Noteworthy is that this is a third world country on the verge of blossoming into a tourist destination. It already is a destination for backkpackers and surfers, but soon to come will be the yuppie tourist who is willing to pay US prices. Nicaragua where we landed is a study of contrasts. The resort where we stayed and will go back to for the end of the summer and fall, is in stark contrast to the neighborhood outside its gates. People live in palapa and visquine huts with hand crank wells, horse drawn carts and bicycles as major mode of transportation. There are lots of dugout canoes in use and farm animals wandering the streets. There is a daily "chicken" bus to Chinendega, the nearest city, 2 hours away. This bus is the life blood of the people as it is their only connection to food and services. Taking the bus is an all day affair. People cram literally into the bus both ways and on the way back tons of stuff is loaded on the top as well as in the overhead racks inside. You think that not another person can fit in, then the doors in the back open and a few more manage to enter. Babies, chickens, kids, bicycles, furniture--anything you can imagine is crammed on/in and we head out over the pothole infested dirt roads.
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