Holly Beck Blog

Holly Beck, one of the top female surfers in the world recently posted a couple of blogs about Nicaragua that I thought might be of interest to our readers.

The first includes information and photos about her recent surf vacation to Nicaragua and can be found here:

http://surflifenicaragua.blogspot.com/2008/07/surf-surf-surf-ride-horses-and-look-at.html

The second discusses her recent purchase of property in Nicaragua from Century 21 Gold Coast Realty and can be found here.

http://surflifenicaragua.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-turn-to-buy.html>

Enjoy

5 Hour Surf Session and then some....

I had an incredible surf session last Thursday at what used to be a "secret spot" which made me realize I need to surf that spot a bit more before it is not so secret any more. I surfed with Holly Beck, www.hollybecksurfs.blogspot.com, which a bonus not just for her beauty and smooth style in the barrel but also because of the great vibe and positive energy she has. I was also officially working as I was with my business partner John Goldenberg, www.c21popoyo.com, and New Marina office manager, Kristin Wilson, www.c21beachfront.com, and it stayed offshore until at least noon; when my arms stopped working. This was rare as we were in Northern Nicaragua where it does not always stay offshore all day long. After a big lunch at my friends 3,500 acre cattle ranch where we stayed we were on the road.....a few emails on the iPhone and some phone calls and I had my driver pull over and I hopped on my Mtn Bike for about 1.5 hours of 'heat training' to get in shape to race with the Century 21 Gold Coast Realty Mtn Bike Team, www.c21sanjuan.com/pages/in_the_community.html. After that it was dinner on the road and then crossing the border to Costa Rica to meet with some clients to bring back to Nicaragua....

Incredible rain

It was muggy today in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua - it had rained like crazy about 5:15 in the morning, then it never really cleared up but wasn't all that dark. The afternoon brought a few patches of sun and because it was Sunday, the playas were full of people enjoying their day off.

Right across from the Century 21 office, where I am working on a consulting assignment, a group of young men were practicing soccer moves like kids in the US toss an American football. These guys were amazing - I stood on the porch for about 10 or 15 minutes and the ball only hit the ground a few times.

I imagine this is what Hawaii must have been like 30 or 40 years ago, when real estate was as cheap as dirt and opportunities were there for the taking. 

The day ended with an incredible plate of Arroz con Camerones at El Timon and a mad dash back to La Posada Azul through the thunderous rain storm that broke just as I was finishing my Tona. 

Kristin’s Story: Why I Moved from Costa Rica to Nicaragua

Kristin Wilson, the sales manager in our new Marina office (near Chinandega) recently relocated from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. Read her story and find out why this blue-eyed MBA made the move - the reasons may surprise you --

Kristin’s Story

I can vividly recall the stunned and very cynical looks on my faces of my friends and colleagues when I told them of my decision to move full time to Costa Rica a few years ago. Family, friends, co-workers, business school professors, my physician... there weren’t many people who didn’t come back with a pessimistic response as to why it wasn’t a good idea or who simply thought I was flat out crazy for wanting to trade the concrete jungle of the United States for the more relaxed pace of life, entrepreneurial business opportunities and real life jungle of Central America. Most of these people today are planning on retiring in Costa Rica.

For this reason, it is to my delight and amusement that 4 weeks ago I received the exact same skeptical looks and responses after telling my Costa Rican and foreign expat friends and associates living in Costa Rica that I was leaving their country for Nicaragua. Not a border-hugging town in the fringes of Guanacaste, either. Northern Nicaragua, for that matter. Inside I’m laughing, because I know in a couple years, my actions will once again be generally accepted by the greater public. After all, I’m not the first one who came here and recognized the beauty of Nicaragua. There are thousands of us. I’m just one of the first of many who are disappointed or appalled with the way Costa Rica is developing, and have decided to trade their careers, experiences and lives in the self-proclaimed “Switzerland of Central America” for a new adventure in Nicaragua.

