DanCesar.com Blog

Sailing in December

2009-12-18T18:58:00.001-06:00

One of the nice things about living in the tropics is that you can go summer activities such as sailing on the ocean. The people back in the U.S. are bundled up for winter while my friends and I are off to another sailing adventure! We boarded Pelican Eyes sailboat and headed off to Playa Blanca (White Beach) north of San Juan del Sur. We spent a few hours there beach combing and relaxing. On the return trip, we were treated to a glorious sunset! Life is good.

Sailing off to Playa Blanca.

Group shot!

Chillin' on Playa Blanca.

"Arrrrgh, Matey! Where be my buried treasure?"

Doing the "Titanic" thing.

Sarah and Justin and the sunset.

Waiting for the "green flash".

Click here to see the rest of the photos.

8th Annual Panga Fishing Tournament

2009-11-22T20:56:00.005-06:00

14 November 2009 - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. This annual event brings together locals and foreigners in a fishing competition for seven categories. View the complete gallery here.

Halloween in San Juan del Sur

2009-11-15T22:27:00.001-06:00

Halloween is here to stay in San Juan del Sur. For the fifth year in a row this American holiday has taken hold and taken off! Many of the Nicaraguans join the Americans in this festive holiday. We attended several parties Halloween night. Check out the links below of the various parties!

The Girls of El Pozo Restaurant

Piedras y Olas Resort hosts the grandest party in San Juan del Sur.

The Irish House Bar claims that the Irish invented Halloween and brought the tradition to America, who in turn brought it to Nicaragua!

Coquito Bar hosted a Rockin' Halloween Concert.

Bambu Beach invited guest to "Party Like A Rock Star"

Panama City Adventure Continues

2009-10-20T09:13:00.000-05:00

T. Rex at Albrook Mall!!!

Rojos Diablos (Red Devils) are old U.S. buses given a second life on the streets of Panama City.

The balconies of Casco Viejo (Old Compound).

This ship is entering the first lock of the Panama Canal (Miraflor). It will take 8-10 hours for this ship to go through the canal and enter the Caribbean Sea.

A ship, a sailboat, and tugboat are going through the first set of locks (Miraflor). They will be entering Lake Miraflor and continue to the next set of locks.

"You lookin' at me?" A sample of the fish found in Panama. This was at the Panama Canal Museum.

Visiting Panama City, Panama

2009-10-17T00:37:00.000-05:00

October 2009 - Photos of our visit to Panama City, Panama.

Casco Viejo an older section of Panama City.

The view the city from our hotel.

Leapin' lizards!

An old building in Casco Viejo.

Different architect styles are found throughout Panama City.

Statue of Simon Bolivar.

Shoes Distribution by the Barrio Planta Project

2009-10-13T09:46:00.000-05:00

From The Barrio Planta Project's Facebook page:

Thanks to David and Jo Ann Makous, The Barrio Planta Project was given 60 pairs of Converse black & white tennis shoes, donated by Nike. Now our kids in the basketball clinic have shoes, instead of running around barefoot!!

Special thanks to Dan and Cesar for posting the pics, and to Kelvin Marshall for his article about it in the Del Sur, "Air Dyani." Check out some of the pics at: http://www.pbase.com/cesar_junior/shoes

Thanks to Sara Lemieux for helping out, Jo and Dave for making it all happen and of course to our wonderful staff.

For more information about the Barrio Planta Project visit their website: http://barrio-planta-project.blogspot.com/

Arena Soccer

2009-10-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

Arena Soccer action can be found at the San Juan del Sur Sports Park, located on the southern end of the beach.

Ping Pong Tournament at Mango Rosa

2009-09-30T22:45:00.000-05:00

Mango Rosa along with Surf Zone hosted their second ping pong tournament. They plan on doing monthly tournaments. Check in with Mango Rosa or with the Surf Zone on the date of the next tournament.

Random Photos of San Juan del Sur

2009-09-30T01:17:00.000-05:00

These are random photos around San Juan del Sur.

There is always a parade celebrating a holiday.

San Juan del Sur parking lot

View of the town from our house.

Street action from the second floor of the Iguana Beach Bar.

Down at the malecón.

Nacascolo Bay Sunset

2009-09-29T00:25:00.002-05:00

Spaying at Nacascolo Bay for a couple of weeks and marveling at the beauty of the bay and sunset.

An evening rainbow graced over Villa Laguna in Los Miradores development.

Casey charges towards me. He is a one-year-old standard poodle full of energy.

Triathlon in San Juan del Sur

2009-09-28T02:15:00.001-05:00

Sunday 27 September 2009 - San Juan del Sur hosted a triathlon which challenged athletes to swimming, cycling and running on a very hot day.

