Nicaragua January 9th

Today, we were taken into Managua for the official "city tour". As you enter the city, and pause at redlights, you are approached by a variety of people. Some, like the one above, clean the windshields of the cars and hope for some kind of payment/reward afterwards. Some are hawking sunglasses, bags of water (yes, bags), cell phone accessories, car parts, and snacks. At some lights, we were surrounded by 3 or 4 different vendors, all clamoring for attention. They are persistent.

The group...listening to Lauren Page explaining something about the political display we were walking thru. A lot of the tour centered on politics- past and present. Nicaragua's government has been though some drastic changes, and the destruction from repeated fighting is apparent everywhere.

Lauren Page...

Lake Managua. It is brown because of pollution. La Chureca, the dump, is on the edge of the lake, out of view. As we stood by the shore talking and having lunch, we could see the smoke from La Chureca's fires (spontaneous combustion) and the loose trash was floating ashore in massive quantities. Because this is the windy season, and the wind was blowing towards the dump, we were spared the overpowering smell of it. We were told that it can be, at times, absolutely nauseating. Seeing as the place we were at is an intended "destination spot" for locals and tourists, with bars, restaurants, and park areas, this must be a bit tough on the businesses there.

Part of a display about Nicaragua's history. These panels were probably meant to be standing upright, but the windy season makes that impossible. So they lean against an angled wall.

The view from a high point in Managua, looking towards the lake.

They have signs for everything. It is possible that if they didn't label this small spot of grass and bushes the "green area" we may have missed it. :)

As we were educated about the coutries politics, one of the things we talked about were the government colors. The current president is Daniel Ortega, and the traditional colors of the Sandanista party have been red (blood) and black (death). A recent marketing campaign has the new colors being...pink, yellow, and blue. (I want to know if their marketing director will survive this one.) As you drive through the city, you are surrounded by red and black- on signs, fences, buildings, lamp posts, everywhere. There is a lot of graffiti as well as planned areas of red and black. I think that it will take a long time for the new colors to really take off...if ever! I mean, decades of red and black- these are strong, powerful, scary colors. The new ones? Kind of a joke, but yet NOT. Things were so freshly painted that you can still see the paint slops all over the grass next to it.

Some stairs from the park area to the lake shore...I like lines, what can I say?

Along the lake shore are several large, cement alligators. I am not sure what they represent, exactly, but also along the shore were several signs that warned people not to get too close, "peligro"! (Danger.) I am fairly certain that they simply mean danger as in "toxic water", not danger- alligators. :)