We had never been to Nicaragua before, or even Central America, but somehow our trip there last week felt like returning home. The fantastic food, the friendly people, the ever-present history, the gorgeous scenery were all familiar and comfortable, but still incredibly unique and new to us. It was almost like all of our favorite parts of traveling were rolled into one country just waiting for us to explore.

Our trip to Nicaragua wasn't nearly long enough, and we're already debating returning there for three weeks later this year. But for now, our photos and memories will sustain us. And we'll remember Nicaragua as an incredibly gorgeous country wrapped in little streets filled with colorful one-story houses and tiendas, sweet fried plantains and gallo pinto, public buses from our American school days climbing through lush mountains, local dogs trotting past on their way someplace else, and ever-so-welcoming strangers who very quickly became friends.