New Spanish School in Nicaragua

April 30th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

An increasing number of Central America–bound travelers spend at least part of their trip at one of the many available Nicaraguan Spanish language schools, y con razón (with good reason). $150–200 per week gets you 4-6 hours per day of personal Spanish instruction—plus room and board in a Nicaraguan family’s home, as well as field trips to local sites in the afternoons and weekends. Not only is this an incredible deal, but it’s the best way to go deep and get the most out of your interaction with Nicaraguans during your stay here.
But which school is right for you? In addition to breaking it down in both our books (which contain extensive listings by region of the many Spanish schools throughout the country), Randy and I offer an online “Escuela Scoop” covering many of the country’s best programs, including links to each school’s website. In addition, there is a constant stream of Spanish school suppliers rising to meet the enormous demand. The newest of these is Spanish School Matagalpa, the first of its kind in Nicaragua’s coffee country, and one which has not yet made it to the (more…)

Murder in Nicaragua: Update on the Eric Volz Case

April 26th, 2007 | By Joshua | 31 Comments »

BoingBoing.net has posted a very thorough collection of links regarding the Eric Volz murder case in Nicaragua, also recently featured on “NBC Dateline,” People magazine, and many others. Today’s NPR show, “Day to Day,” focuses on the fascinating “online battle surrounding Eric Volz, a 27-year-old American who is serving a 30-year sentence for the murder of his Nicaraguan ex-girlfriend. Volz insists he is innocent, and now his family is publicizing his case on the Web to get him freed.”

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The Nicaraguans: New Photo Book

April 9th, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Some photographer friends in Nicaragua just wrote to tell me about a new collaborative project, The Nicaraguans, which features fresh work by 32 of Nicaragua’s most ambitious photographers (several of whom have graced the pages of our guidebooks). There are also forewards by Richard Leonardi and Sergio Ramírez Mercado. Ramírez writes: “And the three hundred images contained in this book, how many words would they be worth? Their beauty lies in their everydayness, all of them illuminated by the soft light of daily tasks that is unbroken by the drama or violence that has been a constant feature of our history. These are images of people building. People working. People walking. Waiting, protected by the landscape they know belongs to them, by the country they know is their own.” Sounds very promising. I’m not sure where the book will be available, but keep an eye out in Nicaraguan bookstores (try HISPAMER or Frontera Librería in Managua).

In Praise of Volunteering—and another Tranquilo Traveler

April 6th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

It was only after I’d started reading the Brave New Traveler article, “10 Reasons Why Volunteering is Better Than Traveling,” (#6. You get to know the neighborhood: In Vietnam I’d say “HALLO!” 30 times before I reached the end of my street. Even my grumpiest moods were transformed), that I realized why the face in the photos looked so familiar. I’d just met Steve Jackson, a.k.a. “Our Man in Granada,” at breakfast with mutual friends in Nicaragua. After reading the above article, I strongly encourage you to browse Steve’s  Nicaragua blog, which features scrumptious photography to illustrate the author’s practical, fun entries. The site will also undoubtedly talk about Steve’s new gig helping out at Cafe Chavalos, a worthy project that teaches ex-street kids how to be chefs and maitre-d’s. Enjoy.

Back in Nicaragua: La Trinidad, Estelí

March 28th, 2007 | By Joshua | 8 Comments »

This is me and Darwin Escoto, my compadre, neighbor, and best friend during the two years I lived in La Trinidad, Estelí. We’ve kept in touch; I’ve been down a bunch of times and his band, Los Mokuanes, does occasional tours in the U.S. When I can, I meet him at the gig, where we hang out and catch up, before and after the show with the other guys in the band and members of the local Nica expat community. Anyway, this is Eudelia’s comedor, the place where I first met Darwin. It was nine years — to the day — before this photo was taken. It was my first day in La Trini, and my counterpart was away at the beach, “drinking guaro,” his wife said. She didn’t invite me in, so I humped my pack — and anxiety (I would be spending the next two years in this dusthole!?) down to the corner bar.
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The News from San Juan del Sur

February 21st, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

In last Friday’s article, “Nicaragua rising: War-torn image gets a tourist makeover,” USA TODAY gives us yet another travel piece from Nicaragua’s happenin’ southwest corner. The reporter, Laura Bly, asked Randy and me to help plan her research trip; she carried both of our books during her trip and recommends our site, GoToNicaragua.com, in the article. Bly’s article covers all the required topics, scenes, and imagery for a San Juan del Sur–based Nica travel piece, but does not mention the big Valentine’s Day murder trial of an American there.

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Nica in the News. Again. And again.

January 29th, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

It’s not surprising that last fall’s presidential election (and last week’s inauguration) of Sandinista caudillo-wannabe Daniel Ortega has sparked minor headlines around the world; what is astounding is the sheer number of articles about tourism and living abroad in Nicaragua throughout the mainstream press, a degree of international attention unheard of in several decades. Start with this morning’s New York Newsday: “Purchasing paradise: More Americans choose to live in Nicaragua, as locals question the loss of their homeland” by Letta Tayler, in which she reports “Eventually, there will be nonstop, five-hour flights from New York to Managua.”

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More published pieces to start the New Year

January 1st, 2007 | By Joshua | 2 Comments »

In addition to “Ballad of a Traveling Buddha” (see below), I’ve got two more pieces going live today to usher in ‘07. The first is my appearance in Rolf Potts’ “Traveling Light” column for Yahoo News; I represent Central America by recommending Nicaragua’s La Isla de Ometepe as one of “Eight great overseas destinations for 2007.”

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Nicaragua keeps charmin’ — another Sunday spread

December 24th, 2006 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Those Sunday Travel Sections just can’t get enough Lakes and Volcanoes. On the heels of last week’s New York Times spread (”The Rediscovery of Nicaragua” by Gregory Dicum), today’s Washington Post (Sunday, December 24, 2006) gives us “Fit for Man and Beast: Surfers and Turtles Ride the Waves on Nicaragua’s Coast,” by Jonathan Finer. The story has been done many, many times before by travel writers who feel like they’re on to something. I’m as guilty as the rest, several times over and I ain’t knockin’ it. There’s a reason the word is out — Nicaragua really is that intriguing to visit.You’ll know when you go.

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Living Abroad In Nicaragua featured in GoAbroad.com

December 11th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Our newest book, Moon Living Abroad In Nicaragua, is featured in the current (December 2006) GoAbroad Newsletter. GoAbroad.com is an online directory of study abroad programs, language schools, internships, international volunteer positions, international teaching positions, universities, eco-travel and a whole lot more, and it’s an honor to be introduced to their hundreds of thousands of viewers. The newsletter includes this interview with my and the Randymon:

GOABROAD.COM: Why Nicaragua? Why live in Nicaragua?
RANDALL WOOD and JOSHUA BERMAN: Nicaragua remains off the traditional tourist’s map, which means there are lots of ways to really explore and experience a country without feeling like your hand is being held by a tour guide. Nicaragua is natural, it’s unpolished, and it’s rife with adventure, from coffee picking to canopy tours, from reef diving to volcano hiking, and from horseback riding to the phenomenal Palo de Mayo festival.

>>Full interview