Guardian Article on Nicaragua’s Lingering Sandalistas

April 6th, 2008 | By Joshua | No Comments »

After the Frente Sandinista ousted the dictator Somoza in 1979, they began one of the most important socialist experiments of the century. Leftie internacionalistas arrived from around the world to observe, participate, report, write, and take part. A few settled down and are still there today. Guardian reporter Rory Carroll profiled a few of them in his article, “The Sandalistas who Never Left.” There’s also a video interview with Chilean-born Erik Flakoll, who served as a bodyguard for Sandinista strongman Tomás Borge. A few of the profilees are friends of mine; enjoy. [Link]

Nicaragua and Baseball, Part 2

February 29th, 2008 | By Joshua | No Comments »

A couple months ago, I posted some pictures from Masaya, including these baseball shots of the San Fernando home team taking on the challengers from Leon. This morning I noticed a Blogcritics article entitled “Baseball, Poetry, and Nicaragua,” in which author Terrence Clarke waxes nostalgic about his baseball diplomacy mission to the Sandinista government in 1986:

A snicker went up from the Nicaraguans, all of them amused by this display of gringo naivety.

“Señor,” the fellow next to me said. “Baseball is a Central American game.”

“Beg your pardon?”

“The Indians were playing it here two thousand years ago.”

There was general agreement with this.

New Nicaragua Podcast on the Amateur Traveler

February 10th, 2008 | By Joshua | No Comments »

I just recorded a podcast on Chris Christensen’s Amateur Travel, which is now live. If you’d like to listen to me talk about Nicaragua for about 25 minutes, download the mp3 and check out the accompanying images that Chris coordinated with the interview (just don’t click on the images or you’ll lose the podcast). We talked about a variety of things, from volcano-hopping to coffee-turismo to La Isla de Ometepe; and also why Nicaragua is not “the next Costa Rica.”

Nicaragua’s Parallel Patriots Nation Universe

February 8th, 2008 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

The New York Post reports:

“The Giants may be America’s Super Bowl champs, but there will still be one place in the world where the Patriots’ sorry dreams of a perfect season live on: Nicaragua. Thousands and thousands of unsold caps and T-shirts printed with ‘19-0′ and ‘Patriots Super Bowl Champions’ have been donated to a charity that will ship them next week to the impoverished Central American country. As soon as the gear arrives, poor children across Nicaragua will be transformed into unwitting members of Patriots Nation.”

When I lived in Nicaragua, it was always amusing seeing the out-of-place T-shirts, including tens of thousands of Branson, Missouri T’s and the odd “I had a blast at Beth’s Bat Mitzvah.”

Tranquilo Traveler Quoted in Money Magazine

January 31st, 2008 | By Joshua | No Comments »

I am quoted in the current (January, 2008) issue of Money Magazine in a short piece called “4 Hot Vacations at Cool Prices,” which is ironic, since Morgan’s Rock, the resort that is featured in the article, is the most expensive hotel in all of Nicaragua. Guess that goes to show how cheap Nicaragua really is when compared to Costa Rica and other traditional destinations.

Volcán Concepción poses with our book

January 26th, 2008 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Thank you to tranquilo traveler John Gronberg for sending this shot from Finca Magdalena—he even gets the exact cloud formations and blooming flowers to cooperate in his little life-imitates-art adventure with the cover of Moon Nicaragua. The photo on the book cover, by the way, was taken by Charles Ferguson.

Phenomenal Photo Stream from Nicaragua

December 25th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

I love these images from Empowerment International Director (and friend) Kathy Adams and her Nica protégées. Kathy, other volunteers, and Nicaraguan community leaders provide numerous education programs to children in a village outside Granada called Villa Esperanza. Enjoy the photos, poke around EI’s site, then check out these opportunities to get involved. Pictured above is Joseline, daughter of a community leader in Villa Esperanza. Reports Kathy:

“One day I gave her the camera … Very quickly she became adept at using it so I had her take photos of each child we were considering for the program. It was then that I realized the power of giving children the opportunity to learn photography.”

Give Fair Trade Coffee and More: Alternative Gift Ideas from Building New Hope

December 14th, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Unless you are going totally non-consumer and supporting Buy-Nothing-Christmas this year, then you may as well put your gift dollars where they will continue giving: Check out these shopping suggestions from www.buildingnewhope.org. While supporting an excellent community development effort in Nicaragua, you can choose from fresh pounds of fair trade certified organic coffee; a fun and entertaining book for kids, Rootie Kazoo and the Final Pitch; their unique Street Dog post cards; and the 2008 Rhythm in the Barrios calendars. Better yet, choose from these non-material alternative gifts, like paying for school supplies for a Nicaraguan child—or music lessons, scholarships, or pay for  a teacher’s salary. Ding dong. Ho ho ho.

One Day in Masaya

December 7th, 2007 | By Joshua | 3 Comments »

“Masaya!Masaya!Masaya!” This old city between two volcanoes is famous for many things: hammocks, artesenía, lively crafts markets, unique cultural dances, and of course, their baseball team: San Fernando. I finally got to go a game in El Estadio Roberto Clemente (named after the Puerto Rican born Pittsburgh Pirate who died in a plane crash bringing relief supplies to Nicaragua). San Fernando took on León and won, with only one bench-clearing brawl. It was salvaje, especially because I was with good Nica friends, cheering on our team. At one point, I walked onto the field and into the dugout, chatting with the players and ducking foul balls. [Link to photo set]

New Photo Set: One Day in Granada

December 5th, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

There’s no better way to see Granada than to explore it by foot—and there’s no better time to do this than early in the morning: The sun is rising, tourists are still sleeping, children are going to school in pressed uniforms, and a soft night breeze blows in from the lake. Last Tuesday, December 4, began with my usual pre-dawn recorrido and continued until I watched the sun set from the Iglesia La Mercéd bell tower. I wish I took more people shots, so that’s what I’ll try to do today in Masaya. Enjoy.