A photo blog delving into my travel photography archives at www.timbirdphotography.com

A few years ago I had an obsession with volcanoes. Or rather, my continuing obsession with volcanoes manifested itself in the form of several visits to Central America, to Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras, for example. One of those visits was to Nicaragua where I did managed to gaze, Frodo-like, into some ominously smoking volcanic craters. More of those later, but here is a quick New Year re-visit to the lakeside colonial gems of Leon and Granada, and a glimpse of one smoking vent.

Happy New Year, Six Picks visitor!

Street mural commemorating the July 23, 1959 massacre of slaughters in Leon.

Street scene from the bell tower in Granada

Firework celebrations in the square at Leon

My guide, Jesus, took me to the mountain. Here he is peering dangerously into the smouldering crater of the Telica volcano.

Festival procession makes its way to the cathedral square in Leon.

Granada residents taking it easy

Six Picks is a fairly regular introduction to my travel photography. To view my galleries, visit my website at www.timbirdphotography.com. If you enjoy your visits, please share, Tweet, shout and holler.