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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Free guidebook to not being an ugly American

December 21st, 2006 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

More than 150,000 copies of this unique little brochure produced by Southern Methodist University’s have been distributed to college students, missionary groups, business travelers and Peace Corps volunteers, reports the Dallas Morning News. The World Citizen Guide is basically “a crash course in how not to be an ugly American” and comes complete with do’s and dont’s for basic global behavior. These include: “Lower your voice. Think about what you’re wearing. Be patient. Smile. Genuinely.”

The books can be downloaded for free, and World Citizen’s slick website has great tools and resources.

Tranquilo Traveler in Arabic

December 17th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Google’s translation tool is amazing, allowing you to translate chunks of text or entire web pages, as seen by clicking the above screenshot.

Gonzo: Hunter S. Thompson’s “visual biography”

December 12th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

The photographs and archives of writer Hunter S. Thompson are available in Gonzo, “a visual biography worthy of his literary legacy.” I saw the link on boingboing.net, followed it a couple of clicks and found this typewriter still life. “AMMO Books presents this impressive limited edition title, featuring hundreds of personal photographs–many taken by Thompson himself and never before published. Accompanied by writing and memorabilia, this visual history gives insight into the literary icon’s life. GONZO chronicles Thompson’s numerous adventures, including his early days as a foreign correspondent in Puerto Rico, living in Big Sur in the sixties, time on the road with the Hell’s Angels, running for Sheriff of Pitkin County in 1970, and many personal moments with friends and family throughout the years.” The still life reminds me of photos I’ve taken of my own keyboard around the world. Makeshift desks, micro-ants crawling out of the keys, sweat stains on the plastic, Flor de Caña candle holder, mosquito coils spiraling round an empty beer bottle.

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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

Living Abroad in Nicaragua nominated for 2006 Book of the Year Award!

December 9th, 2006 | By Joshua | 2 Comments »

Planeta.com viewers are voting this month for the 2006 Book of the Year Awards in a variety of categories — Moon Living Abroad In Nicaragua, my most recent title (written with co-author Randy Wood), is nominated for best “PLACE-BASED GUIDEBOOK” along with several other Latin America titles. The other categories (Food, Environment, Travel) feature new titles that I can’t wait to check out. In the meantime, viewers can vote online — that means you. Be sure to read all the nominee descriptions first. Better yet — buy all the books, travel with each them to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Argentina, then make a fully informed decision. (Or just vote.) For more on Living Abroad in Nicaragua, click this official moon.com page, or check out GoToNicaragua.com.

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Belize Authors Eat Fry-Jacks

November 30th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

It’s always nice to finally meet folks with whom you’ve been corresponding for years, especially when those folks are Lan Sluder (author of numerous guidebooks, including Fodor’s Belize, Living Abroad in Belize, and San Pedro Cool) and Marty Casado (Master of the Domain at www.ambergriscaye.com). A few weeks ago, our paths all crossed on the beach in San Pedro, at Estel’s.
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