photo by: Richard Gwin

House entrances, like these two in Leon, no matter how rich or poor are decorated with flowers and a holy statue. After Mass and fireworks celebrating the Immaculate Conception of Mary, people walked the streets to view the displays, going door to door asking, “who brings us such joy?” The owner replies, “the conception on Mary,” and a hands out candy or a gift.

photo by: Richard Gwin

House entrances, like these two in Leon, no matter how rich or poor are decorated with flowers and a holy statue. After Mass and fireworks celebrating the Immaculate Conception of Mary, people walked the streets to view the displays, going door to door asking, “who brings us such joy?” The owner replies, “the conception on Mary,” and a hands out candy or a gift.

photo by: Richard Gwin

A man runs around carrying a sawhorse-like object with fireworks shooting out of it Dec. 7 in front of a cathedral in Leon, Nicaragua, during celebrations for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Four figures of the Virgin Mary wait to be sold as part of the festivities. Nicaraguans’ home overflow with such decorations during the holiday, which the celebrates belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

photo by: Richard Gwin

A market in Leon was full of sights, sounds, smells and new things to try. I like some spice in my life, and I got plenty this day with these peppers — nice and sweet but not too hot. The little ones in the upper corner of this photo, however, brought me to my knees.

photo by: Richard Gwin

The first nice picture on my trip to Nicaragua happened while I was downtown shopping and I came across a vendor with these giant doll heads.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Visiting a cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, near the Honduran border, I noticed this man counting cigars. I asked my friend what was different about him: “He’s Cuban,” my friend said. The Cubans are a smart bunch. They sell their tobacco to Nicaragua, and this factory uses it to make 180,000 cigars a month to export, possibly to the U.S.

photo by: Richard Gwin

I found this iguana moving from tree to tree eating flowers and leaves. Iguana eggs, I’m told, are sweet, and I even had iguana my first night in Nicaragua, in a soup. And, yes, it tastes just like chicken.