Happy Birthday, Arthur!!!

2009-09-25T23:03:00.000-05:00

24 September 2009 - Arthur Guinness' 250th birthday was celebrated in San Juan del Sur at the Irish House Bar. The music may not have been Irish but it was fun nonetheless. The Irish House Bar opened in mid 2009 and located in the center of town, north of the Municipal Market.

Happy Goose!!!

2009-09-24T17:46:00.000-05:00

This is the resident goose at Stones & Waves. On this particularly hot day, she decided to cool off in one of the fountains! Stones & Waves Veterinary Clinic and Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the grounds of Piedras y Olas, A Pelican Resort.

Lazy Sunday

2009-09-20T17:20:00.001-05:00

Sundays at La Canoa are filled with Nicaraguan music and drink specials. Today we are enjoying both plus the stunning view of the bay!

International Coastal Cleanup

2009-09-19T22:47:00.001-05:00

We participated in the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup. We went with the Fundacion A. Jean Brugger students to Playa Maderas and Playa Majagual. It was hot and sunny but worth the effort. More photos at DanCesar.com

Así Es Mi Tierra Dance Troupe

2009-09-19T07:13:00.000-05:00

Central American Independence Day

2009-09-17T04:46:00.002-05:00

Sand Sculpture Competition

2009-09-14T00:14:00.002-05:00

Coquito Bar hosted a Sand Sculpture competition today on the beach. While there could have been more competitors, those that participated had a lot of fun. Check out some of the photos below. More photos are posted on DanCesar.com.

Sunset Beach Volleyball

2009-09-11T21:46:00.001-05:00

Beach volleyball is a popular sport in San Juan del Sur. On this night we were treated to lively game during sunset. The result: stunning photos! On most nights there is a game on the beach, next to the ice cream shop. More photos on our website: www.dancesar.com.

Frisbee Golf in Nicaragua

2009-09-11T00:00:00.012-05:00

I'm trying to get back to blogging, twitting and making updates on Facebook. So many things to do on the internet alone. I just finished updating www.dancesar.com with photos of the latest photos of the frisbee tournament.

Vince operates a frisbee golf course in Marsella Valley, and as far as I know, the only frisbee golf course in Nicaragua. He organized a tournament last Sunday and Dan and I entered. I've never played frisbee golf before, and boy did I have fun.

Here are photos:

This is me playing my first frisbee golf game and a tournament, at that! I thought I did pretty well. There were 12 baskets, each was par 3. I ended up with 42 my first round, and 45 my second.

Dan was learning how to throw properly while holding a camera.

There were trees everywhere! That was part of the challenge. Eunice got her frisbee stuck in the tree. Using the stick to get it out cost her 1 penalty point.

After the tournament there was a competition of who can throw the frisbee longest distance. I believe Roy edged out Edward for the title.

These are all the winners. First, second and third for men and women. (Notice that I am not among the group. Oh well, better luck next time.) The men's winner was Pedro the butcher. The women's winner was Karen (she's not in the picture. She went home to change. She lives next door.)

Afterwards we enjoyed a picnic and great food and music, courtesy of DJ Sergio.

Lots more photos are posted on DanCesar.com

2009-07-15T22:26:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Dan's 61st birthday in Granada, Nicaragua. We stayed at a nice B&B for two night and we toured the sites. We ate at a different restaurant for every meal. El Zaguan Steakhouse and Kathy's Waffle House are among our favorites. New favorite: Roadhouse Grill. We toured the Isletas of Granada and toured a couple of museums.

Road Hockey Nov 2008

2008-12-04T01:11:00.009-06:00

Road Hockey once again. Team World suffered a crushing defeat (once again) against Team Canada. When are they gonna learn? I won't even mention the score.

Y'can't beat the folks who invented the sport. Better luck next time, Team World. This time Team World was sponsored by Smokey's Sports Bar. Team Canada was once again sponsored by Big Wave Daves.

Lots of photos on our website: www.dancesar.com

Nica Skate Pit Video

2008-11-20T21:28:00.001-06:00

Nica Skate Pit

2008-08-16T20:11:00.011-05:00

Nica Skate Pit started a school project by Brent and Lindsey with Caleb as their leader. The trio designed and constructed the half pipe in one month. To celebrate their inauguration, they invited local skaters to a BBQ at their house, where Nica Skate Pit is located, at Los Miradores.

View more images, click here.
Click here for the Nica Skate Pit.

Road Hockey: Team Canada vs World Team

2008-08-14T23:58:00.008-05:00

This is the second match between Team Canada and the World Team. The first time they met was over Canada Day (July 1) where Team Canada crushed Team World with a score of 5-0.

