Legends of Lake Nicaragua

On Lake Nicaragua, you will find small islands of huts adjacent to a small island with a mansion. It is quite interesting to venture into the polluted waters by boat. You will also find the remains of old buildings that were once high enough from the water’s edge when built, but were later flooded in storms. Fences still line the property that was once a habitat in some areas. On other islands, you will see monkeys jumping from tree to tree.

There have been many drownings in Lake Nicaragua and some believe that the lake is filled with spirits that pull swimmers to the bottom. Others talk about bull sharks that feast on swimmers. Of course, the bull sharks are real in the lake and not a fictitious legend.

Over the years, bull sharks from the ocean have made their way into the freshwater by swimming 120 miles up the Rio San Juan river from the Caribbean Sea. The sharks were first noticed in the mid 1500 chronicles of Spanish historian Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés.

In the past few years, Nicaragua has tightened security at their borders. The reason being, many are trying to make their way through the country in hopes of reaching the United States by way of Mexico. In doing so, there have been multiple attempts of persons making their way into the country by way of water travel from the ocean and into Lake Nicaragua. However, many of those immigrants from places like Africa and Haiti later drowned when their vessels capsized in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. In other words, they survived the warm Caribbean Sea, but died in the fresh water of Nicaragua. Some of the recent drownings that occurred in July of 2016 included eight men from Africa.

Nicaragua and Oppression

Nicaragua sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is a land filled with smiling faces mixed with oppression. This photo was shot in a busy market in Nicaragua. 

Food for sale everywhere in Masaya

Homemade fried pies for sale! Food is for sale everywhere in Masaya, Nicaragua and in the outlying areas of the town. In this case, bakers sell what appear to be homemade fried pies. Many of the vendors work long hours seven days a week to support their family. 

Street Photography in Nicaragua

This young man is playing with a handmade Nicaragua Bolero. The small cone like stick he is holding has a string attached to it with a wooden ball on the end. The goal is to get the ball on the open end of the cone to stay as you throw it upwards. It is somewhat addictive, kinda’ like the video games some kids play in America, but not as intense. 

Photo with a Fuji X100s on the streets located between the departments of Masaya and Granada in Nicaragua.

Horses on the Edge

Horses in Nicaragua on the edge of what was once an active volcano. 

In the background, Laguna de Apoyo in Nicaragua… This was once an active volcano thousands of years ago, but it blew its top, literally. It is now a Laguna or what Americans would call a crater lake.

In 1991, this beautiful landscape was categorized as a nature reserve, which means it is protected land.

Prayer in an Alley

Prayer in a back alley of Nicaragua. 

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one” ― Bruce Lee

Art of Living

I shot this in Nicaragua. 

Social reformer and doctor Havelock Ellis once stated,  "All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on." (1859-1939)

The Whistle Blower

She was working hard to make a sale. Everyone she saw with blonde hair or a fair complexion was a target to buy a hand carved whistle. She had an entire basket of whistles that she would blow from time to time to attract attention of prospects.

“I made these,” she said in a thick accent on the streets of Masaya, Nicaragua. Each of the whistles was delicately painted, no two looked alike.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” - Thomas A. Edison

Laguna de Apoyo in Nicaragua

Laguna de Apoyo in Nicaragua… This was once an active volcano thousands of years ago, but it blew its top, literally. It is now a Laguna or what Americans would call a crater lake.

In 1991, this beautiful landscape was categorized as a nature reserve, which means it is protected land.

Weaving masterpieces of art with leaves

She was maybe 13 years old at the most and she loved art. Quietly, she would find somewhere in the shade to sit and weave grasshoppers, hearts, crowns, and more with dried strands of coconut palm fronds. A frond is the leaf like section of a palm or similar plant.

She was a master at weaving the long leaves into shapes of all sizes. She never asked for a single penny, but instead picked out women passing by to hand them to as a decoration for their hair or shirt. She would hand them her creation with a huge smile. 

