Dyango

What a great offering was given by Dyango last night in the Rubén Darío Theater in Managua, Nicaragua.  He looked tired, aged albeit, but what a voice and what a noble man!  His song was powerful and soul piercing.  No one would dare call him old - Dyango is a classic!  He sang for almost two hours, finishing up with the much solicited "Corazón Mágico" and then a tango encore.  However, one of the more powerful and moving renditions was "Volverte a Ver" and "Cuando quieras, donde quieras".  

He won the crowd over my expressing his admiration and quick love affair with Nicaragua, even hinting that he might buy his own island on the Caribbean Coast, especially when he found out they were being sold for "$100,000".  He said that he ate a cut of Nicaraguan steak that he had never had before - even being a steak lover as much as he is - and loved it!  He sang "Son tus perjúmenes mujer" by the famous Nicaraguan compose/signer Carlos Mejía Godoy.

It was a bitter sweet evening as Dyango's almost 50 years of music performances come to an end.  I'm sure there were some in the sold out Rubén Darío theater that knew very little about Dyango's rich musical repertoire before tonight.  I'm sure they are listening to Dyango today on iTunes....I am!

¡Qué gran regalo nos dio Dyango anoche en el Teatro Rubén Darío en Managua, Nicaragua.  Lucía cansado, aún envejecido, pero ¡qué voz y qué nobleza!  Su cantar era potente y llegó al alma. Nadie se atrevería a llamarlo viejo - Dyango es un clásico! Él cantó durante casi dos horas, terminando con la tan solicitada "Corazón Mágico" y luego un tango en el encore . Sin embargo, una de las más poderosas y conmovedoras interpretaciones fue "Volverte a Ver" y "Cuando Quieras, Donde quieras".

Supo ganar a la multitud expresando su admiración y enamoramiento con Nicaragua, incluso aludió a qué quizá  comprara su propia isla en la costa del Caribe Nicaraguense, especialmente cuando se enteró de que se vendía en "100.000 dólares".  En Managua comió un corte de carne que nunca había probado antes - aún siendo un gran amante de la carne - y ¡le encantó!  Para rematar, cantó "Son tus perjúmenes mujer" del famoso cantautor Nicaraguense Carlos Mejía Godoy.

Una noche de emociones encontradas....llegó a su fin sus casi 50 años de interpretación en el escenario.  Estoy seguro de que hubo algunos en el teatro Rubén Darío que sabía muy poco acerca del rico repertorio musical de Dyango antes de anoche. Estoy seguro de que hoy están escuchando Dyango en iTunes .... yo lo hice!

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:44 p.m. in Buildings/Edificios, Entertainment/Entretenimiento, Managua, Music/Música, Rubén Darío Teatro Nacional

Carretera a Masaya entering Managua

Here's a view from Carretera a Masaya entering Managua near the Rotonda Centroamérica.

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Posted by Editorial Team on 3:33 p.m. in Managua

Boulevard leading to Hotel Princess

This is one of the newer vías en Managua, making another connection from Carretera a Masaya to the western part of Managua.

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Mesón Real

 

Another nice option for creative cuisine exists in Los Robles, Managua.  It's the Mesón Real, a Spanish and fusion restaurante.  The owner, Gustavo Tefel, has done a really good job of re-inventing flavors...imagine the garlic shrimp (seen above) served on a bed of fried yucca and olive oil.  I thought it was a really interesting combination.  Also, the Corvina Reyna, a fusion of Spanish and Mayan cooking.  While it wasn't a favorite for me, it was an interesting creation.

The service is good and the ambiance is friendly.  As I mentioned, if you get a chance to talk to Gustavo, which you probably will, you'll feel his inspiration in the cooking.

Click here for prices.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it an 8, especially for his creative flavors.

Mesón Real
Semáforos Club Terraza 1 c. N, 1 c. E
Villa Fontana Este, Managua
2278-0863
www.elmesonreal.com (for his León, Nicaragua restaurant)

Posted by Editorial Team on 8:35 p.m. in Managua, Restaurants/Restaurantes, Spanish/Español

Food in El Oriental

You know you can find almost anything in El Oriental market in Managua.  It's the biggest, busiest and most chaotic shopping experience in Nicaragua (and one of the biggest in Central America).  It is, however, the most important commercial center as well.  As this picture shows, when you go to the Oriental to buy, bring your appetite too cause you will find a great selection of typical, home-style cooking to please anyone with a taste for 'comida Nica'.

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Posted by Editorial Team on 5:43 p.m. in Curiosities/Curiosidades, Managua

Chillin' at the bus stop....

This guy is chilling at the bus stop in Andrés Castro barrio, Managua.  He seems to be a street vendor and I guess he brought his own chair...that's the way to do it!

Posted by Editorial Team on 8:54 p.m. in Curiosities/Curiosidades, Managua, People/La gente

Holiday Inn in Managua

 

It had been a while since we had stayed at the Holiday Inn Select in Managua, Nicaragua.  In fact, almost 12 years, I think.  The hotel has been around for a little more than that...

