| "Nicaragua? Why Nicaragua?" The question's been | | | | landscape that an hour before was imperceptible. It |
| asked by everyone I've come in contact with since | | | | was a breeding ground for natural resource with an |
| my return from investigating investment opportunities | | | | endless landmass lent to a wealth of agriculture. Save |
| in this economically down-trodden Central American | | | | for the occasional industrial uprising, it was absolute |
| country. A year earlier, I'd have asked myself the | | | | beauty in its purest form, from symmetrical volcanic |
| same question. Now, my response would read | | | | mounds to lush foliage. It was not difficult to see the |
| something like this: "Because I see a good | | | | potential for growth in this country, both agriculturally |
| opportunity there, and a country abundant with | | | | and economically. Once the governmental |
| untapped natural resources and beautiful coastline | | | | infrastructure and Central American unionizing takes |
| that's been compared to the likes of California in its | | | | full effect, a thriving exportation and the realization |
| infancy or more recently, an up and coming Costa | | | | of a tourism industry could insure not only the |
| Rica." And still they would ask, "But what is it about | | | | "discovery" of Nicaragua, but for its many inhabitants, |
| Nicaragua? Isn't it dangerous?" The worst appears | | | | the necessary jobs and potential for much needed |
| over; there's a conscientious new government in | | | | improvements in their immediate surroundings. |
| place determined to rebuild and restructure; there's | | | | Rancho Santana was still a relatively new |
| an economic upswing on the horizon; there is | | | | development that occupied 1,700 acres in and around |
| neighboring country support; there's a great potential | | | | the Pacific shoreline of Tola, Nicaragua, not far from |
| for a boost in tourism; and above all, Nicaragua still | | | | the town of Rivas--a spec of dirt-sized marking on |
| offers one of the few commercially unspoiled | | | | the map yet one of the area's largest. We had to |
| locations that's reasonably affordable for new people | | | | put the four wheel drive to the test to get there |
| interested in buying or living overseas. | | | | from the main road as we turned and entered some |
| For all of those reasons visiting Nicaragua made sense | | | | twelve miles of dirt paths and slippery puddles |
| to me. Certainly I did my homework before booking | | | | caused from the current rainy season. Bo and Luke |
| the flight for a three-day weekend to personally | | | | Duke themselves might've thought twice about |
| explore the possibilities of what could be my first | | | | driving this path had their on-camera exploits not |
| ever home purchase or summer vacation site. I | | | | demanded it. We went up, down, left and right, |
| needed to see this new development called Rancho | | | | dodging farm animals and fellow four-wheelers, |
| Santana first hand and reassure myself that my | | | | before turning in a majestic-looking entryway that led |
| money was not needlessly flung on a far-fetched | | | | a mile stretch of flat road directly toward a low lying |
| whim located some 2,000 miles to the south and | | | | beach front that was otherwise impenetrable five |
| west of my residence in New York. What I came | | | | minutes and a mountainous region earlier. It was like |
| away with was the personal satisfaction that the | | | | going from night to day in a matter of |
| investment risk was minimal, and in addition, to see | | | | seconds--Hazzard County to Hilton Head, and a |
| another side of life I did not expect, which allowed | | | | potential home buying opportunity only minutes by |
| me to explore my own life and learn to appreciate | | | | foot from the beach. We had finally arrived to the |
| what I have and worry less about what I do not. | | | | still semi-private owners- and renters-only beachfront |
| A long shot investment? Maybe. Ultimately, I saw an | | | | community piercing through rolling hills with cliffside |
| opportunity in Nicaragua where the not so mighty | | | | views. Rancho Santana was an oasis in the middle of |
| dollar still wields enough purchasing power for | | | | nowhere that demanded discovery... and luckily for |
| long-term profit. At the very worst, I could own my | | | | me, I was still among the earliest surveyors. |
| own home, insured against earthquakes, hurricane | | | | Upon arriving at the guest clubhouse, making my |
| damage and mudslides, practically on the Pacific, that | | | | greetings and later unpacking my bags, I was ready |
| serves as a comfortable vacation getaway... and at | | | | to be sold on the benefits of becoming a |
| best, a potential rental income producer in my | | | | homeowner there. Of course the culture shock was |
| absence with a value that grows 50-100% or more in | | | | still fresh in my mind from the drive out, but another |
| the next several years. | | | | surprise was in store upon entering my guest room. |
| Managua, the capitol city of Nicaragua, is six hours | | | | Still smarting from the appalling living conditions I |
