The Views From the Mirador

Skies are one of my favorite aspects of landscapes, because each place possesses their own skies. The skies in western Canada, with their Chinook winds and pink hues are unique and part of what makes the Canadian Rockies so beautiful. Likewise, Ecuador's cloud systems move between open blue skies, to cloudier more colorful vaults that periodically let the sun peer through. 

The skies are one of the best parts of Nicaragua in the rainy season. Every afternoon the storms whip in from over Central America's two biggest lakes and refresh the cities to the west with Caribbean mists. The skies are particularly interesting at the Mirador in Catarina. Here above Laguna Apoyo, Nicaragua's deepest and cleanest body of water, the winds and clouds swirl in the volcanic crater creating amazing colors, and at times, whirlpools in the lagoon below. 

The skies at this time are most incredible because the wind and clouds move so quickly, you can often see straight to Granada, and the other shore of Lake Nicaragua, despite being within the clouds. Things change quickly at the Mirador and the storms are truly a show. 

Catarina in the late moring

Early Afternoon

Early afternoon, Lake Nicaragua and Granada are visible. 

Mid afternoon, storms are rolling in and its raining on the east side of the lagoon.

Storm has left Lake Nicaragua and sun is visible on Granada's cathedrals

Sun is setting after a storm

The smell of rain lingers until the morning.

Could hear the rain on the lagoon, but it had not reached Catarina yet

End of the afternoon storm

Bonus Materials, the Skies of Ecuador and Peru!!

Blue Skies over Loja, Ecuador

Post rain skies, Loja, Ecuador

Evening skies in Vilcabamba, Ecuador

Sky ablaze over Riobamba, Ecuador

Sunset from Mt. Chimborazo, the top of the world

Sunrise on day three of the Inca Trail

Sunrise bringing out the colors of Peru

Sunrise from an old Incan Fort