This is an interesting sight. "El Mirador" means the "Lookout" or the "View". You get there from the town of Masaya and it is only like 10 minute drive. We used a cabbie, and he took us up there, and the only way to describe this view is it looked like you were in a stadium looking down an oval shaped crater filled with water. What a view and my photo came out real good. I will have to scan a photo here sometime. From that view site, you can eat in one of the three or four restaurants in the area, very good typical food of the country. I had a sizzling organic steak with plantain, tostados, cheese and mashed potatos. All under 7 bucks with drinks. From there, we went to VOLCAN MASAYA. What a crater that is. It is deep. You can still see steam coming out and it is irritating, but oderless. Very toxic if you get indulged in it too much. They had a section blocked off due to the danger of landslide, eruption and gases. I ran into a few backpackers from HOLLAND. They had been in country for three weeks, and still had alot to see. I stayed in Granada for two nights at the HOTEL FRANCESA. Paid 45 bucks per night, aircon, cable tv, swimming pool. You could get cheaper, but then, those HOSPEDAJES had no aircon, and lots of cheap scale backpackers some looked like junkies. Believe it or not, there were BACKPACKERS staying in my hotel. Breakfast was included. BUFFET style. Rice and beans, eggs, bread with butter, fruits and juices. I tell you. Nicaragua is about as cheap, IF NOT CHEAPER than in BALI. DYNAMITE place. I noticed the city of Granada looked alot like ANTIGUA GUATEMALA. In the town was a church that had been burned by WILLIAM WALKER in the 1850's. I entered into that church. You can see how the walls were made of. Earth mud, with straw and twigs, then plaster. Looks like concrete. Looks good, works good and last long time. No wonder those homes stay nice and cool. Most have no aircon, just fans. They look decrepid on the outside and old but I peaked inside some homes walking down the street, and saw that they were nice and clean and beutiful furnishings. Very colonial. I walked down to the lake NICARAGUA and saw lots of people working out. Jogging, riding bikes, just getting out there and keeping in shape. You ladies have a nice day. http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/kiss.gif
