Nicaragua. Part 1.

I'm back!  From Nicaragua!  I went there for work and that part went really well.  But I thought I would write about the more interesting part, the experience.  Traveling in and of itself is the best education.  It's how you learn that the way you live isn't the only way to live.  I went to Managua (population 1.5 million), the capital of Nicaragua.  It was once a fishing village and had been devastated twice by earthquakes, the first time in 1931 and more recently in -1972, killing 10,000 people.  Only recently has the city began to re-emerge.  Industry is coming there-manufacturing, bringing work for the people.  As you might imagine, there is a lot of poverty.  But among the poverty, there are rain forests and lakes-beauty all around.  The people are kind, loving and funny!  (What great senses of humor!)  These people are laid back.  From a business perspective, irritatingly so.  They say, "If you can do it tomorrow, why do it today?" So with that, here are some pictures from my Nicaraguan adventure!

 View from my hotel room.

 Statues were in the center of each roundabout.

 The local brew.  A few of these helped you forget how hot it really was.  (Triple digits each day.)

 Karaoke is a beloved pastime in Nicaragua.  (There are karaoke bars everywhere!)  Here, two of my Nicaraguan colleagues join in a duet!

 Another statue in the middle of a roundabout.

 Viva la revolution!  There was some political unrest, graffiti like this, everywhere.

 This was one of the only street signs I saw.  We went to Tipitapa each day-that's where the factory was.  No one really observed any traffic laws.  Maniacs on the road!

 A typical house.  It's unfortunate that we don't see more teal houses in the US!  I loved the iron work and color.  

 A typical restaurant.  Open air.  Brightly painted.  Disturbingly slow service!

 This was my typical meal all week.  Chicken, rice, salad, plantains.

 This is a native fruit, I can't remember what it was called.  The fruit was delicious!  Papaya and white pineapple!

 Roundabout statue.

 A lot of people tooled around in these little vehicles.

I'll write later this week about a visit to Mombacho and Granata!  I am thankful for safe travels and for the United States!!