(^68) San Isidro – Esteli - 30 kilometres
A short but hilly ride took us to Esteli, a seeming cowboy town where one could find
handmade leather boots and oversized belt buckles. The land around Esteli is
perfect for growing tobacco used in cigars, and the town became a refuge for
Cuban cigar makers following the Cuban Revolution in 1959. These award-winning
cigars made Esteli one of the most significant cigar-producing cities in the world.
Searching for these famous cigars was a relatively easy task. By evening, Ernest
puffed away and declared it excellent quality.
Esteli was the scene of heavy fighting during the civil war against the Somoza
government. Most of the town was destroyed during that time. Today, it’s a
peaceful town featuring only a few murals reminding one of its not-so-peaceful
past.
leana
(Leana)
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