Here are my Leon photos taken both late yesterday afternoon and early this morning taking advantage of that lovely light.

This morning the sounds of the many ice cream hawkers and the constant tingle of their bells trying to attract business filled the air.

Something is happening. How the locals queued patiently for I don’t know how many hours. Mainly mothers with their children. What’s up?

But back up the bus first …. I left at 7 am and got some dinner - a filled baquette and a couple of danishes C$ 89 / NZ $ 4.30 / US $ 3.50 at the French bakery to take on the afternoon volcano walk, then wandered into the main plaza snapping away at or seeing the locals sweeping in front of their shop or street side stands, getting set up for the day’s trade when I saw through the cathedral 2 side doors a queue of people on the other side. On investigation it had already stretched for 3 city blocks.

I was surprised at how orderly they were and especially how the children behaved after my 90 minutes sitting on a bench just “people watching” and waiting for some action … the tourist police blowing their whistles at those who were riding their cycles through the square, the hawkers selling food, the cafes and restaurants opening their roller doors, tourists out with their personal guides and office workers heading to work.

So after 90 minutes with the sun coming up went back to the hotel for some breakfast as I was only wanted initially to be out for an hour or so.

So back again and the queue had not moved so it was a wander further than the immediate blocks seeing what the neighbouring barrios were like.

On heading back to the hotel I realised what the queue was patiently for. The children were receiving Christmas presents.

Lunch was across at the French bakery in their lovely courtyard and besides the filled baguette enjoyed several glasses of that lovely Hibiscus Juice.

León is a department (state) in northwestern Nicaragua . It is also the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as León Santiago de los Caballeros and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches. As of 2005, the city had an estimated population of about 175,000 people which increases sharply during university season with many students coming from other Nicaraguan provinces.

León is located along the Río Chiquito (Chiquito River), some 90 km northwest of Managua, and some 18 km east of the Pacific Ocean coast. Although less populous than Managua, León has long been the intellectual center of the nation, with its university founded in 1813. León is also an important industrial, agricultural (sugar cane, cattle, peanut, plantain, sorghum) and commercial center for Nicaragua. Thanks Mr Wikipedia.

There is a picture of the Largest Gigantona in the world. La Gigantona (its represent the Spanish Kingdom and its power was represent by the tall size, all the jewellery decoration represent all they was taking from America Latina) and El Enano Cabezon (represent the local people small but the big head mean more smart than the Spanish conquers) was the first Strike expression made by the Local people from Sutiaba and Leon against the Spanish colonial System, by sarcastic poems calls Coplas they complain and criticised the issues and bad things of their society using the Indian music sound of an Atabal (similar to congas or drum) for calling for meeting, now it's a cultural expression for entertain kids and adults

Food story. Yesterday I brought from the supermarket what I thought were 2 big bananas …. they were in fact yellow plantains and these you need to cook and not eat raw or else you will get sick or blocked up. Well it wasn’t I who got blocked up today. Enough said. I’m fine BTW.

My initial impression of Leon. Actually if it wasn’t for the volcanoes then 1 night would have been enough here. Could the 2 x ½ day volcano trips be combined into one long day? Yes, without a doubt but that is another matter. 

I will when I get home rearrange and label these photos as I have some before and after ... setting up before the crowds and then once the crowds have arrived. See if you can work it out for yourself.