It is estimated that more Americans than Costa Ricans will soon be living in Costa Rica. The country’s provinces compete with each other to draw more clients and investors, without actual controls over crime, environmental responsibility and adequate infrastructure. People still continue to come and invest, wondering what happened to this supposed ecological destination and muttering between their teeth how they should have invested “10 years ago” due to the outlandish price points in a market that is unquestionably saturated.

Why do they come? Comfort and historical data. For many years, Costa Rica’s number one industry has been tourism, and they dedicate governmental resources to keeping it that way. The country has been positioned as a luxury destination instead of an ecological adventure. Tourism is also Nicaragua’s number one industry, and its destined to stay that way. Nicaragua will continue to build the same reputation of beautiful beaches, eco-tourism, friendly people and steadily appreciating land values.

I first came to Nicaragua because a large number of my clients couldn’t afford property in Costa Rica. Or, they were looking for a better value. Nicaragua has everything that Costa Rica has to offer, and more, plus it comes at a fraction of the price.

Nicer people, safer environment
More natural resources
Lakes, lagoons, volcanoes, hotsprings
Better, uncrowded, world-class surfing
More miles of Coastline
Rainforest, mountains, valleys
Cloud forests, wildlife and biological refuges
Sea turtle reserves, whale and dolphin watching
Ocean/Marine activities: sailing, yachting, boating, kayaking
World-class sport fishing
Caribbean and Pacific Attractions
Diving and reefs
Hiking and birdwatching
Shopping, crafts and other diversions
Historic sites, churches and ruins
Granada, live music, bars, etc
Managua and its modern business district
Better roads and infrastructure!
Large, motivated workforce
Better exchange rate
Lower cost of living and visiting for foreigners

Said plainly, it is widely accepted that visitors and investors go to Costa Rica for the beauty of the country, the “nice” people, and the overall investment climate. I hope for their sake that they can maintain these attributes with the rising crime, destruction of natural habitats, and peaking cost of real estate. There is even discussion about eliminating low property taxes and other incentives for foreign investment.

Having visited and lived in Costa Rica for 6 years and studied Latin American and International Business in college and grad school, it is obvious to me that the foundation for a prosperous future in Nicaragua has been set by the combination of natural resources and actions taken to propel the country forward. The government, economic agencies, developers, real estate brokerages and individuals in Nicaragua look to Costa Rica as the perfect example of what to do and what NOT to do.

Little by little, those who were first attracted to Costa Rica will begin to see the great potential in Nicaragua. The Nica government will continue to be evermore successful in promoting Nicaragua as a tourism and investment destination, and early investors will be the big winners.

I moved from Costa Rica to Nicaragua so that I can be “ahead of the curve.” I like having a hand in directing responsible development for my adopted country. And those who are joining me will someday be able to say “We bought here 10 years ago.”

This is my story. My Century 21 Gold Coast Realty colleagues and I would love to help you write one of your own.

Kristin Wilson
Sales Manager - C21 Gold Coast Realty
http://www.c21nicabeachfront.com
New Marina Office.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Kristin Wilson helps out at the second annual Love Light & Melody event to benefit those living off the huge Nicaraguan landfill, La Chureca

By: Kristin Wilson; All photos: Courtesy of Kristin Wilson

April 8, 2008

The morning of March 6th could've been part of any other day in my new life in the sleepy, fishing town of Aserradores, Northern Nicaragua.

But as the wheels of my trusty Xterra stirred up the dawn's first fresh coat of dust, I couldn't deny this day would be different. Instead of meeting clients for lunch or for a glassy surf session, I was off to meet more than 800 people who call Managua's city landfill, affectionately known as La Chureca, their home. As my tires skipped down the nine kilometers of rocky camino leading toward the highway, I contemplated vast differences I was about to witness between the fresh, airy villages on the coast and the confined slums of Managua.

