These days just saying the word “Mexico” in the US conjures up thousands of images and emotions in varying degrees, spanning politics to parties. As much traveling as I’ve done, I had yet to visit our southern neighbor. No spring break in Cancun. No family all-inclusive on the Riviera Maya. There are 31 states and … Continue reading
WELCOME! How about that panga ride, eh? If you are lucky enough to be staying at Little Corn Beach and Bungalow (LCBB) then someone will meet you at the dock to collect you and your bag and escort you to your breezy beachside paradise. Enjoy a piña colada for me! This magical little place was … Continue reading
Until just a few months ago I didn’t even know the Corn Islands existed. These tiny islands off the east coast of Nicaragua resemble the Caribbean more than they do Latin America. And that’s part of why they are interesting. That and the fact that they are little known and not easy to reach. You … Continue reading
In 1524 Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernández de Córdoba named Granada after the city of home country. One of the oldest, if not the oldest, colonial cities in Latin America, Granada once rivaled León for the title of Capital. For more than 300 years the city was repeatedly attacked by pirates, burned and rebuilt several times. … Continue reading
Choices. How many are we fortunate enough to make every day? And how can we maximize someone else’s ability to afford a life that allows for more choice? Someone like our lovely homeowner Tania. Tania is a 32-year-old single mom with two children ages 11 and seven. She only went to school through grade nine, … Continue reading
Nestled among the mountainous hillsides of the central highlands near the Honduran border, Estelí feels like an honest blue-collar city, a sports town with devoted fans, a place where locals worship and shop the huge Saturday produce market, where students learn and where expats can buy sunscreen and lattes alike. Dotted with language schools, tobacco … Continue reading
Located on the Pan-American Highway about 90 miles north of capital city Managua, Estelí is Nicaragua’s third largest city, and one of four cities in Nicaragua where Habitat focuses it’s mission. Surrounded by forested mountains, Estelí has a pleasant climate most of the year, and we were grateful for it. A slight breeze and cooler … Continue reading
Habitat for Humanity began working in Nicaragua in 1984. Since then, Habitat Nicaragua has served more than 5,000 families. Astonishingly about 75% of Nicaragua’s population is under age 40. This presents some challenges for the country, but also ground level opportunities to have a positive impact on future generations. With the help of a local NGO … Continue reading
Over the course of nearly 24 hours everyone on the team, all 16 volunteers, arrived in Managua – safe and sound, even if some were short on sleep. On Sunday morning, after a thoughtful, and very thorough hour long orientation by Habitat Nicaragua staff, it was time for the three hour drive to Estelí (pronounced … Continue reading
Midweek my kids had a day off school. Rather than sit around the house and ‘relax’ (aka ‘do nothing’ in kid speak) I wanted to take a road trip. Initially my plan was to visit both the Maryland State House and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, less than an hour drive from … Continue reading