View photos at DanCesar.com

This time around, Team World did some heavy recruiting with members from countries such as Netherlands and the United States. At first it looked like it was a redo of the first game when Canada cruised to an early lead.
By the third period, World scored three unanswered points tying the game to 8-8. World's chance for their first victory was crushed in the final minutes when Canada scored two points. The teams were playing for the coveted Stanley Duck where it has been on display at Big Wave Daves Bar. Team World is sponsored by Bambu Beach; Team Canada, by Big Wave Dave.

O Sole Mio Returns

2008-06-23T01:21:00.007-05:00

A favorite of San Juan del Sur reopened their doors at a new location. O Sole Mio Italian Restaurant welcomed invited friends and family try a little taste of Italy. The restaurant is located in Dolce Vita Hotel in the heart of San Juan del Sur.

Click here for more photos!

www.dancesar.com

Ooo La La!

2008-06-22T23:52:00.005-05:00

Iguana Beach Bar celebrated their one year anniversary with a two-day party. This included lots of rum, cerveza and of course, a bikini contest. Audience response selected the winner of the contest.

Click here to see more photos!

www.dancesar.com

Servin' Up the Goodies

2008-06-21T11:26:00.003-05:00

Anna Webster hosted another class of Cooking With Anna. This time it had a local feel with "Taste of Nicaragua. She and guest chef, LBee Bushey served the Nicaraguan goodies such as Nicaraguan corn soup, nacatamales (the national food), arroz con pollo (rice with chicken), pan-seared curvina with ranchero sauce, and for dessert, tres leches coconut cake with dulce de leche butter cream.

Check out the photos here.

Visit Anna's website! www.cookingwithanna.com

Housing Project at Empalme de Boaco

2008-06-20T14:53:00.003-05:00

We photographed a housing project at Empalme de Boaco. The project provides affordable homes to the working poor of the community. The houses are modest, with two bedrooms, a living room, a semi-outdoor kitchen, and an outdoor bathroom. Funding for construction comes from wine makers of California, mainly Santa Helena. The new residents come from the local community. Their previous homes consisted of shacks, lean-to's, houses made out of dirt. Through the program, they pay a monthly mortgage based on their monthly income, and after ten years they receive the title to their homes.

Click here for more photos.

Sailing on Pelican Eyes

2008-06-20T00:47:00.003-05:00

Dan and I went sailing with some of my co-workers and some new friends from Canada. We sailed aboard Pelican Eyes sailboat to Playa Blanca, north of San Juan del Sur. We had a crazy fun time!

Click here to see photos!

Going South

2008-06-18T18:45:00.004-05:00

Going South: Motorbike and Quad Ride to Ostional. A group of us went down to Ostional and had a BBQ. We went in quads, motorbikes, and minivan. The last time a ride of this type was organized was in 2006 where the group went to Pie de Giante Beach (about 2 hours north!) This year the ride was 1 hour south from San Juan del Sur. Corey designed cook t-shirts. Bambu Beach Club and Big Wave Daves sponsored the event.

Pictured below: Me, Fabioloa and Danny, Edward, Marie, Yader, Big Wave Dave and Miguel, Corey, Dan, and Yader again barbecuing.

More photos here.

Classical Music on the Beach

2008-06-10T09:05:00.007-05:00

Bambu Beach hosted Bach on the Beach concert as a food drive benefit for the orphanage in San Jorge, Nicaragua. A five member ensemble from Camareta Bach of Managua, played for a large crowd. The admission to the event was 10 pounds of rice or beans, 10 canned food items, or C$400. All the proceeds went to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos orphanage. Sponsors of the event were: Delta Air Lines, Stones and Waves Veterinary Clinic, Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort, Fundacion A. Jean Brugger, and Bambu Beach. CLICK HERE for more photos.

Fundación A. Jean Brugger's Mother's Day Luncheon

2008-05-22T15:28:00.003-05:00

Fundación A. Jean Brugger celebrated Mother's Day on Monday 19 May. (Mother's Day in Nicaragua is 30 May.) Over 200 ancianos, (senior citizens) were seated. The women received gifts from and there was plenty of entertainment. For more information Fundación A. Jean Brugger, click here. More photos of the event, click here.

Super Bowl XLII Parties

2008-02-10T22:53:00.000-06:00

San Juan del Sur had at least 7 Super Bowl Parties hosted on 3 February 2007. We attended festivities at 1. Mango Rosa Resort; 2. Villa Laguna; 3. Republika Bar; 4. La Cascadas Bar & Restaurant; 5. Iguana Beach Bar; 6. Tsunami Bar; and we ended the night (and game) at 7. Big Wave Daves! Click here to see more photos of our "Road to the Super Bowl".

