Let me be up front with you, this blog is "counter" to some intelligence and is only a "travel advisory" in that I'm going to "advise" you to "travel".

I'm a worrier like the next person and the latest political crisis in Nicaragua isn't exactly the best recipe for a peaceful nights sleep. The majority of Nicaraguan citizens have come out in force against the government in an effort to stimulate a change of administration and, in that process, things have gotten violent. The resulting violence and subsequent media frenzy has resulted in not only the death of citizens, but the death of what was a bourgeoning tourism industry and economic hope for the second poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

In the mean time, between fitful nights of sleep, and visions of a vague future, I've got a business to run. The lodge is our only livelihood and it's one of the few tourism businesses in Nicaragua that continues to operate and infuse money into the economy. Most have shut down and only a handful country wide are able to remain and operate, mostly because surfers, against all adversities, are motivated to keep in search of uncrowded waves. We've had lay offs, we used to support a number of families but now that number dwindles as we retract amid canceled reservations. Now instead of travelers knocking on my door looking for waves and a comfy bed, it's local citizens knocking on my door every week if not every day asking for work. The work remains, but right now hiring more help is a luxury I can't afford.

The lodge is my world and all we have for my wife, son and daughter on the way. Watching the business take a gut punch from the political situation is enough to make me consider giving it all up...but where would we go from here? To use some poker terminology and to lend weight to the gamble I've taken- "I'm 'all in' before the flop." In fact I was "all in" 7 years ago when I loaded up my sailboat and sailed from San Diego California to Playa Miramar Nicaragua, some 2835 miles to see what was the next chapter of my life. Those chapters continue to unfold until the river card is turned over. I'm hoping this isn't the final table in my world series of poker.

As I write this I'm sitting in my "office", which is to say at the dinner table I made, under the palapa I built, for a business I grew from a seedling with the help of my wife, family, and hard work from some select locals who have become my friends as well as employees. Here I have a view of Punta Miramar, the sun is shining, offshore winds are blowing, the tide is rising, and fun little peelers are reeling off-not a surfing soul is out... Nicaraguan families are trudging by, wet and sandy...smiles on their faces, enjoying what the world knows as Sunday Funday. There's no violence, no police in riot gear, no fighting...just distant music turned up way too loud for this peaceful 8am at the beach. In fact I spent half the day in Managua yesterday buying food for the few guest we have...I didn't have to dodge barricades or show my papers at Gestapo-like road blocks. Violence exists here as it does everywhere. It exists more so than before, but the beauty of the country and the reasons it initially became popular to visit still exist as well. For us, as a business community, to continue to exist, that's the only intelligence you need even if it is counter to what the media says. I don't have the data nor care to glean it, but I would venture to say Nicaragua is still safer than some other surrounding countries where the political regimes are in a stalemate with organized crime. Where the illusion of peace exists enough that State Department travel advisories aren't negatively effecting their bottom lines.

My advice to you, my own "travel advisory" is this: Life is never going to be safe if you live it to the fullest. If you are a surfer, you wouldn't be so if you were afraid of adversity, your feet never would have left the sand for that first paddle out. In fact the most dangerous place in the ocean is where the waves meet the rocks and thats where we as surfers find ourselves the happiest... so travel while you can. If I feel it's too unsafe for you, I will let you know. In the mean time, while it my be counter to some intelligence, my travel advisory is in full effect. See you soon out at the point, or knocking on the door...