Granada, Nicaragua

The physical layout of the city follows traditional European urban planning: a central park with the avenues extending north and south.

The cross streets face east and west. The numbering of the streets and avenues is a more modern invention, following the previous habit of assigning names of illustrious patrons or local heroes.

The signage in Granada isn’t as difficult as most Central American cities, except at night.

Today the city is experiencing a renaissance of private and public restoration. Her once cobbled streets have been largely paved over, but her colonial splendors remain and sparkle.

The “Jewel of the Americas” shines once more. Granada’s current renaissance is thanks to private and public funding.

Spain has restored some of the major thoroughfares with palms and paving, with the rest of the rehabilitation being done by wealthy Nicaraguans and retiring expatriates from around the world.

The street known as La Calzada is busy, day and night—on weekends, it’s impossibly crowded. The bandstand in the park has been painted, and the park is clean again. There’s a new hospital nearby, donated by the Japanese.

Granada is a walking town. Take sturdy shoes and avoid the pitfalls and the occasional open holes in the sidewalks.

There are plenty of ATMs and money-changers in the vicinity (you’ll see these guys walking the pavement, waving wads of cash—they usually offer the best exchange rate).