The magic of place: Silvio Sirias’s expansive portrayal of Nicaragua in Bernardo and the Virgin

By Joshua | June 13th, 2010 | 21 Comments »

The Tranquilo Traveler is proud to host Silvio Sirias’s book tour today. FREE GIFT: Leave a comment below and you’ll be entered to win crafts by Panamanian Kuna artisans [[gift is closed, congratulations monica!]]
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The first book I ever read about Nicaragua was Blood of Brothers, by Stephen Kinzer. It was 1997 and I’d just received my invitation from the U.S. Peace Corps to work in Nicaragua as a forestry volunteer. All I knew about Nicaragua was that it was in Central America, it sounded exotic, and I would be living there for the next two-and-a-half years, little else.

Kinzer gave a sharp, alluring portrait of a country during its hottest hours (the Sandinista revolution of 1979 and subsequent social experiment and civil war that lasted till 1990); but I was looking for more. The second book I read about Nicaragua was also non-fiction, by a Nicaraguan this time, also about the war. And the third. You get the picture. It took some digging to find other periods of Nicaraguan history, and still I found few descriptions in the literature about the life in store for me, about modern-day, small-town Nicaragua. Read the rest of this entry »

Go Black Stars! Ghana goes bananas! Tranquilo Traveler digs up World Cup 2006 posts

By Joshua | June 13th, 2010 | No Comments »

As Ghana celebrates its first win in the 2010 World Cup, I thought I’d take a look back. Exactly four years ago, my wife and I were living in Accra, a crusty capital on the coast of West Africa, where we were volunteering with Planned Parenthood. The country was deep in World Cup fever for the national team, the Black Stars, which had advanced farther in the tournament than any other African team had ever done in history. Sutay and I watched soccer on TV every day, all over the country, at work, at home, in restaurants, and once during our travels in the rural north, we watched World Cup football under the stars in the chief’s compound.

Here are a few images and stories from that experience:

VIDEO of Ghana youth going nuts over a goal

Accra: sight-free, soccer-insane city by the seaGame On! Ghana vs. USA today…

Jubilation! Ghana 2 - USA 1! Everybody’s Dancin’…

Back from the Bush: Two Weeks in Northeast Ghana

Volunteer opportunity in Belize: animal lover and vet wanted on Caye Caulker

By Joshua | June 13th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

This just in from the Voluntary Traveler: “PAW (Protect Animal Welfare) Cat Sanctuary and Humane Society on Caye Caulker … needs a long-term volunteer and a long-term veterinary volunteer. Stay three months helping the sanctuary and your beach-side accommodations plus a continental breakfast are provided for the duration of your stay.” MORE about the position and how to apply –>

P.S. I took this Belizean kitty photo in Placencia (not Caye Caulker), at the Maya Beach Hotel and Bistro

Eric Volz’s memoir hits the shelves, Nicaragua murder debate rekindled

By Joshua | May 31st, 2010 | No Comments »

Eric Volz’s memoir, Gringo Nightmare: A Young American Framed for Murder in Nicaragua, was released this month from Macmillan. The tag-line reads, “In the spirit of Midnight Express and Not Without My Daughter comes the harrowing true story of an American held in a Nicaraguan prison for a murder he didn’t commit.”

I have not read the book yet, but since people continue to discuss the issue (i.e. scream at each other) in the comments section of this post from 2007 (SERIOUSLY, read these comments, they are damn entertaining), I thought I would add another update. There is a lot of wild speculation flying around the case, and passion obscures facts more often than not, so I’m glad Volz has a chance to tell his unique story in book form. I look forward to reading it and posting a more complete review, hopefully for my summer reading list. In the meantime, for information on Eric Volz’s book tour, visit his site: Friends of Eric Volz

Original post: April 26, 2007

New guide lists 700 Places to Volunteer Before You Die

By Joshua | May 29th, 2010 | No Comments »

Are you deciding where to go next? Voluntourism guru Nola Lee Kelsey’s collection of alternative travel opportunities, 700 Places to Volunteer Before You Die: A Traveler’s Guide (Dog’s Eye View Media, 2010), is a remarkable resource for travelers looking for a different kind of trip. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a complete, detail-filled listing which spans the entire globe. The book includes 11 opportunities in Nicaragua and 5 in Belize, and of course, hundreds of others around the world (there are actually 758 listings).

700 Places to Volunteer Before You Die also features an introduction with advice by “industry experts,” including yours truly (Kelsey’s interview with the Tranquilo Traveler begins on pp. 23), making it even easier to recommend. My only criticism of the book is that its organization is a bit tricky, especially since there is no index. But it’s still fun to browse the pages, looking for your next trip to pop out at you.
Check out Nola Lee Kelsey’s blog and podcast to learn more about volunteering abroad.

Nica-American novelist Silvio Sirias in HECHO magazine

By Joshua | May 26th, 2010 | No Comments »

Here’s a profile I wrote about novelist Silvio Sirias, published in the new edition of HECHO, a quarterly magazine out of Managua in its second year. HECHO is the coolest thing to happen to Nicaragua culture/art/music scene since Cafe Amatl. Anyway, I’m proud to be part of it. I’ll be posting more about Silvio on June 14, when the Tranquilo Traveler will be hosting him on his blog tour to promote his book Bernardo and the Virgin.

Musicians who travel: Bela Fleck goes to Africa, produces amazing film

By Joshua | May 17th, 2010 | No Comments »

Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck brings his instrument back to its native Africa in Throw Down Your Heart, a phenomenal documentary film which came out last year.

“We’re equal,” says Bela to one of Mali’s top musicians when they realize they have no common tongue in which to speak.

“We can only communicate with music!” Laughter follows, and then a magical connection, captured on film, when two musical giants discover brotherhood while their instruments explore a distant kinship.

These musical moments, with their shared knowing looks, broad smiles, fist bumps, and cross-cultural syncopation, are oft-repeated scenes during Bela’s travels through five African nations (Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, Senegal, and Mali). Director Sascha Paladino finds plenty of mini-stories to weave throughout the trip, but the banjo remains the star of the show—along with the many musicians Bela encounters and with whom he records. 

Whether you love music, travel, banjos, or Africa (or, like me, all four), you’ll dig Throw Down Your Heart. Watch the trailer here.

“Survivor Nicaragua” officially teased in preview video

By Joshua | May 17th, 2010 | No Comments »

The producers of CBS’s “Survivor” sure make Nicaragua, where their 21st season is set, sound awesome and untamed!

“This is Nicaragua! It is a land of impenetrable terrain, smoldering volcanoes, and savage wildlife!”

I have a question for all you “Survivor” fans out there: How important is the setting? Is the show only about the contestants, or will viewers learn something about Nicaragua?

The Spanish and Italian versions of “Survivor” also filmed in Nicaragua this year: article in the NicaTimes.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

By Joshua | May 9th, 2010 | No Comments »

Above: Me and my mom in West Virginia, 1974-ish. Thanks for giving me both roots and wings, mom. I love you.

Your Mom. This Mothers’ Day, honor her with a small (or large) donation for education in Nicaragua

By Joshua | May 5th, 2010 | No Comments »

Does your mother really need another doily? Here’s a different way to honor her: support the mothers of Empowerment International, who live in outlying barrios of Granada, Nicaragua:

“We’re seeing an increasing trend of mothers involved and engaged in supporting their children’s school work, and they’re proud of what their children have achieved. This is a real measure of the success of the EI program—only a few years ago it was difficult to convince the families that their kids attending school was worth the lost income from them not being able to work in the streets.”

Watch the slide show and honor your mother here.