1. Where is Nicaragua? NICARAGUA Masaya is the second biggest city in Nicaragua, after the capital, Managua, Masaya Nicaragua is in Central America

2. Leicester’s link with Masaya Masaya, NICARAGUA Leicester, ENGLAND Leicester and Masaya are twin cities

3. Masaya has a tropical climate with six months of rain and a six-month dry season. An abundance of fruits and vegetables grow in the hot climate. The Climate

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7. The dramatic landscape around Masaya is dominated by lakes and volcanoes. The Landscape

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11. Masaya is a small but busy city of 120,000 people. The centre is full of brightly painted shops and street stalls selling snacks and drinks to passers-by. The City

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15. The main landmark in Masaya is the church of ‘San Jeronimo’ which was built by the Spanish who conquered and settled in Nicaragua in the 16th century. The Town Hall is also an important building and the craft market is popular with tourists. The Buildings

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19. Masaya has a rich cultural heritage and throughout the year there are numerous celebrations that involve traditional dancing, elaborate costumes and lively music. Many of the festivals include masks, giant puppets and ‘piñatas’. The Culture

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23. Masaya has a large and lively market that is open from 3 in the morning until 6 at night. Some of the fresh produce is grown by local farmers who live in the countryside around Masaya. The Market

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27. Masaya is famous for its wonderful crafts which are hand made by local artisans. These include painted pottery, woven baskets, leather shoes, hammocks and wooden rocking chairs. The Crafts

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31. Not many people own cars in Masaya but bicycles are popular and public transport is very cheap. The nicest way to travel is by horse drawn taxi. Transport

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35. One of the traditional dishes of Nicaragua is a delicious mixture of rice and beans. This is eaten with ‘tortillas’ which are made from maize flour. Another recipe uses maize dough wrapped in banana leaves. Food

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39. All sorts of fruits are used to make refreshing drinks called ‘frescos’. These are sold in plastic bags at the market or on street stalls. ‘Pinolillo’ is a traditional drink made with cocoa, cinnamon and maize. It is very popular but so is Coca Cola! Drinks

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43. Many families living in the countryside around Masaya keep animals and farm the land. Not everyone in rural areas has electricity or running water and it can be difficult to grow food in the dry season. Life in the Countryside

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