Child playing as parents work for food

She was quietly playing in a small alley as her parents were working hard to make a living for the young family. Her mother and father were selling good in the market while their daughter kept busy. 

"There is no substitute for hard work." - Thomas A. Edison

She had a scar that ran down her forehead

She had a scar that ran down her forehead to the left side of her nose. I did not dare ask why, but could not help but to be curious. The lines on her face were deep and her hair white. She quietly walked through a busy market asking passerby’s for money. I had already spent my last three dollars on corn cookies, so I had nothing to spare. She pleaded with me in Spanish to hand her whatever I had. I patted her on the back and had to walk away. 

In 2009 the World Bank reported that Nicaragua was the poorest mainland country in Central America. It is a title that Nicaragua has yet to get away from as it was reported again in 2015 by the BBC. If you travel offshore and include all Latin American Countries, Haiti ranks number one as the poorest, followed by Nicaragua. 

Nicaragua has been through civil wars, overzealous dictatorship and hurricanes that left thousands dead in 1998 and 2007, just to name a few of the uphill battles that residents have faced over the years. 75.8% of Nicaraguans survive on less than $2 per day. Numbers like that leave children venerable to death, disease and malnutrition. 

Five of the country’s 17 departments (similar to states) have chronic malnutrition rates of more than 30%, and the rate exceeds 50% in the regions where most of Nicaragua’s indigenous people live. To make matters worse, many residents don’t understand good nutrition. The government actually encourages families to pull children out of school to help with agriculture. More than 500,000 children in the country do not attend school and 21% of those who do give school a try, drop out before the end of the first grade. Only 40% of children enroll in high school and of that number, on 40% graduate. 

Iguana soup and bull testicles - Yummy

He was sitting beneath a tree outside a marketplace in Masaya, Nicaragua. The bag in front of him contained a cure all miracle cream of sorts that he was trying to sell all day. He needed a break under a shade tree, but he continued to ask passerby’s if they would like to try a sample.

His hands showed signs of a hard worker while the lines on his face clearly told me that he has spent many days in the hot sun.

Masaya, Nicaragua is an interesting area as it is filled with artist who sell their work in craft shops, make shift art studios and more. Plus, it is home to a wild mixture of culinary cuisines.

Some of the fine foods that locals can dine on prior to giving up meat for Lent as many do, include Iguana and Armadillo.

According to a 2013 article in The Huffington Post, “Catholics tired of fish on Friday can enjoy a Lent-friendly smorgasbord in Nicaragua, where soups made with iguana or armadillo are served with a healthy portion of bull testicles.”

I think I will pass. While in Masaya I picked the chicken shish kabobs served with rice. I think that was a wise choice.

A good salesman in a tough enviroment

With the smile you would think he has the best thing to sell since sliced bread… he was selling magnet’s similar to the magnet’s you find at museum’s all over America that kids play with. In Nicaragua, that is a pretty cool item for kids to play with. So, he was selling the best thing since sliced bread in his third world environment that he calls home. 

My hat is off to him for finding an honest way to make a living in a unique environment with a hard to find item. 

"Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman - not the attitude of the prospect." -W. Clement Stone

Cashews are sold everywhere in the Third World Country

The minute you step foot into Nicaragua, you instantly see people selling cashews everywhere you go. It is an interesting place to visit as everyone is trying their best to survive which means selling freshly harvested goods, sunglasses, hats, purses, t-shirts.

Cashews that are truly organic are one of the many secrets hidden in the country of about 6.2 million residents. Most people don’t realize it, but cashews are actually a fruit. After the fruit is picked, the cashew seed which hangs at the bottom is roasted, which gives it an excellent taste. The portion of the cashew that connects to the tree can be used to make fresh juice after the cashew is harvested from the bottom.

Dried and roasted cashews are sold on the streets of Nicaragua like newspapers are sold at some intersections throughout the United States. 

I bought her corn cookies

She was walking through a Nicaraguan market and I made eye contact with her. She put down her basket and insisted I try one of her homemade cookies. I had no idea what she was saying, but it was obvious what she wanted me to do as she pulled a cookie out of a bag and handed it to me.