Reaching the provincial town of Leon at daybreak, the serenity of the Pacific coast was a distant memory as the country began to awaken. My beloved driver, Oscar, navigated the honking taxi drivers, careening buses and rogue farm animals while I became enveloped in a world of cell phone calls and emails for two hours. Suddenly, a voice at the window reminded me why I had embarked on this day trip in the first place. We'd arrived at our first destination. "Do I need to bring anything?" Inquired Denise Estrada, my good friend and the Managua Account Manager for Century 21. "Just yourself; let's go!" I said, and we were thrust back into the web of dodging street vendors and oxen carts in search of Love, Light & Melody.

Love, Light & Melody is in its second year headed by its namesake organization. Approximately 250 volunteers from U.S. colleges in addition to 100 people largely involved in Christian surfing organizations or the surf industry filter into Nicaragua around this time with the goal of helping fight the poverty, social and economic problems existing in La Chureca, while playing games with the kids and capping off the day with an outdoor concert by the band, Bradiggan.

What I'd witnessed was too powerful to forget but the refreshing ocean breezes and rolling green hills of the coastal countryside made it hard to believe that a place like La Chureca could never exist in such a beautiful country.

-- Kristin Wilson

The day's events are the culmination of over a year of hard work and planning by LL&M organizers and also reflect the regular efforts similar organizations put forth on a daily basis to improve the quality of life people in La Chureca. Measuring the size of many football fields, the landfill provides a source of income and sustenance for the residents that spend their years scouring the tons of non-separated, non-treated trash each day, looking for trinkets or recycling what can be salvaged. The babies that are born in slanted huts made of scrap metal begin suffering before puberty from health problems that exposure to the filth, burning chemicals and seeping methane cause. Sexually transmitted diseases are also rampant due to the high rate of prostitution.

These conditions have also catapulted the formation of organizations such as the Manna Project, who work with Love, Light & Melody. One of the founders is 25-year-old Angela Profeta, who happens to be my childhood friend fellow pro surfer, Will Tant's girlfriend. And if you're anything like me, you'd have been horrified to discover that a "La Chureca" exists in the metropolitan area of almost every developing country, worldwide. As an educated surfer who strives to be compassionate, socially and environmentally aware, I felt ignorant to not have known about this situation before. However, even with good intentions, volunteers like Denise had to leave the event early due to being sick from the effects of the intense smoke and pollution in the heat of the afternoon. I made it through the day and find it hard to express in words the joy I saw in the people and children's eyes as they interacted with everyone.

When we first arrived, I wasn't sure whether to smile or not when posing for photos amongst the devastation around me, but as little kids emerged from of the black alleyways, throwing their arms around my neck or grabbing my hand, I knew there were reasons to be happy. But still, exchanging embraces with Cheyne Cottrell, Will Tant and photographers in the shadow of mountains of burning trash was more than surreal. Days earlier, we'd spent a week trading off perfect barrels in clear blue water and crisp offshores in my front yard. Now, here we were, dripping with sweat and covered in polluted silt on the soccer field-turned concert venue but with smiles just as big plastered across our faces.

The drive back to Aserradores was largely silent. My mind was reeling -- how can I help? Go back to volunteer at the clinic or school during future trips to Managua? Encourage my clients to donate to the cause on every property they invest in in Nicaragua? What I'd witnessed was too powerful to forget but the refreshing ocean breezes and rolling green hills of the coastal countryside made it hard to believe that a place like La Chureca could never exist in such a beautiful country.

If you'd like to help, visit mannaproject.org or lovelightandmelody.org.

Is a softer side of Ortega emerging? by Carmen Gentile Washington Times

The following is a copy of a Washington Times article on Daniel Ortega that we thought might be of interest to our readers.

MIAMI — It has been just over a year since Daniel Ortega — the one-time guerrilla leader considered by Washington to be a menace in Central America — resumed the presidency of an impoverished Nicaragua, a post he coveted for more than 15 years before being re-elected.

Though Mr. Ortega remains an outspoken critic of the United States, he appears to have tempered some of his hard-line leftist ways by honoring a recently brokered free-trade agreement between Central American nations and the United States.

He remains on good terms with the International Monetary Fund.

