This blog post is a departure from my past posts. I’m by no means a journalist, but I’ve had many people reach out to me before I left for Nicaragua, and since I’ve been here, worried about the political situation. I thought it important to give my point of view and what I’ve seen and experienced. For the past few years, Nicaragua has been making its name as a “must see” travel destination. Topping lists on Travel & Leisure magazine, blogs touting the best places for single women to travel and of course, a hot spot for all levels of surfers. Nicaragua had definitely been in my top five places prior to my first trip here in 2016. On that trip, my daughter and I experienced an all-inclusive women’s surf camp and it was amazing. However, during that trip, one day there was a taxi strike in the town of San Juan del Sur where we were staying. The taxi drivers blocked all the viable entries and exits to the town. Being an oblivious American, I never really did get to the bottom of why they were striking, and it only lasted a few hours so there wasn’t much personal impact. Fast forward two years, and now the country is solidly embroiled in a state of civil unrest. To outsiders, and definitely people who have come for short visits, this seems to have bubbled up from nowhere. Even being in Nicaragua the week before the first protest, things seemed as peaceful as ever and the people as kind and generous as before. Two days after getting back to Portland, when the news came through about the massive and violent protests, I was completely shocked. But, looking back on my own experience in 2016, this dissatisfaction with the government has been bubbling for quite awhile. Now in April, I had already made the decision I would be returning to Nicaragua for a long sabbatical, perhaps to make it my travel “crash pad”. After the first protest, I definitely thought it was a “one off” and that things would quickly go back to normal…much like the recent protests/ marches we’ve had in the United States. Unfortunately, as I followed the news from Nicaragua closely that was not the case. I did make a point to read multiple different news outlets (as American journalism tends to find the absolutely worst cases to report on) and stayed in touch with the local ex-pats. From April through mid-June, there continued to be multiple protests, some country wide strikes and multiple road blocks set up outside many of the bigger cities, but especially Managua, the capital. These situations become bloody and deadly as paramilitary individuals, most likely from orders by the president, Daniel Ortega, began shooting into the crowds. Many of the protestors and onlookers killed were young unarmed students. Since then, several hundred people have been arrested and are being held for protesting, and many others have fled the country fearing retribution. It is a heartbreaking time for Nicaragua, for both the unnecessary loss of life and the devastating impact on the economy. Even with the news of the unrest in the greater Managua area, I decided to follow through with my plans to move and I am so glad I did. Now I’ll be the first to admit that where I am living is quite the bubble from what is happening in other parts of the country. However, this area has keenly felt the precipitous drop off in tourism which has led to massive layoffs. Causing even full hotels and travel destinations to close completely. With almost every Western country and airline publishing travel warnings, what would normally be high season is at an all time low. While there are some benefits to being here with fewer people, I’d much rather see a full economy and the Nicaraguans employed. This is why I continue to flood my social media posts with the beauty and adventure that I find here. I want to inspire others to come visit and spend their vacation dollars here to help Nicaragua maintain its place as one of the best places to visit in the world. In the six weeks I have been here and traveled around both the local area and over to Ometepe, I have never once felt in danger or threatened. I have gotten to experience amazing sunsets, hikes, wildlife, food and most of all the warm and welcoming people of Nicaragua. There is not a day that I’m going about my life that I don’t encounter several locals who always greet me with a genuine smile and “Buenos Dios”.
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