Our Man in Granada

Pilger on Nicaragua

I've learned enough about Nicaragua already to know that the topic of the Sandinistas and their return to power is one that provokes strong opinions on all sides.

However, this arrived in an RSS feed today.  It's a fascinating 1983 John Pilger documentary about the Nicaraguan Sandinista revolution and the growing US pressure, at that time, on the regime. 

At 52 minutes, by YouTube standards it's positively epic. Make a pot of coffee, pull up a chair, get comfortable and press play.  Comments, as ever, welcome below.

For those of you who don't know what happened next, following the period covered in the film, click here  .

Very Different Nicaraguas

Still in Vietnam, but preparing for Nicaragua.

While leaving is still some weeks away, the anticipation of moving to Nicaragua is growing. I'm  using the wifi here in the very good (and very cheap) Especen Hotel  to constantly peruse all things Nicaraguan.

One topic that keeps coming up time and time again in the newsfeeds is property. Specifically property owning and investment by rich gringos.  I'm not daft enough to comment on it.  Not from so far away. 

Except to say that what I have found to be true here in Vietnam is probably equally true in Nica.  In other words, nothing is ever simple and do the rich folks with the pockets full of dollars help more than any NGO could?

I don't know.  There's more reading on the subject here.

In the meantime, check out the two films below for a contrast. 

This first one is from a company selling property in Laguna De Apoyo, a short hop from Granada

The second film below is from a charity called Rise Up. I know nothing about their organisation but  I found this short film very emotive.  I'm glad I saw it.  It's very easy when you are moving to a new country to spend your time Googling to see what the local amenities are like.

Then, seeing something like this, well, it reminds me that I am going there to hopefully do what I can to help. Not just to sit in cafes drinking Nicaraguan coffee and planning weekends away.

The glue sniffing kids are based in Masaya.  Just south of the lake detailed above.

 

An Introduction

Five years ago, bored with my job and at a post-thirty crossroads I took a year out to go traveling.

It wasn’t that I had any great desire to do so.  In all honesty I just couldn’t think of anything else to do that wasn’t work.

I plotted a route that took me through South East Asia and Central America. I loved it all.

But two places stayed with me.  Vietnam and Nicaragua.  Both very different but with distinct similarities.  Both had tragic histories but offered the warmest welcomes.  They were both lands of smiles.

The trip changed my life and when I returned back home, I didn’t settle. Just over a year later I signed up to do volunteer work. 

I wasn’t allowed to choose where I would be posted.  So, when their representative rang up to inquire whether I would consider Vietnam, she was a little bemused by my over-the-top enthusiasm.  Yes, yes, yes.  I would consider it. When she hung up I danced around the room.  Then I rang everybody I knew.

That was almost three years ago.  Vietnam and my volunteer post at KOTO was more magical than even I could ever have imagined.  I documented it all in my blog. And my life continued to change.

Nicaragua returned to my thoughts.  By pure chance I became aware of an organistion called Building New Hope and in particular Café Chavalos. Café Chavalos, like KOTO is a training restaurant for disadvantaged young people. 

What are they odds?  My two most favourite places in the world, running the exact same concept. I contacted them.  We chatted by email  They knew of KOTO and KOTO was an inspiration to them.  Like KOTO they needed a new restaurant.

So, eventually I asked them.  Would they employ me?  They would. Wow.

So in mid March I am moving to Granada to set up home and work for Café Chavalos.

I don’t want to second guess what it will be like but it will be quieter.  Everywhere is quieter than Hanoi.

* Pictures are from my first backpacking trip to Nicaragua.  The one above, in particular haunts me.  I remember how happy and in awe of my surroundings I was when it was taken.  The pics are of Ometepe a volcanic island in Lago De Nicaragua.  Granada sits on the mainland at the edge of the lake.