by Mike Sabine
Strictly speaking, this is a fishing trip story, but it does not stay in the memory that way. Rather, it was a remarkable journey through natural, ecological, and cultural diversity. Chasing Tarpon, the mighty “silver king,” was a great reason to go.

The voyage goes from Bluefields Lagoon and up through Pearl Lagoon to Top Lock, a smaller water body fed by the Rio Grande de Matagalpa. On land, it would cross the same latitudes as a road trip between Masaya and Matagalpa. No roads here though and so it is faster by boat.

It was also a journey across an amazing variety of aquatic systems: from miles- wide shallow lagoons that stretch across the horizon to broad mountain-fed rivers, to narrow snaking jungle-lined creeks. There are small lagoons off the large ones and dredged canals connect them all.
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The most outrageous of the American filibusters, the audacious William Walker left an indelible mark on Nicaragua.

by Eric Alberts
Seizing Nicaragua for three years, William Walker declared English the official language, reintroduced slavery and upon pronouncing his Presidency was given brief recognition by the US. His actions helped determine the capital, redraw the borders of Nicaragua, and briefly unite Liberals with Conservatives.

Dissatisfied with three respected professions, at he age of 25 Walker decided his future lay in the niche of filibustering, a career path that lead him to his own manifest destiny - reigning over a country.
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by Mike Sabine
The story often told of the discovery of coffee is that of an Arabian goat herder who saw his flock dancing joyously around a bush with brightly colored berries. Upon ingesting them himself and experiencing the stimulating effects, he began to dance as well. From this fanciful beginning, coffee has grown to be the second most valuable commodity traded today, after petroleum.

With some 400 billion cups consumed every year, it is the world’s most popular beverage. The latest forecast for this years’ yield predicts exports from Nicaragua (mostly to Europe) will be in excess of 200 million dollars, making it the nation’s number one export.
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by Philip B. Hildebrand
The extreme northeastern corner of Nicaragua sits today as it has for millennia, a low, sandy finger of land pointing into the ocean whose waves beat incessantly upon it. This is the famous Cabo Gracias a Dios at the mouth of the Río Coco, Central America’s longest river (550 km) and nearby Cabo Viejo the adjacent town and lagoon. Virtually no tourists have ever been here and few likely ever will, for it is a dangerous place, difficult to reach and offering little to the normal visitor. Over the past decade, this historic locale has become a haven for heavily-armed international drug traffickers who do not take kindly to inquisitive outsiders. I knew I had to come here.
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by Donn Wilson
I recall a vivid image from my childhood of Native Indian Chief Seattle crying over a dump somewhere in New Jersey. “We don’t inherit the earth from our fathers,” he said. “We borrow it from our grandchildren.” At 12 years old it was a powerful statement, but in your mid-40’s with children of your own, the image can really grab you.

I wonder why I never really reacted to that call of conservation, protection, and recycling when I was younger. Sure, I did my bit like most everyone, but why didn’t I get as passionate then as I feel now? Lack of knowledge, lack of opportunity, or just plain apathy?
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