The Nicaraguan president has also been onboard in promoting poverty reduction, with the help of U.S. aid, surprising many by his apparent willingness to cooperate with Washington.

"Ortega's big goal is to alleviate poverty. Our goal is to alleviate poverty in Nicaragua as well," said a U.S. State Department official, calling the shared goals a welcome "coincidence."

The United States pledged $175 million to Nicaragua during the administration of Mr. Ortega's predecessor, Enrique Bolanos.

The money, set to be delivered over a five-year period, is designated for helping raise incomes for Nicaragua's small businesses and farmers, improving access to international markets for local goods and improving the country's infrastructure, among other projects.

So far during his first year in office, Mr. Ortega made no efforts to tamper with the funding provided by the U.S.-funded Millennium Challenge Corp.

"Ortega has been incredibly practical in this front," said the State Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "This is his goose laying the golden egg, and he doesn't want to mess with it."

The Nicaraguan president has also been surprisingly agreeable to Washington's efforts to combat drug trafficking in his country, telling a visiting group of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and State Department officials last month of his willingness to cooperate.

"We are seriously committed to the fight on drug trafficking because the poorer the country, the more easily it can fall apart," said Mr. Ortega. "Our goal is to turn a new page on our relationship with the U.S. and its institutions and agencies to strengthen this fight."

While the second coming of Mr. Ortega as an amicable ally of the United States has impressed some, opponents and critics contend he hasn't completely abandoned his Sandinista roots.

Since assuming office in early 2007, Mr. Ortega has been busy trying to cultivate supreme authority in Nicaragua by way of small local political groups — established by the ruling Sandinista party — that have direct allegiance to Managua.

Known as Consejos de Poder Ciudadano, or Citizen Power Councils, the groups are made up mostly of Sandinista loyalists who lobby government officials.

"The Sandinistas are trying to undermine democracy" with the councils, said Jim Roberts, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington focusing on Latin American economies

Perhaps in the mind of Mr. Ortega, the councils are a necessary evil considering the small margin of victory he garnered in his last election.

Mr. Ortega served as president throughout much of the 1980s, when he fought a war with U.S.-backed Contra rebels, before agreeing to hold elections in 1990. He lost, and multiple attempts to regain power at the ballot box failed until his 2007 election.

Mr. Ortega won the presidency with just 38 percent of the popular vote.

The lack of a majority has made him susceptible to opposition criticism, though his handle on authority in Nicaragua remains strong, noted Michael Shifter, vice president for policy at the Inter-American Dialogue, another Washington think tank.

"I think it's his intention to try and tighten the grip of the executive," said Mr. Shifter.

Others contend that Mr. Ortega's objectives are more nefarious, and that the president may have designs on trying to amend the constitution so that he could pursue another run at the presidency when his current term expires in 2011.

Mr. Ortega's detractors also point worriedly to his recent diplomatic inroads with nations like Iran and his continuing close ties to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, an ardent critic of the Bush administration.

Mr. Chavez is said to have donated some $50 million to Mr. Ortega's presidential campaign, a charge that Nicaragua denies. Venezuela also provides Nicaragua with deeply discounted oil.

In turn, Mr. Ortega often echoes Mr. Chavez's anti-U.S. rhetoric, when it comes to Washington's policy in the region.

Recent visits to Nicaragua by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as well as pledges by Tehran to build a port there, have not gone unnoticed by the Bush administration.

The State Department official expressed Washington's particular concern with Nicaragua's decision to lift visa requirement for Iranians visiting the country.

Iran is also reportedly planning to build one of its largest embassies in Managua.

"So far it's a lot of talk, though," said Mr. Roberts, referring to Iran's supposed commitment to build a $350 million seaport and other projects discussed during the Ahmadinejad visit to Nicaragua.

"It's nothing to push the panic button for now, but it's worth watching."

Top 13 Things to do in the Northern Marina Puesta del Sol Area

The following is taken from Kristin Wilson's writeup on www.c21nicabeachfront.com Kristin is the General Manager of the Century 21 office in Marina Puesta del Sol.

