Thursday , Day 131 - May 17 - 10 to 6, Corinto, Nicaragua, canceled due to civil unrest now a sea day

This country is on the no go list for Americans at the moment due to street fighting and other ugliness over some governmental policies that started after the world cruise begin. Since it hasn’t clear up our stop was canceled the other day. That is really too bad as it sounds like a really neat port of call. Here is a bit about what we could have seen.

The port city, Corinto, is surrounded by the pristine cerulean-blue Pacific and a delight to explore. See the Alfonso Cores-Corinto History Museum, Library & Auditorium. Stroll through the lush, tropical Parque Central admiring the handicrafts, locally grown produce and handmade clothing of the vendors lining the streets. Nicaragua is also home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Ruins of León Viejo are an exceptional testimony of the first European settlements in the New World. Leon, founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, during its short history, the city has undergone a series of natural disasters. Partially destroyed by the Momotombo volcano that irrupted in 1578, the earthquake of 1610 struck the final blow by destroying what remained standing.

Then the decision was taken to move the city and to rebuild it six leagues away. The gradual burial of the old city due to natural disasters has preserved the vestiges unaltered. Also on the UNESCO list is the León Cathedral, constructed between 1747 and the early 19th century. The Cathedral merges a basilica rectangular layout of Spanish derivation with regional architectural proportions and features. Stylistically, the monument shows the transition from late Baroque to Neo-Classic with sober decoration.

León Cathedral illustrates the Antigua Guatemala Baroque architectural style in combination with Spanish art and regional features and is a material expression of the formation of the Latin American society. The application of the typical quadrangular layout of Spanish origin is outstandingly integrated with architectural features coming from both European Baroque and Neo-classical styles and Antigua Guatemalan interpretation. Among the Antigua features are the mainly horizontal proportions and the low and thick towers as a response to earthquakes, and the internal and external decoration. Also in Leon, besides the Leon Cathedral and the artistic treasure trove, are the Centro de Arte Fundación Ortiz Gurdián.

This is a new port and country for us. We had planned an all day free ship tour Old Leon and Colonial Leon visiting the two Leons: the original 16th-century city, which was once buried in volcanic ash, and then a later version, which became an alluring colonial city, the country's two UNESCO sites. Maybe another time.

Instead we have the usual routine sea day...breakfast, lecture, Quilling, pasta making demonstration, lunch and a lazy afternoon with a little packing thrown in.

We go to dinner at 6:30 in the Compass Rose. Dick has the always available chicken which looks wonderful, tender and juicy. It is a whole half which makes a meal for both of us at home with enough left over for chicken salad for lunch the next day! Carolyn has the scallops again.

We then go to the Navigator Lounge to listen to Clive so we can stay awake for Terry’s last program at 9:30 “Just on the Edge Stuff and Nonsense” He is so funny and has wonderful singing and comedy program. Jamie tells us he has done 49 lectures and 13 evening shows since he boarded in Auckland.

Still chucking about his jokes we head to bed. We have another long tour to a new place tomorrow.