Malacatoya

As I was waiting for the barge to take us across the river at El Paso, Granada in Nicaragua (road to Malacatoya), I saw some colorful skies (very uncommon for April) that indicate that the rainy season is not far away.

Mientras esperaba la barcaza para llevarnos al otro lado del río en El Paso, Granada in Nicaragua (camino a Malacatoya), vi unos cielos coloridos (no tan común por el mes de abril) que indican que la época invernal se nos acerca.

Posted by Editorial Team on 8:41 p.m. in Granada, Nature/Naturaleza

Nelson Porta's Santa Lucía Steakhouse/Santa Lucía Steakhouse de Nelson Porta

We went to Nelson Porta's Culinary Institute restaurant a few days ago...called Santa Lucía Steakhouse. It's located at Km. 8, Carretera a Masaya, 1ra entrada de Las Colinas, 1 c. al este. He definitely has a nice idea going and if you combine it with the current special, it was tremendous. They offer 2x1 on their famous churrasco steaks (numbers 21 to 25 on the menu). Also 2x1 on Victoria Frost, nice and cold!

Let me try to break it down for you:

I assume that the personnel consists of actual students of the Institute. They do an acceptable job.

First of all we were served a nice salad with perhaps a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. It was also garnished with crumbled Roquefort cheese, tomato and cucumber. It was good.

I ordered the churrasco with Argentinian sausages. It came with garlic bread and a vegetable medley along with a baked potato with chives and sour cream. Also the famous chimichurri sauce was there on the side. In retrospect, I ordered the steak 3/4 and it seemed a bit overcooked. Next time I will ask for it medium done. As you can see, the presentation of the plates is splendid and it is a wonderful plate for $14.

It gets even better when the second steak of equal or lesser value is courtesy of the house. Can you believe that?

Congratulations to Mr. Nelson Porta and his original and inspiring Culinary Institute and the Santa Lucía Steakhouse. I'll be back!!!

Visitamos el restaurante del Instituto Culinario, llamado "Santa Lucía Steakhouse". Se ubica en el km. 8 Carretera a Masaya, 1ra entrada de Las Colinas, 1 c. al este. Tiene buenas ideas y, al combinarlas con la oferta del momento, era tremendo. Te ofrece 2x1 en sus churrascos (del 21 a 25 del menú). También 2x1 en Victoria Frost, bien heladas!

Te explico:

Supongo que el personal del lugar consiste en estudiantes del mismo Instituto. Trabajan de manera satisfactoria.

Pedí el churrasco con chorizo argentino. Lo sirven con pan de ajo y un trio de verduras junto con una papa al horno con cebollinos y crema dulce. También se sirve con salsa chimichurri. Pedí mi carne a término 3/4. Viéndolo bien, sin embargo, me parecía un tanto seco. La próxima la pido término medio. Como mirás, la presentación es excelente y que oferta en $14.

Aún mejor ahora es la oferta que te dan otro churrasco y igual o menos valor cortesía de la casa. ¿Lo podés creer?

Felicidades al Señor Nelson Porta y su original e inspirador Instituto Culinario y el restaurante Santa Lucía Steakhouse. ¡¡¡Seguro vuelvo pronto!!!

Posted by Editorial Team on 8:26 p.m. in Managua, Nicaraguan Food/Comida Nicaragüense, Restaurants/Restaurantes

World's largest hammock<...>Hamaca más grande del mundo

Courtesy of El Nuevo Diario

Granada, Nicaragua will be home to the biggest hammock ever made in Nicaragua - 25 yards long and 7 yards wide with seating capacity for 60 people.  It will cost $1,000 + labor costs.  Children with physical disabilities will collaborate along with other school age children.

Earlier last year, a large hammock 12 yards long and 2 1/2 yards wide with seating capacity for 17 people was sold for $400 (picture above).

Nicaraguan artisans are very skilled in the making of hammocks and other popular items with tourists visiting the 'land of lakes and volcanoes'.

