One of the joys of traveling in a foreign country is the opportunity to completely absorb a wonderfully new and multi-sensory experience. Nicaragua is no different, and a stroll through San Juan de Oriente reveals a charming town, one that has built its reputation on the production of decorative pottery. The town has approximately 4,000 residents, and nearly 80% participate in the production or sale of ceramics. Since the majority of these potters work right out of their homes, you can often see and hear them spinning a potter's wheel, stomping on mounds of clay to remove the lumps, or straining the impurities from a slushy coating they put on the pots. San Juan de Oriente is located approximately 45 minutes south of Managua by car, although its higher elevation provides for a far more moderate climate than the capital city.
One of the joys of traveling in a foreign country is the opportunity to completely absorb a wonderfully new and multi-sensory experience. Nicaragua is no different, and a stroll through San Juan de Oriente reveals a charming town, one that has built its reputation on the production of decorative pottery. The town has approximately 4,000 residents, and nearly 80% participate in the production or sale of ceramics. Since the majority of these potters work right out of their homes, you can often see and hear them spinning a potter's wheel, stomping on mounds of clay to remove the lumps, or straining the impurities from a slushy coating they put on the pots. San Juan de Oriente is located approximately 45 minutes south of Managua by car, although its higher elevation provides for a far more moderate climate than the capital city.