Flor de Pochote

Masaya

Masaya is a kind of cultural center in Nicaragua. During the day people work in their handicraft workshops making hammocs, furniture, toys, cloth, games, rope, etc. When enough money has been earned, it is time to celebrate. You can celebrate the saint of the period, a member of family, a political party, the victory of the local baseball team, or it is simply time to make the presentation of your local dancing group. This lifestyle has created a dynamic society with few rich and few really poor people. There are always work to do, and always ways to spend your money.

A varity of wood products sold in the tourist market.	The old market of Masaya burned in 1979, and was recently rebuilt as a tourist market.	A group of dancers with traditional costumes.

Very different from Granada, Masaya is not a showplace. It is real life! Much of the colorful aspects of the lucky mixture of Indian and Mestizo culture are not exposed in the streets, but celebrated in the backyards between the houses. And if public, the events are not announced, except a few main parades for Easter and the official saint: San Jerónimo.

The real market of Masaya is chaotic. Big and dirty, but also with a large variety of products, and surely much cheaper than the elegant tourist market in the Center of town.

To the West Masaya has a very nice promenade above the lagoon slope. However people hardly use it, and there are few other facilities other than the nice view. The area wakes up at night, when the three discotheques turn up their music, or when baseball is played in the stadium.

Last updated 12.01.2007