10/21/13
Not too many wet weeks left. Nights have been pleasant but the days should start cooling off and perhaps some stronger winds.
We still have a few IPhones and Droids being ripped off in town especially around Calzada. Do not use them in public or at least on the streets. We have a couple motorcycle guys snatching them out of people’s hands. Using a $600 phone here is like using a $6,000 phone back in the stakes and even more in Europe. It creates too much attention.
One of the readers suggested running a photo of Amy and I to ensure everyone knows who we are. Now I will probably be stalked by some readers. BTW, I’m the one on the right with the squirrelly look and Amy is the one looking at me with great admiration.
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Lucha Libro Books
We are the only store in Nicaragua to have the new 2013 editions of Lonely Planet Nicaragua and Central America. We also have the brand new editions for Panama, Guatemala, Belize, South America, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. When available, we also stock the Spanish editions for every country in the Americas. If you just want to stop by and see what they said about your business, we do have an unsealed copy of each available.
We will be returning remaining copies of the previous Nicaragua and Central America editions soon, so if anyone wants to pick one up at a discount we’ll have them available until about El Día de los Muertos.
SPECIAL
Anyone purchasing the 2013 Lonely Planet Nicaragua just has to say “Nica Nuggets” and a donation is automatically made to the Puedo Leer Biblioteca.
Lucha Libro [email protected]
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Medicare Question
I know that Medicare doesn’t pay for services in Nicaragua, and I know that the additional parts of Medicare (Part B, C, D) have premiums that also won’t do me any good outside the country. I know there are penalties for not signing up for Part B. I’m wondering what other ExPats living in Nicaragua do about Medicare and it’s Premiums. Do you pay premiums for services you most likely won’t use just as insurance? Do you opt out? Forgive me if you think this is too personal to answer. I’m trying to figure out how to allocate scarce funds for my retirement.
Concerned Reader
DB – I know that I appear to be eternally youthful but even I am approaching Medicare age. We would appreciate a response from some of you then I will publish the responses either with your name or anonymously. We know how shy some of you are.
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Casa Lucia Hotel Housekeepers Needed
Looking for additional cleaners with experience. Please drop off resumes to Casa Lucia, call 2552-0239 or email [email protected].
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Granada Baseball
#1 sport in Nicaragua. The games at the Granada stadium are pretty good. Just don’t sit near the two bands.
Friday Oct 25 6:00 PM – Granada vs Managua – Inauguration Game
Tuesdat Oct 29 6:00 PM – Granada vs Rivas
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Dog Show Sunday
Sunday Oct 27 9:00 AM
Dog Show at the Jockey Club Granada
DB – The dog shown is the Komondor which is a long-established powerful dog breed that has a natural guardian instinct to guard livestock. This dog is also used as a mop in parts of eastern Europe.
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Internet and Cable Options
In a previous issue we asked what you are doing to get decent TV and Internet outside the larger cities in Nicaragua. Most people are aware of SkyNet and the Claro dishes for TV, I received very few responses. Come on, we know some of you have other options and found some way to get good TV reception and Internet even out in the boonies. Let me know and I will publish your response.
DB – We had a TV like this but not so fancy. Good enough to see Milton Berle as host of NBC’s Texaco Star Theater (1948–55). In 1949 I was still just a gleam in my father’s eyes. I was the only planned child with the rest of my siblings being accidents.
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Why Learn Spanish by: George Wu
How Come a foreign language could play such a critical role for expats? the reason is simple. Just look at these five reasons:
1. Empathy for Nicaragua.
2. Oneness with Nicaragua.
3. Sense of responsibility for Nicaragua.
4. Enjoyment of Nicaragua.
5. Feeling of contribution that comes with knowing the language in Nicaragua.
In other words, connecting with the adopted country we love and respect should be our ultimate goal for being expats in this country.
What would happen if we don’t?
A. If we don’t study Spanish, we would remain isolated in Nicaragua.
B. If we don’t study Spanish, we could not learn their culture.
C. If we don’t study Spanish, we would forever adhere to our own customs even if they are contrary to local customs.
D, If we don’t speak Spanish, we would never enjoy local lives as much in Nicaragua.
E. If we don’t speak Spanish, how could we know their problems that we could help out?
What would happen if we do?
