Leon

 From Chinandega to Leon it was a windy, dirty 40km ride. What should have been a two hour ride due to the topology took over four hours due to the wind. In a similar conflict to one at a bank in Chinandega where we couldn't lean our bikes without being yelled at, we got to a gas station for a cold drink but had to go across the street to the other one because the security guard wouldn't let us park our bikes on the side of the building. Ass. And the dust wreaked its obvious wrath as we went to the bathroom and found our faces completely black from the dust; it was like we rode through a dust storm the whole way! Rode the rest of the way into Leon, ate at a comedor. I tipped the lady 50 cents because she reopened for us. She was soo happy. Gave us direction to a cheap hotel... Was the first we visited and very nearly the cheapest we saw. But no wifi at Vieja so we kept looking!

Metal sheeting fencing on the roadside

Ceramics street market. The pieces were very light!

Started looking for a hotel, went to a dozen or more but all super expensive. Started getting dark found hostel colibri and it was 23 a night including breakfast. Settled for the night because they had tons of info on tours and such and it was late. We thought they compromised on the price to 20 dollars as theysaid that it was 21 without the breakfast and then offered it to us for 20.  The next morning we ate breakfast and tried to check out but got in a big argument with them about the price and 3 dollars. We paid no more and and began looking for a cheaper hotel. Also went back to the ones that were full the night before. After lots of searching we settled on Sonati, a NGO that offers tours for decent prices. We paid 15 a night for 4 nights. There was a place around the corner for half that! Dam!
We planned a hike, but Erin got sick and vomited so we stayed close to the hotel room, planning instead for a hike hopefully to Laguna Apoyeque, a crater lake right next to Laguna Xiloa. We walked around town,  and through a large art gallery.

Inside the largest cathedral in Central America

Outside the same very large cathedral. Hundreds of years old!