Take Me To Granada..

I fell in love with Granada immediately. I have never been to a city quite like it. It is so magically beautiful, bright and colourful. The city is set against the large Volcano Mombacho, full of cobbled streets and horse drawn carriages with Latin American music playing from cafes. The majestic gold and red cathedral stands in the centre and colonial buildings surround the park square. Every house is painted a different colour and the magnificent doorways are works of art in themselves. Granada has a cared for beauty and vibrancy that I didn't quite find in Leon.

We are staying at the Bearded Monkey hostel, a bargain $5. It has large dorm rooms with rabbits and a kitten bouncing around the courtyard. Ava, Edie, Mia and I walked down the Calle La Calzada, lined with trees and restaurants spilling their tables out into the street. We ate fish burritos and drank mojitos before walking back, where I fell flat asleep on the bed. It had been a long day of buses to get all the way from Estelli in the North to here.

Back at the hostel, I witnessed my first tropical thunderous rainstorm, during which i witnessed several drunk australians naked wrestling in the downpour. Overnight the storm cut off the water supply. After a sweaty run to the lake I showered in a bucket. A first for me and something the staff found hilarious.

The girls and I went for breakfast in the Garden Cafe, a strong recommendation from guidebooks and a place that has increased my love of Granada tenfold. A beautiful courtyard bursting with plants takes the centre of a cafe filled with books, art, Latin music and delicious food. A heavenly breakfast of passion fruit smoothie and blueberry pancakes dripping with maple syrup, and I quickly forgot I had been eating rice and beans for weeks.

After wandering through the city, we took a boat tour to Las Isletas, made up of over 300 archipelagos with views of the volcano rising behind. One archipelago was full of monkeys who were well accustomed to posing for photos.

We came back at sunset, and went out for dinner at the most delicious Middle Eastern restaurant, Pita Pita - beef shwarma, hummus, tatziki and beautifully prepared salads. We spent the rest of the evening drinking at an Irish bar on the Calle La Calzida, watching an unreal break dancing performance. The girls have been wonderful company, so lovely and laid back, Edie especially doesn't realise how funny she is! They have left for San Juan del Sur today and I am staying in Granada for a little while longer as I am not quite ready to leave this stunning city just yet. San Juan is probably going to be my next stop so I will likely see the girls again!

I've had an incredibly self indulgent day. A yoga class followed by another amazing breakfast of coconut, pineapple and lime smoothie and avocado and poached eggs on toast, whilst reading my book at the Garden Cafe. I didn't want to risk taking my beloved kindle so I have taken to relying what I can find in hostel book swaps. At the moment I am reading a fantastic book called 'the pearl that broke its shell' by Nadia Hashimi, about women in Afghanistan. It is brilliant read for anyone looking for some inspiration.

I've had a full body deep tissue massage at Pure Spa and I'm back in the Garden Cafe eating muffins, reading and writing. This is where travelling solo comes into its own. No one to answer to, no compromise, just exactly what you want to do with your day, one day at a time. For once in my life, I have no plans.

Imogen