A. If we know Spanish, we would become a part of Nicaragua.
B. If we know Spanish, we could understand and appreciate their culture.
C. If we know Spanish. we would blend into their customs and enrich our stay in their country.
D. If we know Spanish, We would relish to the hilt our living here to the extreme.
E. If we know Spanish, we could help the natives with their problems and thus make a positive contribution.
How can we learn Spanish?
It so happens that the teacher has been an expat all his life including spending his youth in Mexico. Indeed, all you have to do is enroll in his course before the end of the year to participate in his six-month free elementary course scheduled for early January.
Should you have some questions, please contact him via email at [email protected] and he will be more than happy to clarify any doubts regarding his course.
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Fishing – Anyone?
We have available 6 spóts for the Panga Fishing tournament this 26th of October. Contact us to reserve. $100 por persona. $100 per person. Fishing Special now available for everyone Contact us now
Visit our facebook page
San Juan del Sur Surf and Sport
From Bario’s Cafe, 1 Block east on North side of street.# 2
San Juan del Sur,
505-2568-2022 o 8402-2973 Cl, 8984-2464 Movi.
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Purchasing Property in Nicaragua
This article was written previously but with so many new readers and with a few updates, I am republishing it.
Whisper to someone that you are thinking of buying property to anyone in Nicaragua and you will be besieged by dozens of people that know about the best deals. Even the guy selling cashews in the park will advise …
Read the whole article
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Recommended Driver
I highly recommend Lester Garcia. He has been taking us to the airport for years. Reliable. ALWAYS on time, clean, comfortable car. He will also do shopping trips, day trips or other excursions. Works with several hotels and has references if needed.
Lester Garcia, taxi/chofer
8881-9077
Thanks, Thalia
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Música Barroca-La Ritirata (España)
Thursday, October 24, 2013 7:00pm
Iglesia Convento de San Francisco
Do not miss this grand opportunity to see one of the most renowned Baroque Music ensembles in the world! Historically informed ensemble created by cellist Josetxu Obregón.
Biography
Dedicated to combining accurate historical awareness (through a knowledge of the instruments and aesthetics of a composer’s time) with the highest levels of artistic quality, La Ritirata is at home in Baroque musical traditions from all across Europe; Bach and Handel figure in the ensemble’s programmes as much as Italian and Spanish composers from the courtly traditions of Early Baroque who feature on the Glossa album Il Spiritillo Brando. And naturally, given the Boccherinian reference in its name, La Ritirata holds a special place in its heart for the Classical era composer from Lucca who settled in Spain: programmes of cello sonatas, string trios and other chamber works feature in the group’s repertory.
The talent of La Ritirata is taking the group to concert venues and festivals all over the world; recent examples include the National Theatre of Beijing, the CNART Early Music Festival (México City), the closing ceremony of the Spanish EU presidency (Tokyo), the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele (Germany), the Museo de Bellas Artes in Santiago (Chile), the Centro Studi Boccherini (Lucca), the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, as well as all across Spain including at Musika-Música for La Folle Journée in the Palacio Euskalduna (Bilbao), the Real Alcázar (Sevilla) and the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid (in a series organized by the Centro Nacional de Difusión Musical). La Ritirata was also the only Spanish group to be selected for the first ‘Grande Audition’ of the European Early Music Network, REMA.
Founded by Josetxu Obregón when he was based in The Netherlands, the ensemble La Ritirata takes its name from the final movement of the famous quintet composed by Luigi Boccherini in Spain, entitled “La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid”.
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Your Spine or Mine?
Explore the Amazing Phenomenon of the Spine and Central Nervous System
http://www.chiroone.net/why_chiropractic/index.html
From our reader – Alf
DB – I thought this link was interesting in how it showed what each vertebrae was linked to. The human (and animal) body is fascinating and I am continuously amazed that it continues to function even though we treat it so poorly. Of course, I’m also surprised some people are even able to walk without constant retraining.
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Street Light Explanation
Hiya. I thought I might shed some light on the confusion about the street lighting on La Calzada. Many people have noticed that the street lights on lower La Calzada are on all day long and frequently off at night. Most people tend to think that it is malfunctioning equipment. The real story is that the latest crime statistics show that there is much more crime in the day time than at night. Also in those statistics it is clear that there is less crime and the streets are safer when there is adequate street lighting. So, in order to try to reduce the crime on La Calzada the Alcaldia has ordered the street lights to be left on during the day to reduce the crime rate, but since energy is expensive and they cannot afford to keep the lights on all day and all night it makes more sense to keep the lights on when there is more crime, that is during the day, and turning them off sometimes at night when there is less crime in order to save energy. So, it isn’tmalfunctioning equipment, it was planned this way. I hope this clears things up.
