Sights and Sounds of Nicaragua

Language and Culture

• The Spanish spoken hear is the most difficult to understand yet. People say that if you can learn here you are set. It sounds like everyone has a mouth full of marbles. People rarely pronounce the "s" in words.
• Not everyone is nice. In general the people in Esteli weren`t friendly or polite.
• Some people here have blue eyes. It is amazing to see them with their dark skin and hair.
• There are few street signs so people give directions using landmarks.
• The street food was not appetizing though the traditional food was yummy.
• People live behind huge, complicated gates. They pull out rocking chairs out to their patio at night but sit behind them.

Entertainment

• If you are bored and looking for some evening entertainment there are casinos every few blocks. They seem to be into slots mostly.
• Shoes are a big thing here. You wouldn`t think that Payless Shoe Stores would be the shop of choice but it is!
• We attended our first English speaking church since we left home. Hallejuah!
• Don´t try this at home. We hypnotized a chicken. We had the most giggles while we tried to catch it.

Transportation

• Public transportation is a way of life for people in Nicaragua. You generally have 2 options: the chicken buses (old NA school buses with a new paint job and some gaudy decorations) or micro buses ( little VW vans). In either case if you are a gringo they try to steep up the price. We lost big time our first day going to the Nehemiah Center by paying 20 Cordobas. A local would pay 5 -7 Cords!
• Safety is on everyone´s minds, locals and tourists alike. A Nicaraguan worker from the Nehemiah Center was robbed and abandoned out on a country road by a taxi driver whose friends ( also in the car) had a gun. They assume that it was not pre-meditated.
• The popular vehicle of choice among the missionary community was a 4x4 Land Rover. The models varied but they are heavy duty.
• Our best laid plans got thrown out the window when there was a country wide transportation strike.

Politics

• On the political scene: People hate the Samozas but the Sandinistas are not angels either. It makes the Conseratives and the Liberals look pretty good.
• We were eye witnesses of the largest poverty gap between the rich and the poor in Central America.
• The infrastructure is minimal. Not all places hvae garbage pick up, so they make a pile on the street and just burn it there instead.

Random

• We experienced several power and water shortages. It is a part of life here. There is not enough power and the lack of organization makes it difficult for people to predict when it will occur.
• In Matagalpa we stayed in the smallest room yet. It had a 2 ft. wide path to the bathroom and the rest was taken up by the bed.
• There are lots of security guards with guns and metal detectors. Who knew that a shot gun was necessary to defend a bakery!?!
• They make great cigars. You could even watch them roll `em up in Granada.
• Managua has the record breaking high for temperatures. It was easily mid 30s C most days. The muggyness rarely left.

Sights of Nicaragua