Granada...de nada

I have taken some time to wander about Granada, the oldest established city in the New World. 

I took a long walk in the morning and encountered the market, as well as a funeral procession.  

 The poor soul was on his last ride through town, with white blanketed horses, and a coal black hearse to ferry him across the river...

I found some tires in the market for the bike, but I am not too worried about the status of Blondy's shoes at this point, and figure that I will be able to get to Colombia before the start slipping and sliding..we will see..

 This is for my friend Doug, who is planning his mansion by the waters' edge....

I set out to find the lake, but got turned around and completely lost again.  I did, however, pass a school with some interesting educational murals...

In a country with a poor economy, it is very difficult to get the folks to buy into sustainable forestry, and farming practices.  I have seen lots of polluted creeks and streams, and there is no doubt that this country will be dealing with the consequences of their own garbage in the near future as the availability of water becomes more of an issue...

I returned to the center of town, and found a wonderful museum which contains and incredible amount of artififacts, particularly pottery items, from recent archaeological explorations in the country.  Interestingly enough, a team from the University of Calgary had a great deal to do with some of the inventoring of the artifacts and the digs themselves.  I found the museum of a very high quality, and very professional in the presentation of the finds...


For my potty friends, of which I use to have one...or two..

 I have a couple just like this, from my first trip to Mexico over forty years ago.  Now I feel badly about that....

 The famous feathered serpent of Central American lore...

 These plates and bowls are from 1500 AD, and the colour is extant...

Beautiful....

Huge vessels.....

 Another idea for Doug...

Frog on a Burial Urn...

After the archaeology museum, I wandered into a high end hotel, which also housed a museum detailing the importance of cacao to the economy, all the way back to the Mayans and Actecs.  At one time, a cacao bean was used as currency.  Had a great cup of real chocolate milk...and checked out the unique furniture, and the pool with the girls....I could have gone swimming for a small fee, but somewhere down the line I have lost my bathing suit...

The Bearded Monkey is a nearby hostel. I am glad to read that there are not any bears in the hostel...

A final door for the day...