From Tom
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My First Six Months in Nicaragua
This is at my six month mark of living in Granada, March 2012. It’s funny to look back in time at how your perspective changes and how some things stay the same.
Six months of nothing on my new blog having decided I didn’t want the “world” to read about my personal business and ups and downs associated with …
Read the whole article
DB – This is by Jennifer Jurgens who is actually a veteran expat now but this was written after living here just six months.
We are checking to see if she also had problems with milk cartons in the states. I don’t want the Nica dairy industry coming after me if she has had a history of problems with various milk containers. You may not understand these comments until you read the article.
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Police Report for Residency
Last week we had a reader ask what people’s experiences were in getting a police report for their residency requirements. As I stated in my article on residency, two people with the exact same documents may have completely different reactions from the immigration people. My own sources state USA citizens cannot use the Interpol report but that may be only during a full moon. Here are three responses from readers. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Darrell
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I recently brought a certified,notarized, and apostilled police report from the states and it wasn’t accepted. They sent me to interpol Managua and for $30 they took my fingerprints and sent off a request for a records check to the US and told me it normally takes 15 days.
So on the 25th I expect to hear back and I’ll let you know what happens. If you go to Interpol they require photos, copies of passport, receipt from the bank and a couple other things.
John Doe
DB – Not sure who Interpol Managua sent the request to in the states.
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This information is incorrect for US citizens and it is circulating around and giving the wrong impression to people. US citizens cannot use an Interpol report but must obtain a report from a state in the US. The US is not a part of the Interpol agreement. I have talked to three lawyers who specialized in immigration about this and all say no. The physical exam and police report must be from the same state. It is very easy to get one and to have it apostillized we just did it in Florida.
Jane Doe
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I am Canadian and just recently got my police check done through INTERPOL. It was quick and painless. I had to make a $30 deposit to a bank account and bring the receipt. I also needed colour photo copies of all the used pages in my passport, and my Canadian drivers licence.
(Colour photocopies are expensive – Gonper charged me C$32/page.) They give you an application to fill out, and then take your fingerprints.
They told me it would take 15 days to get my police certificate, but they called me in less then a week. Definitely worth it for me!
Sorry, I don´t know about Americans.
John Doe
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For Rent: Spacious Apartment
On Hotel Property Enjoying All Amenities
This spacious and private 1 bedroom apartment is situated on the grounds of a boutique hotel and yoga retreat. The apartment offers a comfortable living space with 1 bedroom, en suite bathroom, living room, fully equipped kitchen and private outdoor balcony area. In addition it includes access to all hotel amenities such as swimming pool, roof top mirador, patio seating, onsite yoga classes and onsite cafe and wine bar. This private and tranquil area is ideal for those seeking a relaxing holiday base.
Amenities
King Sized Bed, Ensuite bathroom with hot water
Closet & Storage Space, Linens & Fully Equipped Kitchen
Wireless Internet, Cable TV, Housekeeping Service, Swimming Pool
Yoga Pavilion & Yoga Classes, On Site Café & Wine Bar
Roof Mirador, Gardens & Outdoor Seating, Security
Option to rent for short-term or long term stays.
For more information contact:
Tel: 2552-0239 or email [email protected]
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Submission of Articles
Shyness and being an expat do not go hand in hand. We need articles and all of you know something of interest. Write about the shock of coming to Nicaragua, what you like best about Granada, an interesting trip you took, your success in starting a business, financial tips, building tips, Nica music you like, etc. Come on! I’m not a great writer but I’m an interesting writer and so are you. Submit a rough article and we will clean it up for you.
Just send the article directly to me of at least 500 words. You may also send a photo in JPG format and smaller than 150,000 bytes. I will resize it if necessary.
Note – Due to the number of weird expats living here and some pessimists which should return to the country of their origin, we reserve the right to refuse articles or to edit them. Sorry, but some of you are just not happy about anything. We do accept constructive, intelligent opinion pieces.
Disclaimer
Statements and opinions expressed in articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of the authors, editors and publishers.
While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. Nicaragua Community will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through associated sites. Remarks of cynicism or sarcasm may be dispersed among the nuggets because that is just the way I am.
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