Leon

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Leon is the largest city in northwestern Nicaragua and a stronghold of Revolutionaries, intellectuals and supporters of independence. The city was often the center of history and is full of museums, galleries and churches that are everywhere. Something else that you see everywhere in Leon are the wall drawings of the Sandinists. Old Leon was almost completely wiped out of the map in 1610 by a volcanic eruption.

The new city was built brick by brick in a strategic location far away from the ocean (piracy), villages (for work) and volcanoes. Because of the rivalry with Granada, people from the city of Leon William Walker, an American trader who made himself against all agreements in president and made the country a slave of the United States. When he was executed, Managua became the capital and Granada would hold sway in the country for thirty years.

Leon is still a proud liberal city with a number of sharp edges and a lively nightlife by the many students (national and international) that live in the city. The city is surrounded by volcanoes that you can climb or go down on a board and the beach is not far away.

The bus station where express buses and (chicken) buses leave is fairly easy to navigate. People are walking around

with tickets – but my advice would be – let first a local someone buy a ticket before you do that. It is a bit of a walk from the center (about 2 km) but easy to find.

Leon - Esteli: there are four buses going to Esteli at different times of the day (only on Sundays it is slightly different). I had to  pay 70 C $ with a mini-van for the 2-hour trip. The buses depart on weekdays at 5:20, 12:45, 14:15 and 15:30.

I usually ate somewhere on the street (stall) or in the hostel but on the corner of the Parque Central is a good snack tent where it is always busy. You first have to buy a kind of receipt that will take you to the right corner to get your food, drinks or ice cream. The shawarma is recommended and costs 60 C $.

I went for a couple of times in club Cameleon - it has a small courtyard and many small rooms. Inside is a dance floor where it can be packed. There will be a mix of tourists, students and classrooms and it is pleasant to call and closes late. Unfortunately, a lot of techno music was played.

• Name: Chili garden

Address: 1a AV NO

Price: 6 USD (dormitory) + 2 free drinks per day

Website: www.chilinnhostel.com

Content:

The hostel is built in a prime location near the center and the nightlife. There is a restaurant on the street side with a large long bar where you can order your breakfast in the morning. There are two indoor gardens - the first where salsa evenings are organized and where you can dance and then the second where there is a small pool and you can relax in a hammock or sit on a chair or sofa.

The dorms are a bit on the small side and it is noisy - it is a real party hostel so sleep comes little. There could be some more toilets and showers and especially the latter are in need of a make-over. There are some private rooms but these are also pretty noisy.

However, there are large bag safes in the rooms where you can store your belongings. If you do not like parties, you better choose a quieter hostel. The staff is as good and speak perfect English.

It can be very hot and sticky in Leon – maybe even too hot to do a (Spanish) course. I would go somewhere else to do a course (see Estelli). Next to that the temptations to go partying, drinking in Leon are big.

The streets are seperated in numbers including the direction so it takes a while till you get i tand find you’re way easily in the city.