1. Surf – San Juan del Sur may be known for some of the best surfing in Nicaragua (and all of Central America, for that matter), but that’s only because the North is still on the brink of surfing discovery. From perfect beachbreak barrels to endless point breaks, the Northern Marina area offers something for everyone, all within a short distance. Hit one of the more popular spots or name a secret spot of your own.

2. Sail – They don’t call it the Marina Area for nothin’! Ideal conditions in both the rainy and dry seasons are created by bands of high and low pressure moving seasonally either north or south and meeting together at all times of year in the South Pacific. The rainy season sees traditionally clear blue skies in the morning, a few puffy clouds at midday, and evening showers. Even in the driest months, the marina basin is characterized by consistent, but not overwhelming, off-shore breezes, making for great sailing.

3. Fish – There’s also good reasons that the national rum company, Flor de Caña, holds its annual Fishing Tournament at the Marina Area! A few of them are: rooster fish, red snapper, blue and striped Marlin, sailfish, yellowfin, wahoo and dorado. Need we say more? Inshore or offshore, there are fish here. Make sure you have a local cook up your prize catch or prepare it “ceviche-style”.

4. Jet Ski/Kayak the Estuaries – Day or night by full moon, exploring the mangrove-lined maze of estuaries of the marina is truly a must-do experience.

5. Mountain & Road Bike – With endless kilometers of pristine beaches, ocean view outposts and open roads, Aserradores is a mountain biker’s playground. Choose your own combination of off-road or paved riding on a newly-asphalted highway with light traffic.

6. World Class Hunting (Deer, Dove, Duck, Bobwhite) – From the ground or your own private helicopter, the hunting in the north is more than abundant.

7. Hike the Volcanoes – Cerro Negro and the majestic San Cristobal both sit short day trips from the marina area. San Cristobal is Nicaragua’s largest volcano, located in the quaint town of El Viejo. Cerro Negro, often described as Nicaragua’s most unique volcano for its short, steep climb and lack of vegetation, offers outstanding 360-degree views from its 400 meter peak.

8. Bask in the Hot Springs – The most popular hot springs are located within the area of the Cosigüina Volcano, which heat local pools and also offer proximity to bird and animal watch in local wetlands. After a dip in the hot springs, don’t miss the pristine Mechapa beaches and their high seaside cliffs!

9. Horseback Riding – Probably one of the best ways to truly explore all that Aserradores and the surrounding areas have to offer is on horseback, the mode of transportation of choice of most locals! For the more adventurous and experienced, there are multiple trails and open beaches to ride, or guides to lead beginning riders of all ages.

10. Bird Watching – The great diversity in the northern Nicaraguan landscape provides a habitat for the same diversity of birds. From the Great Egrets and Blue Herons of the estuaries to the Woodpecker, Warblers, Hawks, Kingbirds and Swallos of the mountains and hillsides, experienced birdwatchers will not be disappointed with viewing their standard favorites and exotic local native species.

11. Visit Flor de Caña Factory & Historic Leon – Flor de Caña is best known as one of the best rums in all of Latin America, having been awarded more than 72 medals worldwide in the past 5 years. The plantation distillery, located near the historic, Spanish colonial city of Leon, founded in the 1500s (a bustling town and “must-see” attraction), was first construction in 1890 but completely modernized in 1996. Don’t miss taste testing their “perfect” 12-year Centenario and other variety of rums!

12. Splurge on Lobster – It’s not really a splurge when it’s so readily available, but you can’t leave our fishing village of Aserradores, known for its seafood without experiencing the locals doing what they do best.

13. Whale watching – Keep an eye out for new tour operators popping up to take advantage of the many opportunities to view dolphins and whales along the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. Whale spouts can especially can be seen in the north, a common route for migrating Humpbacks headed toward the Golfo de Fonseca, bay which joins Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. Biologists from international research teams are currently identifying the Marina Area as an important region for whale study.

