Experience in Managua, Nicaragua by Marcela

What is it like to live in Managua? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Managua is a flat, big and hot city. And it has a lot of trees everywhere. it has great views of the volcanos around it, and lakes and lagoons to. It a safe city, may that is the most important characteristic about Managua. It has the peace of a little town, and the movement of a big city. It does not have tall buildings, and every house have beutiful gardens.

What is the student lifestyle like in Managua?

Well, most of the Universities are in the center of the city. The problem about study in Managua, is the public transportation, for some people who are not used to it is very hard to go into a public bus. Because, the bus are to full of people, the hot weather does not help.

How much does it cost to live in Managua?

Managua is a really cheap city. Managua gives all the options to have a lifestyle that you wan. If you whant a expesive lifestyles is easy, but cheap as well. If you choose some places to eat, and buy food for cook in the public market, take bus every day; rent a room in some places like Centroamerica, Las Palmas and Bello horizonte those still been a centers places; but beside those one there are the most expesive places to like, Los Robles, Bolonia, Villa Fontana and Reparto San Juan.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Managua? Is there any advice you can give?

It is really easy to find a place to live, the only thing you have to care about is names of the neiborhoods, the dangers places to live are: Altagracia, villa flor, campo bruce, reparto chick, Jonathan Gonzalez, 380. It is better if you try to find a place where lives others student; because if you live in a room into a house with a family is going to be awkward, in Mangua the families are conservative.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food for me is great, I really like. The only thing is to be careful with the juice, because the people put a lot of sugar, and maybe you are not used to. My favorite dish is Tostones con queso and quesillos. Other one, is gallo pinto of course with maduro frito.

What places would you recommend visiting in Managua?

To eat: Mi viejo ranchito, la crema batida, y la fritanda de Doña Tina en los Robles.
To parties: Caramanchel bar, Quilombo, Hipa Hipa and Fandango.

Is it good to eat out in Managua? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

To eat: Mi viejo ranchito, la crema batida, y la fritanda de Doña Tina en los Robles.

Is the nightlife good in Managua? Where is good to go?

Yeas, the city gives many options, if you are more alternative you can go to caramanchel and Quilombo; if you like the metal music you can go to EL Ateneo, and if you like dance and dress well go to Hipa Hipa and Fandango.

What advice would you give future students heading to Managua?

NEVER take a taxi with laptops and alone, worse if you look as a foreign. Its better, NEVER take a taxi at all, it better if you get a telephone from a taxi, who everybody knows. It is going to cost more, maybe 2 dollars more than the taxi from the street. But here the only danger things are the taxis. It is better if tou take a public bus, here the bus are safer.