Nica update #5: Masaya Market & Volcano

View from the craters edge of Volcan Masaya...
Amazing scenery as we walked the rim of this crater...
Stairs took us to a viewing point above the active crater and the third crater...The Spanish placed crosses at the edge of all craters when they arrived in the Americas because the believed that volcanos were the entrance to hell...makes sense...
Sulfer or something else toxic burning out my nose and sinus cavities...
Snake crossing??

Heading to Masaya via Expresso bus...the best way to travel! Sights at the bus depot...gotta get a chicken home? What's a girl to do?
Looks calm enough...should have added a video of this scene to give you a real taste...with smells too...2.5hours of torture...'POLLO! POLLO! ARROZ! ARROZ! GASEOSAS! AMIGA! AMIGA!
Mercado in Masaya...pinatas are huge at Christmas...
Hmmm...rice or beans?

We ended up visiting the area of Masaya twice on our trip-once on our way to Las Penitas and once on our way back to the airport. Masaya is a pretty big city of over 150,000 and offers the best markets in Nica-for locals and tourists alike. You can find absolutely anything you need and plenty of stuff you absolutely don't need in these markets:) We brought a few key souvenirs home but none of them are dust collectors and I am sure they will all be eaten or drunk before we are too far into 2008...In addition to the lively (and stinky) markets we checked out a lively (and stinky) volcano- Volcan Masaya which is within a national park and contains...get this...3 craters!! With one very active crater, this was a must see...burnt the inside of my nose and I am still dealing with the painful aftermath...but it was definately worth it! We were pleasantly suprised by the high standards of protection, staffing, signage and information presented in this park-just like a national park at home! Except for the snake and armadillo crossings! No bears or elk here...