| away by plane from New York, and another hundred | | | | witnessed since leaving Managua, I was none too |
| light years from anything I had expected to see of a | | | | quick to process the fact that we had moved into a |
| major city outside of maybe a place like Ghana. The | | | | tropical jungle-like setting and all of the life forms that |
| airport reminded me of my grandparents' musty | | | | go with it. Such involves the appearance of |
| basement. Upon arriving, this would arouse the initial | | | | pinky-sized four-legged gremlins that chirp and hide |
| questions of judgment my mind hindered me with | | | | behind wall-mounted air conditioning units when weary |
| time and again throughout my stay there. The | | | | travelers arrive to unpack their bags and downshift |
| weather was extremely hot and humid and the | | | | their thought-process for a moment. I was in no |
| abundance of insects were apparently not of the shy | | | | mood for sharing space with wall-crawling creeps and |
| variety. So there I was waiting on line at customs, | | | | flying pests, but I will admit, though it took awhile, |
| stone cold sober, silly with self-doubt and two hours | | | | these lizard-like creatures known, as Geckos, were |
| younger visiting Central America for the first time in | | | | somewhat bearable... even cute. Though neither of |
| my life wondering where I was headed and what | | | | the two I spotted on my wall had any real intention |
| could I hope to accomplish from it. | | | | of establishing dialogue or selling auto insurance, I |
| I had never traveled solo before to a foreign country | | | | satisfied myself to try to catch one for an up close |
| and knew very little of the Spanish language, yet | | | | examination. No chance. They're too fast and flexible |
| what I did learn all those years ago living in L.A. was | | | | and have little interest in human interaction. |
| quickly dispelled by my having just finishing four | | | | The clubhouse stood in a central location at RS |
| semesters of French, and the certain Latin-based | | | | where I would meet the property manager with |
| similarities that go with it. I was excited and nervous | | | | whom I had corresponded a number of times |
| at the same time... and my overnight stay lie just | | | | previously, and an all-Nicaraguan house staff greeted |
| across the street at the Best Western Las | | | | me and made me feel welcome. The layout of the |
| Mercedes, reminiscent of an oversized miniature golf | | | | clubhouse was spacious and well decorated with |
| course with log cabin style accommodations. | | | | beautiful art and furnishings of the tropics. This was |
| The local real estate agent who I had conversed | | | | certainly no Marriott, but it more than served the |
| with previously, and the gentleman partly responsible | | | | purpose for the private community it was meant to |
| for my committing to this journey, picked me up the | | | | center. It was a beautifully crafted building with an |
| next morning, and it only took a few minutes to | | | | outdoor patio, pool and strategically planted palms |
| realize why he opted not to drive the night before. | | | | preceding the rocky beach. The weather was rainy, |
| We were two and a half hours away from our | | | | hot and humid, which I later learned was consistent |
| destination bordering the Pacific Ocean in a little town | | | | with their "winter" season following May. |
| called Tola, but nothing could have prepared me for | | | | We privately toured the upcoming new beach homes |
| what lie ahead. "Where is the big city," I inquired, as | | | | known as "casitas" as well as the surrounding areas |
| we headed down this long, thin stretch of road that | | | | where other people had already purchased plots of |
| was nothing short of dilapidated at every angle. I felt | | | | land or built palatial houses overlooking the Pacific. I |
| like a billiard ball bouncing from one cushion to the | | | | had my doubts about the location at first, and the |
| next as my well adjusted chauffer navigated through | | | | fact that most of the area was still relatively |
| bumps, potholes, mud slicks, and various assorted | | | | deserted, but they would soon subside along with |
| pedal pushers and pedestrians who knew nothing of | | | | the culture shock I felt as I pondered the future for |
| the dangers of a Toyota Four-Runner bearing down | | | | this slowly developing beachfront paradise. I needed |
| on the open road. If it weren't for the patches of | | | | a little time to soak it all in and gain firsthand |
| green pasture that occasionally popped up, I could | | | | knowledge from those who've been there, done |
| have closed my eyes and knew no different from | | | | that, still live there, and have invested hundreds of |
| traversing the jagged edge of the moon itself. My | | | | thousands more than I was even hinting at. |
| ensuing headache wouldn't allow it, however, nor | | | | This was definitely not Cancun, but was never |
| could I suppress the suspense of what I thought I | | | | projected to be. The future plans, as outlined by |
| would find... bustling city streets with the | | | | management and provided by the developers, |
| cosmopolitan feel of the capitol district. There would | | | | showed a number of other lots being plotted and |
