Nicaragua Travel destinations highlights are Lake Nicaragua and Rivas. The name of Nicaragua derives from “Nicarao,” the largest indigenous tribe when the Spanish arrived and “agua” meaning water. Furthermore, the south has more agua than land, inundated by Lake Nicaragua, the 10th largest freshwater lake in the world. Nicaragua is also known as the “country of lakes and volcanoes.” Being among the Central American Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua has 19 volcanoes, with 3 being currently active. Also, Lake Nicaragua (home to the world’s only freshwater shark) and Lake Managua are both crater lakes.
From San Juan, we bus through the countryside to the picturesque town, Rivas, for our first stop. Discreetly, I dodge the tour group and independently walk around on my own. First, we stop at the beautiful St. Peter’s Catholic Church, built by the Spanish in 1607. It’s white color with blue trim, eloquently blends with the azure sky, mottled in nimbus shrouds. I am rather inspired by the colors, painting this church as an extension from the sky or Heavens. I take an intriguing photo of a Jesus statue looking down from the roof with the light and clouds emanating behind him…
