Managua

Another stop-over was the Nicaraguan capital of Managua. Managua is an interesting place although few tourists linger here longer than it takes to transfer between bus terminals or the occasional overnight in case of late arrivals. Managua can both enchant visitors as well as freak them out.
Whatever you choose to see or do in the city you are bound to come across worried citizens who like to advice you to take care and tell you how dangerous it is. This is particularly true if you are strolling around close to markets or bus stations. Also, taxi drivers are keen on telling you to not walk, that you will get robbed or attacked and that you must take a taxi because this area is "very dangerous" or "muy peligroso", as they say. If you have visited Managua and still not understand the word "peligroso" you better give up as you will never learn Spanish.
There are the occasional story about someone getting killed on this street a couple of months ago, that many robberies occur here or that as a tourist you attract many thieves. Anyway, many sounded a bit exaggerated so it is tempting to ignore most warnings. Especially when a taxi driver who worked for one of the "secure" taxi companies did the cross sign when I chose to hail a taxi from the street instead of paying his inflated fare, I thought it was probably just as likely to get robbed by him.

The historic centre (downtown area) was destroyed in an earthquake back in the 1930s. The area was never really reconstructed and the city instead expanded towards the outskirts. Today there are some government buildings and monuments in the area but people normally dont go here as, yes you guessed it, it is dangerous.
On this plaza, bounded by government buildings, museums and a cathedral, there was apparently earlier a beautiful fountain. But as it was built by another reigm, it was removed by after the change of government. Now it is just a big boring concrete block with a flagpole in the middle. Nicaragua is very poor and I with governments like this, I think they deserve it.

Looking out over downtown Managua. The city is relatively big but there are few skyscrapers and Nicaraguans like to retain trees. Most of the buildings are invisible below the treeline. In the background is Lake Managua, where the city first was founded as a small fishing village.