Pray For Nicaragua

 

The Marbella Beach Resort in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua from our lone trip into the heart of Nicaragua three years ago before this latest round of political violence. I loved the place, but it is the poorest place I've been, right up there with Haiti and parts of Africa.


 I thought today I would be more worried about the U.S. Presidential elections but there is a more pressing need today. Hurricane Eta is hitting Nicaragua right now, projected to be a cat 5 with an 18 to 21 foot storm surge. I'm so scared for those people.

People in Nica have almost nothing. Even before COVID started many crossed the borders to work here, going back to Nica to see family and bring their wages. Yes, the incredibly scanty wages paid in Costa Rica are riches compared to what one can earn in Nica. Farming is a big source of income, but as you can see from the photos below it's not exactly high tech or prosperous.


 

I've been watching the skirmishes at the Fronteras because of the COVID lock downs. At one point there was a tent city in the thin strip of no man's land at the border between the two countries of those who were attempting to leave Nica, turned away from CR and refused to be allowed back into Nicaragua.

 

 

The Nicaraguan old border control building and the teeming Nicas trying to scratch out a living selling coffee, sodas and food clustered around the building back in July 2017.

Covid has pretty much knocked the stuffing out of these kind gentle people. The government of Nicaragua isn't testing or tracking or treating the disease. Even the president of Nicaragua contracted Covid and had to fly into CR for treatment. It is rumored that the cases have been in the thousands and that many have died there. But we'll never know because since the start of the government violence in the Spring of 2018 there's been almost no news coming out of the country.


 

A "Chicken Bus", local mode of transportation in Nicaragua. Very cheap. You ever wonder what happened to the old school buses in the U.S.? Yes, they end up in Central America and are repurposed for this. Painted a wild variety of colors and schemes.

I'll be waiting and watching.. and praying today for these people.

Here we're just getting wild extreme rains, and so far the French drains are doing their job, like you expect. I wanted distractions today, but not like this. If you need me I'll be in my sewing room.


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