Hotel Reviews | Hotel Ratings | Resort Reviews | TravelPost.com
Home > Write A Review

DJ-RTW icon Managua, Nicaragua - The Capital & San Juan del Sur

by DJ-RTW

Managua, Nicaragua
3 Stars  This place was Average
J & D in southern Nicaragua
Years of civil war, earthquakes and political corruption have taken their toll on this country. The infrastructure (water, roads, phones, etc.) is poor while poverty is easy to see, especially in Managua. The people are friendly, helpful and proud of their heritage and this is seen in little things such as some women still wearing some traditional clothes, clean yards, and well maintained homes.

San Juan del Sur is being developed as a tourist destination as the local government is working to involve Nicaraguans (or Nicas as they call themselves) in the industry through jobs and/or investment. Three years ago, Americans started buying properties surrounding the town (those with great views and/or beach access) so city hall is stepping in to ensure locals benefit as well.

We came here with two L.A. friends, Millie and John, to see his property and the town. It was nice, but the power kept going out, as did the phones and the Internet, as we tried to set up transportation and lodging for future countries. Frustrating but something weŽll have to get used to as we travel to other countries!

Private Notes Nicaragua has so many challenges ahead of it not the least of which is political corruption. Sandanista Daniel Ortega has been re-elected after about a decade out of office. This has made investors a bit nervous and some have, prematurely, moved themselves and their businesses out of the country. Notwithstanding this knee-jerk reaction, the Sandanista mayor of SJDS has reassured American investors in his city that his two or three years in power are prood fo the maturity of the current Sandanista party.

SJDS would offer the perfect opportunity for me to get involved in ensuring the city continues to attract investments and working with it to ensure locals get access to education, jobs and other benefits as a result of the economic inflow. Only problem is, that such a job would have to be full time as there is so much work that needs doing.

John walked around SJDS selling his idea of a shuttle service to the Managua airport. The plan was weak and had a few serious mistakes (such as saying that they would pay bribes as needed - a crime in the US; actually it read brides, not bribes, as he had no one proofread it).

Incredible to Jacob and I is that John intends to spend half the year (in three-month increments) in SJDS running his shuttle business and spending the other part of the year in L.A. Millie, on the other hand, has no intention of spending half the year in SJDS nor of retiring here. John has not involved her in the business at all, not even as a sounding board or a proofreader, which to me demonstrates a lack of commitment on his part for the future of their 15-year marriage. Oh well, to each their own.

Tigger just outside of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Posted Dec 07, 2006 by DJ-RTW


Would you like to post a comment?

Sign Up for Free or Sign In to post a comment


About TravelPost  |   Help  |   Contact TravelPost  |   Privacy Policy  |   Terms of Service  

  Top United States Travel Destinations  |   Travel Blogs  |   Cheap Airline Tickets - Kayak  

Unless otherwise noted, this travel blog, The Capital & San Juan del Sur about Managua, Nicaragua, is property of the member who posted it.