Top 10 Things to do in San Juan del Sur

10. Take a water taxi to Playa Maderas and Bahia Majagual. You can catch the water taxi along the beach front road outside of Bar y Restaurant Buen Gusto. The taxi typically drops you off at Bahia Majagual. From there, it is a short walk around the bluff to Playa Maderas which is one of the most popular surfing beaches in the area.

9. Take a canopy tour. Da Flying Frog canopy tour is the longest canopy tour in Nicaragua. In addition to the adventure of gliding down the canopies you can also enjoy some excellent views of San Juan del Sur Bay.

8. Take a hike to the cross. For the best views of the town, take the short hike up the to the cross on the north side of the bay. Beware, the trails are a little steep, but the view is well worth the effort. The exercise is not bad either.

7. Check out the Mercado in San Juan del Sur or Rivas. I admit, the San Juan del Sur Mercado is not the biggest or best one around, but it is still worth a look. The little food stands have some of the best food in town for practically nothing. I strongly recommend the Jalapeño chicken. The breakfasts are not bad either. For a bigger shopping selection visit the Mercado in nearby Rivas.

6. Enjoy a nice dinner at El Colibri or one of San Juan’s other nice restaurants. El Colibri is renown around town for its delicious food, pleasant atmosphere and excellent sangria.

5. Visit La Isla de Ometepe. From San Juan del Sur you can catch a taxi to San Jorge. From there it is a 1 hour ferry to Ometepe. The ferry will bring you into Moyogalpa. From there there are buses and taxis to shuttle you around. Popular activities on the island include hiking two of Nicaragua’s most scenic volcanoes, visiting waterfalls, horseback riding and mountain biking.

4. Enjoy a sunset in one of San Juan del Sur’s many beachfront restaurants. San Juan del Sur has some of the world’s best sunsets, and there is no more relaxing way to enjoy it than with an ice cold cocktail or a lobster dinner on the beach.

3. Go on a deep sea fishing adventure and try your luck with the Sailfish, Roosterfish, Dorado, Snapper…

2. For those English only speakers, there are plenty of Spanish schools riddled around town. What better way to learn a new language than in a beautiful little town like San Juan del Sur in a friendly, personal family environment.

1. Visit the La Flor Wildlife Reserve. This can be found south of San Juan del Sur, and is the single most important breeding site for Olive Ridley turtles in Nicaragua. One of the two Pacific turtle nesting beaches in Nicaragua, the reserve is managed by Fundacion Cocibolca, an NGO that is attempting to involve the local community in decision-making processes. There is a small fee to enter, plenty of beach on which to camp, park guards to protect the eggs, and adequate transportation from San Juan del Sur.

Simplified Wealth; by Barry Oliver

Growing up in Southern California, some private education, Master's Degree, Deloitte & Touche, etc......whether I wanted to admit it or not I was a Yuppie and my Dad told me so....condo, beamer, trendy gym, vegas trips, 6 figure salary, happy hour on Thursday, always broke and in debt.....but what did we talk about at all of those 'gatherings'? Cars, money and career...nothing more...how shallow? how boring!!!!

When I told my father, who grew up on cotton farm and chicken ranch in Louisiana, I was moving to Central America he almost burst out laughing and figured I would not last more than 6 months. I truly wanted a different life style...simple and wealthy.

Within a month I had sold my condo and beamer and had 2 garage sales and was on a plane to Central America. Everything I owned fit in the Isuzu Trooper I bought. All my clothes, 2 surfboards, mountain bike, boom box, cd's and a toaster. I rented a small house near the beach. My bathroom shelf inventory...razor, deodorant, toothbrush, tooth paste. Shower inventory...soap. This served as my shampoo and conditioner as well.

My Costa Rican wife and I built our own house, mostly just the two of us....while she was pregnant right up until the day before our daughter was born and then again two days after she was born. I kept asking her why we were doing all this work when we can just pay someone else less than a dollar an hour...she kept saying, "It's good for the soul." Sure enough when we were done and I looked at the whole thing I just got that feeling, "Wow we did that." Again, it was simple. Just 700 square feet but it was all we needed. Then we added 2 rooms and 500 square feet and now have one room that is completely empty.

