Alfombras

One of the traditions here in Leon is to make alfombras. These are images made of dyed saw dust that they create in the middle of the street. There are tons and tons of these. Here are a couple of pictures that I took. This first one is a couple of kids putting the finishing touches on a cross.

Here are a couple more folks working on an alfombra.


And lastly, here is a completed one:

Semana Santa

Semana Santa is Holy Week; this is week leading up to Easter. It's a big deal here in Leon, and there are processions every day, along with other festivities. Here are some pictures of the week.

This first picture is an "action shot" of the festivities outside of la Iglesia San Francisco. People are selling Eskimo ice cream, hot dog caliente, and little toys and trinkets. All of the people out and about creates a very happy, warm atmosphere.
The second picture is of some folks getting some chicha, which here in Nicaragua is a hot pink colored drink with a corn base. On this particular day, you can get some chicha for free from various people on the street or houses if you go and ask for it en el nombre de San Benito (in the name of San Benito). Usually, you either bring your own cup, or they'll serve it to you Nicaraguan style in a sandwich bag.