My friends and I gave this house a little visit
(not at night of course) and found alot of beer cans and even condoms,
;-), so i guess people like doing stuff here.)
This is "Los Termales". It's a natural Hot Spring located in Tipitapa,
Managua, about 15km from the city. There's a natural sauna room for those
who want to sweat a bit. The place is very clean and there's even a restaurant.| ARCHAEOLOGY |
![](javascript:ViewImage('huellas.jpg',252,361,'\"Acahualinca\" footprints (source unkown)'))
The
"Acahualinca Footprints" is one of the most important archeological
sites in the American Continent. Located in a neighborhood of the same name,
near Lake Managua, these footprints of humans and animals, show us one of
the first presence of the "Homo-Sapiens" in America. They were formed more
than 6,000 years ago and are printed in mud mixed with ash. The museum at
this archeological site of extreme importance also possesses other interesting
stuff like ceramics belonging to the Maya Civilization.|
Nicaragua->Cities: >Managua<{Rivas}{Masaya}{León}{Granada}{East
Coast} |