I tried the cookie and I smiled real big. It took everything I had to swallow it. It was the driest cookie I had ever eaten. I found out later that it was made with corn.

Long story short, I could not tell her no. So, I bought a bag of her homemade corn cookies for $3. 

He was eating with his family

He was sitting at a small table with his family next to an outdoor food vendor in Masaya, Nicaragua. The city is home to around 130,000 to 150,000 residents squeezed into a small area on the map. The city is to the east of an active volcano called Volcan de Masaya. The area is known as “The City of Flowers.”

The city is filled with history. One of the most notorious events occurred in 1912 as Nicaraguan rebel forces opened fire on United States Marine Troops on their way to Granada. The attack occurred during a period of civil war within the country.

The unprovoked attack on the Marines lasted for about one hour. Five Americans were wounded and three were captured by the rebel forces. The Nicaraguan Rebels lost 56 men who were killed by Marines during the attack. 70 rebels were wounded and 12 of those later died. The Marines continued on their journey to Granada and eventually convinced the rebel commander known as Luis Mena to surrender. Mena eventually went into exile in Panama.

Today the city is known for producing wicker furniture, cigars and leather products. The city is also on the critical crime list, according to the U.S. Department of State. Americans have experienced both violent and non-violent crimes in Masaya.

Barefoot on hot concrete in Granada, Nicaragua

He was walking through the streets of Granada, Nicaragua with no shoes. The pavement was burning hot as the sun beams down on the city of about 130,000 residents. He was asking locals for money and many obliged handing him several córdoba’s or dollars.

Granada was founded in 1524 and is one of the oldest settlements among Latin American countries. Granada is located along the coast of the Lake Nicaragua. In the early days of formation it was the location of huge battles as English, French and Dutch pirates tried to take control of Nicaragua.

While the economy is better in Granada compared to other cities in Nicaragua, the U.S. Government warns American’s to use caution when traveling in the city. Political unrest often leads to demonstrations in cities like Granada as the next Presidential and National Assembly election will take place in November of 2016.  Sometimes political demonstrations turn violent as tempers escalate quickly.

Due to political unrest in Nicaragua and high crime, all U.S. Government personnel who travel to the area must be pre-approved because of safety concerns. Off duty government workers are not allowed to enter certain outdoor market areas due to increasing crime. 

The U.S. Bureau of Diplomatic Security announced in 2015, “The number of reports of burglary increased 63 percent from 2013 to 2014. The most frequent locations where non-violent crimes were reported to occur were restaurants, hotels (60 percent increase), roadways (700 percent increase), and on buses. There were also significant increases in reports from beaches and tourist areas. The majority of non-violent crimes were reported to occur during the day.” The U.S. also reported, “The municipalities with the highest rates of criminal complaints per 10,000 inhabitants were Bluefields, Granada, Puerto Cabezas, Managua, and Diriamba.”

Ice Cream in a Third World Country

His face was badly weathered as if he had spent every waking hour in the hot sun. The man who appeared to be in his late 70’s, was a hard worker.

He rode his three wheeled bike through the streets of Masaya, Nicaragua selling ice cream out of a large cooler attached to the back of his bike. When he saw a crowd of people he would stop and hold up different flavors in hopes of selling a few treats.

The United States Government reports that Nicaragua has one of the poorest economies in the hemisphere. They also report that U.S. residents are often targets of crime when they visit the country. Furthermore, the Nicaraguan government works hard at suggesting Americans are not to be trusted, according to the U.S. Department of State.

When help is needed, the National Police Force of Nicaragua is scarce. One local resident told me that police are corrupt and some officers get paid only $2 per day. I later found that the average Nicaraguan police officer receives $120 per month for their services, which is the lowest pay among nearly all Central American countries. In other words, $2 per day would be on the low end of the spectrum for a new officer while $120 per month is the average of all officers.

Ronald Reagan once stated, "Violence has been Nicaragua's most important export to the world."