Blogs from Managua, Capital Region, Nicaragua, Central America Caribbean - page 19

One interesting thing that I have not yet written about are the markets here in Nicaragua. I absolutsely LOVE them! They are full of so many sights, colors, tastes, noises and people...it´s quite overwhelming. But that´s precisely what I love so much about it: so many people busily shopping, selling, pushing, shoving, sleeping, peeing (honestly, you see EVERYTHING at these markets!). The past two trips I made to Managua (the last of which I travelled home from in the back of the truck, if you recall) we visited the largest market there, called "El Oriental". El Orinetal is resportedly the largest market in all of Central America. It spans an incredible 100HA, in a complicated web of formal shops and informal vendors and stalls that make the Toronto Eaton Centre (our largest mall) look like a ... read more

Chapter One (because I think it would kill me to write about it all at once)** Thinking about my first day in Managua makes me want to cry, get sick and cut myself open. My emotions are too intense. I want to share with you what it feels like, but I'm not that talented. On the bus on the way to the volcanic lake, you'd never know that the little boy clinging to you, fitting his body into your lap as though he was made for it, all cleaned up in a little orange shirt, smiling and sweet, you'd never believe where he sleeps at night. You'd watch him in the water, the older boy taking his head band off and showing the younger one how to wear it cool, you'd never know... One boy would ... read more

Well, so much seems like it has happened since last I wrote. The next day we went early in the morning to register at the ´minisry for foreigners and immigration´ at 7am. But apparently it no longer opens at 7: it now opens at 8am, and they didn´t bother to inform anyone. (my first introduction to the Nicaraguan sense of time!) So we formed a long, grubling que outstide. Juliana was beside herself! (she reminds me of one of those strong, carribian ladies, whose not afraid to speak her mind to any poor soul who happens to be in the vicinity). She was ranting about how "they can´t treat ppl like this!", and how "it´s a public service and a basic RIGHT, and how DARE they keep us locked outside in the sun like animals"! I ... read more

Mark Twain or Ben Franklin or Paul Theroux or Robert Louis Stevenson -all great travelers and writers said it best:" Your trip begins the minute you leave the door of one 'home' and enter another." And so it was yesterday as I made my way on what I thought was going to be a zippy little 45 minute flight from San Jose', Costa Rica to Managua, Nicaragua. Knowing my way around a few So. Am. airports I know to give myself more than enough time since there are 2 types of time in the world: Latin and Central Am. and the rest of the world. I arrived at the airport with lots of time to spare. Paid my rip off 'exit tax' and went to my assigned gate. The gate guy appeared and put the correct ... read more

Venimos haces dos semanas casi... Estamos trabajando en San Judas... Escribiré más adelante de mi tierra.. Pero esto es lo ocurrido hasta ahorita... La cosa se puso mas interesante este martes.. Y desgraciadamente no puedo decir que no. Este mail ni se lo mando a mi familia. Prefiero contarles cuando llegue, sino, simplemente les estaré dando la razón desde lejos y se comenzaran por preocupar por mi. Les he escrito contandoles lo bonito y bien que me la he estado pasando, pero a la vez, les he mencionado acerca de la desorganización de este proyecto. No se si les conté que un día, el lunes creo que fue, me empezaron a pegar los niños.. Esque es tan tan falta de cariño. Reciben cero atención de los padres, y nos ven a a nosotros, lo quieren todo, ... read more