The Nicaragua Project is the first major initiative by Michigan-based Capital to Bridge the Divide. Our goal is to promote sustainable economic development in areas of the world with great need. We have selected Catarina, Nicaragua as the site of our first project since several of us have ties to that area. We hope this year to begin construction on a cultural center and hotel. This will be a site where travelers can come and experience the local culture, immerse themselves in Spanish language lessons, experience local cuisine, and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. Over the next few weeks, we’ll post reports on our trips to Catarina. We hope this will give you a feel for why we think Catarina is an attractive location for an affordable trip with true cultural and language immersion potential.
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My first trip to Catarina was in 2004. One of the most memorable images was of The Mirador, an overlook of Laguna de Apoyo. This is a magnificent lake in the crater of an extinct volcano, an easy 10 minute walk from the center of town. The image in our blog header is taken from a park at the overlook. In the distance, you can barely make out the historic city of Granada (it shows up as a thin white strip), and beyond that is a bit of the massive Lake Nicaragua.
Our 2004 trip was during the last week of December, so we were able to enjoy the festival of Catarina’s patron saint. All day band playing and parading in the streets rivaled the New Year’s celebration just a few days later
Street parade honoring Catarina's patron saint.