| be none of that on this path. | | | | sold, and a number of new amenities planned for the |
| For what seemed like hours we cruised down endless | | | | future, including a golf course, bar and medical center. |
| roadways surrounded by squalor on either side, | | | | The hurdle for me was to step away from the |
| passing dusty, rural towns that were an eye blink | | | | "there and then" impulse and reaffirm my initial |
| long and absolutely depressing to someone who | | | | intentions of buying for the long term investment |
| thought they knew poverty yet never came this | | | | potential. Rancho Santana was not somewhere I |
| close. The driver was a terrific tour guide. A | | | | wanted to live today, but my projected goals for |
| well-spoken expatriate who adopted Nicaragua as his | | | | property ownership remained unchanged: an |
| home and place of business many years before, he | | | | appreciable annual return on investment, potential for |
| was quick to point out the resiliency of the populace; | | | | rental income and at the least, a charming villa-like |
| how they'd survived many a natural disaster, | | | | two-bedroom home for holiday trips and off-peak |
| revolutionary uprisings and an extreme class | | | | getaways in a serene location where people were |
| distinction weighted heavily on the poor. I gazed on | | | | friendly, family oriented and pleasant. |
| either side at young mothers and children, maybe | | | | I came away with a good feeling from my short, but |
| complete families, existing in the doorways of their | | | | informative trip to Nicaragua. Yes, I was sold on the |
| one story, one-room homes; I say "existing" because | | | | potential of Rancho Santana, but felt ashamed that I |
| I honestly have no idea what they did; where were | | | | could feel pity for the many poor people on the one |
| the businesses? What did they do for work? Was | | | | hand, while on the other, worry about my own |
| there even any to be had? I saw old men with | | | | self-gain as an actual foreigner in their country. |
| pushcarts peddling ice cream products and drinks I'd | | | | However, there is the necessity and government's |
| never even heard of; bony stray dogs near death on | | | | encouragement for foreign investment for the |
| legs aimlessly groped for a scrap somewhere along | | | | betterment of Nicaraguan economy, and this helps |
| the way. As dismayed as I became with what I saw | | | | me rationalize what I would be getting involved with. |
| for how these people lived, I learned that their new | | | | To what extent this holds true is something I aim to |
| government was focused on reversing the fortunes | | | | explore further on future visits. |
| of this troubled country. I certainly hoped so. | | | | Though my interaction with the locals was limited, I |
| Off the beaten path were attractive yet small towns | | | | learned from the RS staff members and expatriates |
| with actual consumer-driven businesses, like | | | | that Nicaraguans are proud and family oriented. Do |
| restaurants, bars and gift shops. I saw a small sea | | | | people mind being poor? Do they even realize what |
| town some twelve blocks off the main road with | | | | they're missing comparative to the big name capitalist |
| pleasant gathering places; in the distance there were | | | | countries? Probably not. They seemed to be at |
| magnificent volcanoes, some still active, which | | | | peace with their simple lives and put more emphasis |
| provided the base for nutrient-rich soil for growing | | | | on familial, if old fashioned, values than any |
| plentiful crops, and when we got out to snag pictures | | | | American-born like myself could conceive of. |
| overlooking Central America's second biggest lake | | | | I was pleased with my Nicaraguan experience and |
| (Lake Nicaragua), I momentarily interacted with a | | | | satisfied with my decision to buy. I will plan to return |
| few locals, including a little kid trying to pawn off | | | | in another year to close on my new casita. There is |
| handmade jewelry I might find for a buck at the local | | | | plenty more to explore throughout the entire |
| flea market in NY. It didn't matter, I bought it | | | | country. For this trip, I barely scratched the surface. |
| anyway... cost me ten bucks for two... and directions | | | | So why Nicaragua? Because the people are |
| to the rest room. | | | | welcoming of Americans and seem to remain as |
| Our trip toward Tola was eventful in that the agent | | | | unspoiled as the landscape they inhabit. That's a |
| knew the most scenic routes to take the further we | | | | refreshing change from the bustle of the big city's |
| moved from Managua and the outstretched fingers | | | | daily grind. It's a nice place to invest, whether such |
| for towns that extended southward. Long stretches | | | | includes free time or extra funds, and even nicer to |
| of country accompanied our journey through the | | | | visit. It will be very interesting to watch the |
| jungle toward the shore. On either side the proximity | | | | developments unfold in this yet to be discovered |
| of poverty was replaced by endless tropical | | | | country. |