Culture and Surf

Kimberly overlooking Leon Main square

Museum of Traditions and Legends

Large breasted museum mannequin

Story of the large chested monster woman sign For our last day in Leon we head first to the Museum of Traditions and Legends which is housed in the old jail. It is a bit of a mishmash of things. I especially find amusing the area that focuses on wronged women (abused, married to drunkards, abandoned) who turn into monsters and attack men. John’s favourite is the woman with very large breasts who hunts bad men down, stuffs a breast in the man’s mouth and asphyxiates him.

Museum of the Revolution

Pictures of the President and Vice President of Nicaragua

stairway inside the old post office Our next stop is the Museum of the Revolution. This museum is housed in the old post office. The museum tells about the struggle against the US and then the Somoza regimes.There is a big picture of the president and vice president (his wife) inside.

After the guide explains the Kimberly trying to walk on the tin roof history of the Revolution, he takes us up to the roof for some great views. Nothing really has been done to keep the building up. Pigeons roost inside. The roof is made of tin and is a bit rickity…I worry about falling through. However the views are fabulous. Click here for a short video.

John inside the old post office

Air Raid Siren

the air raid siren tower Upon exiting the museum, we sit in the square and wait for the daily noon air raid siren. This extremely loud siren goes off every day at 7am and noon to announce the start of school and lunch. Click here for a short video.

We walk over to the Dario Museum but it is closed for siesta. We pass another Dario statue on the way back to the hotel for our siesta. There are statues of this guy all over the place.

another Ruben Dario stature surrounded by flowers

Surf Lesson at Las Penitas

Kimberly having a surf lesson on the beach

Kimberly surfing on her knees After siesta we head to Big Foot Hostel to catch a shuttle bus to Las Penitas…a beach on the Pacific that is half an hour from Leon.

The beach is gorgeous; soft sand edged with
grass roof covered, open air beach bars. As soon as we get to the beach, I notice a surf lesson kimberly and the surf instructor holding a surf board booth. Oh yeah. Let’s see if I can still do it. I surfed a couple times in Hawaii over ten years ago.

My instructor is adorable and very patient. We head out on the board but unfortunately I am unable to get up on my feet when I catch a wave. I just can’t seem to swing the one leg across. I still have fun and I do manage to surf on my knees…haha. Click here for a short video of my sorry attempt.

After the lesson, the surf school instructor wants a picture with me. I have a feeling that I may be one of his oldest students.

Sunset at the Beach Bar

a bright orange sunset over the waves

Las Penitas beach We hang out in the beach bar, having mojitos and watching the sun go down. The shuttle bus shows up an hour before anyone expects it. I guess the correct pick up time was lost in translation between the bus driver and all of the passengers.

Bus Ride Home

Inside of the old Bluebird bus The bus is a very old Bluebird bus. We get the chicken bus experience when the driver puts on the interior colour changing lights and blasts the music. Click here for a short video.

The Big Foot Hostel is really hopping when the bus drops us off. I make my way through the revellers to use the facilities. I am not sure why one big guy was wearing a tin foil bikini. Hmmm

We head back to our hotel and call it a night.