Granada : Nicaragua’s Colonial Gem
Granada is a lovely lakeside Spanish colonial city in western Nicaragua. It is Nicaragua’s sixth most populous city and is historically one of Nicaragua’s most important cities, both economically and politically. It has a rich colonial heritage, as seen in its grandiose cathedral architecture and city layout.
At one point, the Granada region had a thriving indigenous population. In 1524, the city was renamed Granada, by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, ostensibly the first European city in mainland America. Unlike other cities that claim the same distinction, the city of Granada was not only the settlement of the conquest, but also a city registered in official records of the Crown of Aragon, and the Kingdom of Castile in Spain.
Granada is also known as La Gran Sultana, in the reflection of its Moorish and Andalusian appearance, unlike its sister city and historical rival León, which displays Castilian trends.
Visited in Chapter 52 of The Travelers Within: Into The Unknown
An Excerpt from the Book
“Arriving in the Spanish colonial town of Granada around dinnertime, Simon found the jarring contrast between it and Tegucigalpa worthy of rejoice. It’s cobblestone streets, plazas and ornate churches, instantly bewitched the smitten Texan. The city seemed like a vision from his imaginations of old Europe. Is this the same Central America? He wondered.
The two men checked into a quaint guesthouse and headed to their respective rooms to relax after a long drive. Within ten minutes, however, there came a loud knocking on Jonah’s door…”
From The Author
“Granada holds a special place in my heart. One of the first Spanish colonial towns I ever visited, it’s a place I’ve always been drawn to for its spectacular churches and enchanting architecture. The last time I was in Granada, I received news that one of my dearest friends had passed away. Overwhelmed with melancholy, I made my way to an old church whose insides glowed through stained glass and lay thick with a heavy must. I lit a candle for my friend. I’m not a religious man, but at that moment, in that place… it just felt like what I needed to to do.”
Several Books, One Global Adventure
The Travelers Within is a travel adventure fiction series following a motley cast of characters on a wild and profound journey through the bizarre locales, unfamiliar cultures, and perilous dangers of the world.
When office worker, Simon, is unexpectedly thrust into the wilds of Central America, he soon learns to trust his instincts, harness his unknown personal strengths and open himself up to the unlikeliest of friendships along the way. Inspired by extraordinary, real locations and remarkable stories from the road, The Travelers Within is a journey beyond all limits.
BOOK ONE: INTO THE UNKNOWN
NOW AVAILABLE in KINDLE & PAPERBACK
The Travelers Within: Into The Unknown
Simon had always followed a typical routine in life. Work, TV, Sleep, Repeat. But when a wild series of events lands him deep in Central America, Simon’s world takes a dramatic turn to the extraordinary. With no previous experience in third world travel, and driven only by a newly ignited lust for life and the need to survive, Simon sets forth on an epic journey through the dangerous mountains of Guatemala, the smuggler’s jungles of Nicaragua, the islands of Honduras and more.
Meeting a wonderful and eclectic cast of characters along the way, Simon eventually links up with Jonah, a young survival expert with a plan as bizarre and terrifying as anything Simon could have ever imagined. Inspired by real places and stories from the road, The Travelers Within is told with intrigue, suspense, humor and insight, capturing a visceral spirit of adventure and bringing out the wanderlust hidden deep within all of us.
“Into The Unknown is an enthralling combination of thriller and travelogue. It’s packed full of incident and exotic scenery, and, as you’re reading, it feels like you’re right there—in every stunning new location, on every new adventure.”
-Sue Paulson, U.K. Readers Digest
