How often do you hear about Nicaragua? The Caribbean republic bordered by Honduras in the north and Costa Rica in the south provides home to some 6 million people. But listing a few encyclopedic facts would hardly do it justice.
From the splendid Lake Nicaragua in the south (some 100 miles across) to the scenic Miskito Cays in the north, Nicaragua is an increasingly popular tourist destination for its beaches, abundant natural diversity, and even the picturesque charm of its cities, like of León and Granada.
People of Nicaragua are described as “warm and generous,” according to nicaragua-guide.com. “There are many stories of expatriates or tourists having vehicle problems or other issues in the middle of nowhere and having a local Nica family with little or nothing offering their home, food and assistance,” the website states.
The culture has a strong Spanish influence, as the conquistadors subdued the native culture during the 16th century. Yet the Spaniards arrived womenless and so the settlers mixed with the native tribes. Even today, most of the population is mestizo–a mix of European and Native American.
Conquistador Gil González Dávila came up with the name Nicaragua by combining the word “Nicarao,” a name of the capital of the largest native tribe, and “aqua,” Spanish for water, for the large lakes on the west coast of the land.