We have no cabinets in the kitchen as all the plates and glasses fit in drying rack. So it's easy....take out of the drying rack, eat, wash and put back in the drying rack. The toaster is a frying pan....

The simple part was easy to figure out....just get rid of everything. The wealthy part, well that has its own meaning to be determined by each user.

I quickly learned what I call the 90/10 rule. In southern California while parked at a stop light to turn left I noticed all the fancy cars turning in front of me and that only 10% of the drivers were smiling. In Nicaragua without all the great wealth that number jumps to 90%. My conversations with my new friends never entailed homes, cars or money but family, friends and interesting stories that made me laugh.

I quickly figured out what wealth meant to me.

Wealth is not determined by how much money I make in a year.

Wealth is determined by how much time in a year I spend with my child, wife and friends. How many puzzles I complete with my wife in a year, how many chess games we play, how much vacation time we have, how many walks on the beach not seeing another person, how many candle light dinners (sometimes mandatory with the power outages). How much time do I spend mountain biking through mist covered mountains through tunnels of trees littered with monkeys. How many family bike rides with Angela sitting right on the cross bars, how many family hikes looking for monkey's and butterflies. How many days spent playing on your own desolate beach, how many days surfing perfect waves with just your friends, how many waves boogie boarding with your daughter in warm water, how much time river shrimping with your whole family, how many days taking your daughter to work every afternoon and on important client meetings. How much time spent listening to music. Reading a book on average every week, playing tennis on your friends clay court, raising 75 head of cattle with your wife's family, raising your own chickens and pigs with your daughter, moonlight crabbing, early morning turtle patrol, building your own house, cutting your own wood for the bathroom countertop and posts,......

Traveling...in one year going to Dubai, Amsterdam, London, Calgary, Miami, Atlanta, Panama, San Diego, Houston, Costa Rica, Italy (twice)

Bottom line......How much time do you spend with a big fat smile on your face? If it is 90% or more then that is being wealthy!!!

My Favorite San Juan del Sur Hotels

There is an abundance of hotels in San Juan del Sur from the upscale expensive to the cheap and downright dirty. My favorites have to be the following:

La Posada Azul - This is a beautiful colonial style building just off the beach in the center of town. The rooms are nice and very comfortable, the staff is friendly and courteous, and it is just the most convenient place in town in terms of location. You are a very short walk to the beach, a block from the mercado, and on the one of the main business streets in town with plenty of shops, restaurants, stores, etc...

Park Avenue Villas - I stayed here on a long term trip and although the location is not as convenient as La Posada Azul, the rooms are very nice. They are actually all 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartment style suites with all the comforts of home. The location is a few blocks north of the main thoroughfare through town about a block and a half off the beach and is perched on a hill with a patio that may boast some of the best views of what I think is the best sunset in the world.

Piedras y Olas/Pelican Eyes - This upscale establishment is located on the hill east of town and offers rooms, small houses and large villas. All include queen size beds (or larger), satellite television, wireless internet service, air conditioning, and an in-room hospitality center featuring microwave, refrigerator, and purified water. The restaurant and bar, La Cascadas, is nice as well, but it is a little bit of a journey to town and everything on the hill is a little more expensive than down below.

Landmark Inn - I stayed here for a while and personally liked it. I have talked to others who had complaints about the noise, so if you are looking for peace and quiet you should probably look elsewhere. The location can't be beat though. It is actually next door to the Century 21 office across the street from the beach just north of the main road into town.

There is an abundance of low cost hostels in town where you can stay for cheap, but won't get much more than a cement floor and an uncomfortable bed. If you are in search of a hostel you can get dropped off near the market and a quick walk around will allow you a variety of choices.

Please note, these are my personal opinions only and they have no relation to Century 21 Gold Coast Realty.

Enjoy your stay in beautiful San Juan del Sur

Chris