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Favorite thing: Not sure how useful my comments would be to other people... since, for starters I wasn’t in the typical “tourist” situation in Nicaragua. I was traveling with a “local”, all the time, and it is a certain plus to speak the language (that goes for any place one visits)...
People are generally very nice, very kind, ready to help... I mean, besides the known “characteristics” of Latin Americans (love music, can dance, passionate, etc.)...
Again, a few things... The rhythm in Nicaragua, I dare to assume in all of the latin american countries, is different than the typical “I’m in such a rush” attitude in the (in lack of another adjective) developed countries.
People are not in a hurry. Things are taken easy... And actually, I love the fact that a tourist can learn, quite a bit, how to take life a bit differently. So, when in Nicaragua, in order to enjoy, I would suggest not adopting the “precise as a swiss watch” attitude and get bothered whenever a clerk is taking their time to attend, or a bus is not leaving 5 minutes after the scheduled time.
People do tend to exaggerate things. Whether it is a story about something that might’ve happened, or an expected rain in the afternoon or... whatever... They tend to exaggerate. I don’t consider this a negative characteristic, it just tells me that people are very sensitive... But, it is something to keep in mind when someone is telling you something unbelievable. Taking it down a notch might give a more realistic picture.
:-)

Favorite thing: Yes, the tortilla, made out of corn-flower and water (and NOTHING else) is actually the bread for most Nicaraguan families. They differ in the different regions, but the concept is the same.
I personally love the tortilla and every single time I go to a supermarket here in Girona and see a “tortilla made of wheat” I have an urge to PUNISH the “delicate Europeans” for killing the beauty of the tortilla.
The next day the tortilla is too hard to be eaten like bread. So... it is fried. Fried tortilla combined with the local cheese is DELICIOUS.
Güirila, is... something that appears as a tortilla, but it is made out of maiz tierno and is therefore a bit more sweet. It is always eaten with cuajada. A dairy product, that I am not sure what it’s called in English, but can be found in Macedonia as “urda”.
Repocheta is... tortilla, folded with some cheese inside, and then fried.

Favorite thing: The brown beans are a must. In the households, usually a large quantity of beans is cooked in water, and then they are prepared in different ways.
One VERY famous Nicaraguan dish is GALLOPINTO, which actually is a combination of brown beans and rice.
Frijoles fritos are fried beans. It simply means that the cooked beans are fried with onion and a bit of oil. They can also be “machacados” or mashed, like the potatoes for example.
A soup of frijoles is also served.

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Favorite thing: Ok, the basics of the cousine in Central America is what can be found in abundance, and is therefore quite cheap.
1. Frijoles, cooked and served EVERY day, for every meal.
2. Arroz, or rice, mostly fried with onion and peppers, and then cooked with a little bit of water.
3. Maiz, or corn, and its various products.
4. Platano, or bananas, especially the larger, green ones, that have to be cooked.

Those are the cornerstones of the nutrition in Nicaragua, and I’d say in Central America as well.
The combinations made out of those four and other products, are fantastic.

Now, the BEST FOOD in my opinion is the street food. The so called fritangas offer a great selection: tajadas, carne desmenuzada, yuca... anything. Served in huge banana leaf.
I have to tell you... I am neither reckless, nor crazy enough to jeopardize my own health, but I hate being paranoid and so... apart from the water, I drank from bottle and not tap, I ate everywhere, and mostly in the so called COMEDORES, or canteens located at the markets. They serve typical Nicaraguan food that tastes great and is REALLY cheap. And I am telling you I had NO PROBLEM. None whatsoever. In fact, after coming back from Nicaragua, I went to Macedonia, and did the usual check-up, and the blood analysis showed some amazing results.
So please... quit with the paranoia. You do NOT have to go to a fancy restaurant to eat a decent meal.

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Favorite thing: OH MY!!! How generous has nature been in this region.
I am a fruit lover. So, having the possibility to wake up and choose a different fresco or licuado to begin my day, was a fantastic experience.
Frescos are “refreshing drinks” that the Nicaraguan people make out of everything... I mean, fruits (pitahaya, guayaba, calala, limon, naranja), seeds (tamarindo, jícaro), flowers (jamaica), cocoa, corn, etc.
And they are all fantastic.
Licuado is actually a thick shake made of some fruit and milk, or some fruit and water/ice, like in my case. In all of the places that offer licuados, a combination of two or more fruits is possible. So, I would say: pineapple and banana. Oh wow... great, great, great.
All of the frescos are available in any bar, in the markets, in fancier restaurants, etc. It is a custom to make different refreshing drinks that are sold everywhere. On the buses as well.

Fondest memory: EATING A MANGO, from the tree in the garden at Ali's house. Mango... probably one of the most phenomenal things that can be found in nature. A little miracle that drives the taste-buds crazy!

Favorite thing: Ok, so the country is sort of divided into two very different halves. The pacific coast, the Managua department, and the whole area surrounding the volcanic belt is... one of those halves. And then, there is the Atlantic coast, the northern and the southern, where the cultural influences have been different and therefore the whole area is, not only geographically different, but also in terms of people, culture, food, music, and even languages.
I had a chance to visit only parts of the first half, more precisely: Somoto, in the department of Madriz, close to the border to Honduras, Leon and its coast, Managua, and San Juan de Sur, probably the most famous tourist destination in Nicaragua.

Given the fact that this country is still not as commercialized tourist destination as many others, the presence of tourists is still limited. Which I liked very much, I have to admit.

Favorite thing: One of the main backpacker paths through Nicaragua extends along the narrow strip of land in Western Nicaragua between the Pacific coast and the huge Lago de Nicaragua. Most of Nicaragua's mjor cities are situated from the north west to the south west of the country. If you're following this route you'll surely see Lago de Nicaragua. Be sure to make an excursion to the volcanic island of Ometepe which can be reached from various towns along the western shore of Lago de Nicaragua. Two major points from which to travel by boat to Isla de Ometepe are from San Jorge/Rivas in the south and Granada further north.

Fondest memory: Ometepe Island is a true piece of paradise in Nicaragua. A visit there will "make your trip" to Nicaragua and easily be one of your fondest memories. During our stay there the Volcan Concepcion was rummbling and spewing ash. Two volcanos dominate the island, one still very active, and the other dormant. Short hikes in the jungle will lead you to beautiful lagoons where you can swim to your hearts content.

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Favorite thing: Nicaragua is full of plants and flowers. The national flower is the frangipani- more commonly known as West Indian jasmine. Many flowers thrive in Nicaragua's sunshine. Hibiscus, bougainvillea and orchids abound. You might grow them as houseplants, but In Nicaragua plants such as aloe, ferns, dieffenbachia, hibiscus, ficus, and rubber plants can be found growing in gardens and along roadsides.
Many of the plants you see in Nicaragua are also in the tropical state of Florida.