Granada

Travelling on a chicken bus was one of the things on our bucket list. It was a 1 hour trip from the Nicaraguan border to Granada where we decided to brave it: the cheap, cramped, sweaty and sometimes unreliable form of transport used by the locals. Although confirming at least 3 times that we would get dropped off in the centre of Granada, we soon realised that they had said what they needed to to get us onboard - they weren't even going near the centre! They left us at a cross roads in the middle of nowhere where a row of motor taxis was waiting for unsuspecting tourists, like us, to take us to our destination.

The heat in Granada was incredible. With a 'feels like' temperature of 40 degrees, it was a relief to cool down in the water at Laguna de Apoyo - a lagoon in a volcanic crater. For a price of €2,30 we could spend the day at that Nature Reserve swimming, tubing and kayaking.

The restaurant Mario's Steakhouse and Grill quickly became our favourite: cheap; terrific food; huge portions; and bottles of rum which cost only €3 for 375ml including a coke. With most of the restaurants situated on one street, the performers, break dancers and musicians know where to focus their efforts. The young, poor children also come to this area every night begging for food and money, hounding the tourists sitting at the tables outside - this being the only part of Granada which we didn't enjoy.