Granada, Nicaragua será el lugar de nacimiento de la hamaca más grande del mundo - 25 metros de largo y 7 metros de ancho con capacidad para 60 personas.  Costará $1,000 + gastos de labor.  Niños con discapacidades colaborarán con otros escolares en la fabricación de esta hamaca.

El año pasado, una hamaca granda de 12 metros de largo y 2 1/2 metros de ancho con capacidad para 17 personas fue vendido por $400 (vea foto arriba).

La artesanía de Nicaragua es muy avanzada, especializada en hacer hamacas y otros artículos populares con los turistas visitando 'la tierra de lagos y volcanes'.

Posted by Editorial Team on 8:19 p.m. in Culture/Cultura, Curiosities/Curiosidades

5000 bananas<...>5000 guineos

We caught up to this man and 5000 bananas that he was hauling with his cows.  He was on the road from Nancimí, Tola in Rivas, Nicaragua, going to some drop point.  Yes, that's 5000!

Alcanzamos a este hombre y los 5000 guineos que jalaba con sus bueyes.  Estuvo en camino entre Nancimí, Tola en Rivas, Nicaragua, buscando un lugar de encuentro para dejarlos.  Sí, son 5000!

Posted by Editorial Team on 8:53 p.m. in Curiosities/Curiosidades, Nature/Naturaleza, Rivas

Movies in Managua/cine en Managua

We went to see a movie recently in Managua. The theaters are modern, air conditioned and with the latest digital projection. The good part is that on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, with certain credit cards, two can see a movie for the price of one. Both of us went for C$70 ($3.50). A great deal!!! Sometimes, the 2x1 doesn't apply to the newest released movies but within a week (when other ones come out) they too can be had for this great deal! You can see an updated list of what's in Managua at this link (in Spanish): Movie guide for Managua

Fuimos a ver una película hace poco en Managua. Los cine son modernos, con aire acondicionado y lo último en proyección y sonido digital. Aún mejor, los días lunes, miércoles y jueves, con ciertas tarjetas de crédito, dos entran por el precio de uno. Para los dos pagamos C$70 ($3.50). ¡Que ganga! A veces, la oferta 2x1 no aplica a los estrenos pero dentro de unos 'diítas' (cuando salen otros) ya entra en oferta. Podés ver una lista actualizada de las películas en Managua en este enlace: Guía de cine en Managua

Posted by Editorial Team on 3:20 p.m. in Curiosities/Curiosidades, Managua, Prices/Costos

RostiPollos

Well, I was hungry again so we headed over to RostiPollos. They have this special right now - the Mega Surtido: all that junk at the right for C$207 (that's a little less than $10). Plenty of food for four people...but we ate it alone...we wanted to get our fill before any hog, chicken or beef borne diseases head our way.

You know what the fastest animal in the world is? Some think it's the cheetah. New findings. however, indicate that it is indeed a loose chicken in Chinandega that has been clocked at over 80 m.p.h.


The slower ones don't live to see the sunrise....strange but true.

Posted by Editorial Team on 3:09 p.m. in Chinandega, Managua, Nicaraguan Food/Comida Nicaragüense, Restaurants/Restaurantes

Man it's hot....in Chinandega. Ahhh...a frozen Eskimo Leche con Avena would be nice....

On a really hot day in Chinandega, Nicaragua, I wanted something to curb the heat. What does leche con avena taste like? Well, it's a combination of milk and oatmeal in a frozen ice cream like bar. To me it tastes like milk, vanilla and a slight hint of graham cracker taste. It doesn't matter. It's umm umm good. I have eaten quite a few of these guys since they were first marketed a few weeks ago.

I can't believe these little bars are so cheap!!! They cost a whopping $0.15. Hey, I have even invited strangers to eat this strange cool sensation here in Chinandega and all the rest of Nicaragua.

I imagine they are even eating them in cooler climates like San Marcos, Matagalpa and Jinotega.

I would love to take a cooler full of them and climb the San Cristobal or Cosiguina volcanos. Anyone care to join me?

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:04 p.m. in Chinandega, Curiosities/Curiosidades, Nicaraguan Food/Comida Nicaragüense