3 reasons I get frustrated by Nicaragua

Kristine Vincent — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:09:19 +0000

I’ve lived in Nicaragua for almost a decade. And while I love the country (and plan on continuing to live here) there are a few reasons why I get frustrated. But before I get started on the list, I don’t want to be culturally insensitive. I am also fully aware that it is up to me, and my mindset, how I feel or respond to certain situations. So please bear this in mind as you read the list below.

1) If I’ve got a long list of errands to run I can get frustrated about how long it takes to achieve them. Sometimes it feels like it can take all day just do do a simple thing like renewing a license or getting some legal advice. I clearly need to manage my expectations about how much I get done in a 12 hour period.

2) I often get frustrated driving here in Nicaragua. Generally speaking Nicaraguan drivers drive quite slowly, but if you decide to hesitate just for a second at a traffic light, you’ll receive a barrage of car horns. Also driving at night is difficult here given the cyclists, horses and bull carts that share the road with cars and trucks.

3) I get frustrated at how expensive wine is in a restaurant compared to beer, and often how limited the choice. I should put this in context though. Generally the cost of living in Nicaragua is incredibly low, (as is the real estate by the way) so I’m being a bit of a nit-picker. I just get a little bit bored of beer and rum drinks and occasionally would like a good quality glass of white wine at a decent price.

So that’s it really. I now feel a little silly writing these three points out as overall I fully enjoy living here. I also need to remind myself that Nicaragua is not like the US. And nor should it be… After all if I wanted to live in a place like home, I would not have left in the first place!

Cool Vacation Ideas

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:58:59 +0000

Vacation here I come! I know we’ve only just gotten over Christmas and we’ve yet to hit Easter but there’s no time like the present when it comes to booking your summer vacation. This year I’m going away with a bunch of girlfriends from some serious rest and relaxation, to a spa retreat center up in Canada.

We chose it because we’ve all kinda been through the mill this last year year so (one divorce, two foreclosures and one struggling-to-adapt empty nester!) and we figured that one week of complete rest would do all of us the world of good.

We booked our vacation as a complete package via an online travel site, and as we booked as a group, and early, we managed to get a nice reduction on the whole deal. Or rather – we’re paying the price the travel company was looking for – we just got a good few extras thrown into the final package.

For a group of women looking for cool vacation ideas, a spa retreat is a fabulous way of spending your vacation time. It’s definitely not the ‘norm’ – most would prefer a week or two baking on a beautiful beach somewhere but as an alternative, it really is a great choice.

Our itinerary covers a nine day period (the retreat that we chose run their rest and relax vacations over five, nine or fourteen day periods) and includes the following (on different days, excluding the meals, which are everyday):

healthy eating menu for the duration
Aromatherapy wrap
facials
body massage
hydro-therapy
beauty services – waxing, eyebrow threading, eyebrow and lash tints
lifestyle workshop’s
horseback riding lessons
low impact workouts

Of course there are also guide walks and a little canoeing thrown in for good measure, so maybe we’ll feel more like we’ve been on an activity vacation than a spa retreat but I think you get the idea. One thing’s for sure though – our vacation preparedness is underway (I’ve already bought a new pair of Oakley sunglasses!) we’re looking forward to our unconventional vacation and we’re all counting off the days!

Cancun Fabulous

3 reasons I get frustrated by Nicaragua

Cool Vacation Ideas