Background: The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
March 9th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Laguna de Apoyo I wrote this poem on a cramped chicken bus ride towards cosiguina (a volcano in the North of Nica). There were pot holes in the road the size of small towns, so I figured Id try and get it down in a ... [full story]
February 25th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Laguna de Apoyo Into the big city we went, and getting off the bus were not impressed with our filthy surroundings and touchy beggers. But further travel led us to a nice hotel with cheap rooms on a clean street out ... [full story]
January 31st 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Laguna de Apoyo Got a ride to the Monkey Hut, the Bearded Monkeys Hostel on the Laguna. Return trip was $3, and entrance was $6, although for another $4 you could spend the night. They keep the entrance fee at $6 si ... [full story]
January 29th 2008Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Laguna de Apoyo After the long week with the kids, it was time for a needed break, some group bonding time and time for reflection. Yet before we go, we are offered a few surprises back on the range. Some former vol ... [full story]
Map of Nicaragua
Nicaragua's Flag