It's a decent place to stay in Managua.  It is a little bit dated, not because of the decor but rather the wear and tear on this Managua hotel.  I recently saw an ad saying that Holiday Inn is 'refreshing' hotels worldwide.  This one is a good candidate.  However, if you look past the details (which really don't affect comfort - except one that I will mention later) it is a good place to spend a few days.

The rooms are small.

 Bathrooms are spacious, however.

Toiletries include Bath and Body Works selections.  Hot water is nice. What was hard to get was cold tap water to drink.  At best it was tepid. That's what ice is for, I guess.  And most of you probably won't be drinking the tap water anyway.  Minibar has reasonable prices, as well does room service.  In fact, I had a hard time deciding between ordering room service or going down to the restaurant.

The bed is comfy but the pillows...the pillows have to go (says my achy neck this morning).  That's a pretty big oversight.  Really unusual for a good chain like Holiday Inn.

 The restaurant is nice.  Not top notch but good.  

Dinner was decent but some details (like not so fresh bread) and OK service won't win any awards.  I did get a great churrasco here (Nica style) but the BBQ ribs weren't outstanding.  The breakfast buffet is tasty but doesn't have an exciting variety of hot food.

I still stand by statement that the best breakfast buffet in Managua can be found, not at Holiday Inn but rather, HERE (CLICK LINK TO SEE).  The breakfast table settings have paper napkins.

Pool area is nice, especially at night when you get a really nice breeze most of the year.  The pool and gym are small but well designed and enjoyable.

I did have a nice welcome cocktail.

All said, Holiday Inn would be a constant choice for me because it does represent a good value, especially among the other hotels in Managua.  Soon, it will have in-house competition as a new Holiday Inn Express is being built on Jean Paul Genie highway.  We'll see how that stacks up later....

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give Holiday Inn Express in Managua a 7.

Address:  Pista Juan Pablo II (25 minutes from the airport)

Click here to check up to the minute prices.

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Posted by Editorial Team on 4:36 p.m. in Hotels/Hoteles, Managua, Nicaragua

Mariscos Las Pitahayas

Had some tasty seafood the other day at Mariscos Las Pitahayas in Altamira, Managua.  It isn't much on ambiance...more like a ranchón you might find at a Nicaraguan beach like Poneloya o Paso Caballos.  However, the service was really good and the food was tasty...not as hot as I would have liked but it was good.

We ordered breaded shrimp and garlic shrimp, both plates very tasty, served with french fries and salad.  Prices weren't the greatest (click here to see) but it beats Burger King.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give Mariscos Las Pitahayas a 6 (mainly for lack of ambiance and prices should be lower for this type of restaurant).  If you have a hankering for seafood in the middle of Managua, it's a decent option.

Mariscos Las Pitahayas
De la Vicky 300 mts. S
Managua
2252-5809

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:05 a.m. in Managua, Restaurants/Restaurantes, Seafood/Mariscos

Camino Real in Managua, Nicaragua

A friend recently asked me to book a room for his father who was going to be in Managua, Nicaragua for 3 days. One of the options that kept popping up was the Camino Real, just about 1.3 miles from the César Augusto Sandino airport in Managua. It had been several years since I had stayed there...about 10 to be exact so I thought I'd give it a try and update my experiences at this hotel.

The Camino Real is old by Managua, Nicaragua hotel standards. It was built in 1971 and was the choice of excellence for many years in Managua. However, time has taken its toll. That isn't to say, however, that the management hasn't made good efforts to make your stay here a pleasant one.

One thing that stands out about the Camino Real Managua hotel is the lush green vegetation that envelops the property.  It's well maintained and a welcome change to the concrete jungle that Managua has become. 

The entrance and lobby are welcoming.  There you will also find the hotel lobby bar.

  

The pool area is nice as well...not a big pool but a welcome plus for many travelers, especially those with children.



On the other hand, as I mentioned, the hotel is definitely dated.  The Nicaragua tourist pictures that decorate the halls of the rooming area were there the last time I stayed, in 2004.  The rooms are painted well but the décor is dated.  The bed is stiff - no pillow tops here - and the pillows themselves are low to medium quality.  AC works nice.  Shower stalls are modern but the faucets and showerhead are well overdue for a change.   The complementary toiletries are of good quality.   No coffee maker in the room but there is a hairdryer and your ever so useful telephone in the bathroom. 

Here comes the best part of this hotel: the breakfast buffet.  It is generally included with the price of your room.  If you have to purchase it, they want you to pay in cash.  Click here to see prices.  I will say that this is the best breakfast buffet value you will find in Managua, in any of the hotels.  Excellent service, excellent variety and quality of food.  Coffee was A+.  What more can you ask for in the morning?  The buffet is served from 6:00-10:30 a.m.

Don't forget to see the nice collection of tropical birds and a big turtle in a caged gazebo just off the lobby entrance, near the carport.

Some travel sites rate the hotel as a 3 star property.  I would give it 2 1/2 stars, mostly because of the aged condition.  However, the staff service is excellent and the restaurant is 4 star.  If you can get this room for $60-70 and you are traveling from the airport, it is a good value.  By the way they do have a complimentary shuttle with limited hours and it's just 5 minutes to the airport.  Check hotel prices here. 

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Posted by Editorial Team on 9:36 p.m. in Hotels/Hoteles, Managua