Sunday, August 17, is the Hipica in Granada. I think this Sunday is the running of the bulls. These events happen all over the country on different dates. Granada's event is very popular as everyone has relatives in town and the party is BIG.
The Hipica is a horse parade. It starts about noon or whenever the starters are ready. It is really interesting to see, at least once. I had seen paintings of some very different horses in homes and businesses but I thought they were stylized, they were not. Nicaragua is true horse country and the ranchers have many different breeds. The Hipica we saw had at least 500 horses of all kinds and a few mules too. The cowboys were in full dress.
It starts at one end of town, winds thru the streets and ends in the center of town. It is very informal and the Tona flows freely. By the end of the parade, things can deteriorate depending on how much Tona has been consumed.
Hipicas are held in many towns, you will see a banner with the date on it. If you get a chance, go.
Remember, the crowd can be huge and rowdy with lots of pickpockets. Don't take anything you don't need with you and don't get too friendly with anyone. Be prepared for it to last several hours, it can be an endurance test. It was truly a local spectacle and extremely interesting.
The Hipica is a horse parade. It starts about noon or whenever the starters are ready. It is really interesting to see, at least once. I had seen paintings of some very different horses in homes and businesses but I thought they were stylized, they were not. Nicaragua is true horse country and the ranchers have many different breeds. The Hipica we saw had at least 500 horses of all kinds and a few mules too. The cowboys were in full dress.
It starts at one end of town, winds thru the streets and ends in the center of town. It is very informal and the Tona flows freely. By the end of the parade, things can deteriorate depending on how much Tona has been consumed.
Hipicas are held in many towns, you will see a banner with the date on it. If you get a chance, go.
Remember, the crowd can be huge and rowdy with lots of pickpockets. Don't take anything you don't need with you and don't get too friendly with anyone. Be prepared for it to last several hours, it can be an endurance test. It was truly a local spectacle and extremely interesting.