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Orphanage

2007-12-25T16:43:00.000-06:00

24 December 2007 - Yesterday a group of expats from San Juan del Sur spent the morning with the orphans in San Jorge. Santa was present to give out toys to the boys and girls. Each children received several presents. Afterwards the children had fun with the piñata which ultimately showered them with sweet candies. The NPH orphanage is home to 40 children with ages ranging from less than a year to 8. For the past three years, the San Juan del Sur group has visited the orphanage at Christmastime. Click here to see photos.

Colors of San Juan del Sur Calendar 2008

2007-12-23T22:44:00.000-06:00

Colors of San Juan del Sur Calendar 2008 is now available for purchase. The proceeds go directly to Fundación A. Jean Brugger. To purchase a calendar, send an email to info@fundacionajbrugger.org. The photos of the calendar were taken by my partner Dan Polley and myself. I also did the layout and design of the calendar. Click here to check out the calendar.

San Juan del Sur Beach BBQ Cook-Off

2007-11-26T20:14:00.000-06:00

The Second Annual San Juan del Sur Beach BBQ Cook-Off. The event was at Rocamar Beach Restaurant. Trophies were awarded to the best entries in six categories. The event was a fundraiser for Stones and Waves Veterinary Clinic. Delta Air Lines was the main sponsor of the event. Click here for more photos.

Holiday Entertaining

2007-11-18T14:05:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday, we attended Cooking With Anna, a series of cooking classes. She offered tips in easy holiday entertaining. Anna Webster teaches the class at her home, Villa Laguna. For photos, click here.

Bird's Eye View of Nicaragua's Pacific Coast

2007-11-13T08:06:00.000-06:00

Nicaragua's Pacific coastline. These are beaches north of San Juan del Sur. Pictured below (top to bottom) Marsella Beach; Pacific Marlin (San Juan del Sur bay in the back); Majagual & Matilda Beaches. More photos, click here.

Panga Fishing Tournament

2007-11-11T16:07:00.000-06:00

The Sixth Annual Suzuki Panga Fishing Tournament was held this weekend. Each year this event gets bigger and better. This year was no exception. The venue was at the newly built harbor. Everyone had a great time. For more images, click here.

Halloween at Piedras y Olas

2007-11-02T15:32:00.001-06:00

Halloween Happy Hour at Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort was an astounding success! A lot of people attended in creative costumes! Check out the gallery here!

Chasing Waterfalls

2007-10-19T02:12:00.000-05:00

It's been raining a lot this month. We actually had a waterfall behind one of the villas here at the resort! October tends to be the rainiest month.

Oktoberfest 2007

2007-10-17T15:51:00.001-05:00

Oktoberfest 2007 in San Juan del Sur at Big Wave Daves! More pictures here!

World Peas!!!

2007-10-16T14:29:00.000-05:00

Dan and I along with April, Brandon and Jairo went to the Black Eyed Peas concert in Managua this month. It was awesome!!! Our US $50 V.I.P. seats were in the center aisle, tenth row back. There were other San Juaneños there as well.
For photos, click here.

Boxing in San Juan del Sur

2007-10-04T13:42:00.000-05:00

We went to the boxing matches at the Civic Center right outside of town, on La Chocolata Road. There were about 10 matches, starting with younger boxers ending with the older ones. It was a nice experience. More photos here.

Action Packed Friday

2007-09-29T19:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Friday 29 September 2007, we went to check out the last day of the baseball camp organized by Fundación A. Jean Brugger; then we check out boys jumping into the river from the bridge; and ended the day with arena soccer at the Sports Park.

Ole! Santa Fe!

2007-09-27T20:48:00.000-05:00

Today Dan and I attended Cooking With Anna ~ Ole! Santa Fe! Cooking Class! Professional Chef Anna Webster teaches a monthly cooking class in her home, Villa Laguna outside San Juan del Sur. Below are some of the items she prepared.
For more photos click here.

End of the Day

2007-09-26T09:13:00.000-05:00

Another stunning sunset in the bay.

Independence Day

2007-09-25T10:01:00.000-05:00

Nicaragua Independence Day was celebrated on 15 September, along with the other Central American Countries, with festive costumes and music.
Click here for more photos.

The Drive from Managua to San Juan del Sur

2007-09-24T21:17:00.000-05:00

Monica's Baby

2007-09-23T19:33:00.000-05:00

Monica, a spider monkey at Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort, delivered a baby yesterday, 22 September 2007. She and the young are under the care of Stones & Waves Veterinary Clinic.
More photos, click here.

Sid's Sailboat

2007-09-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

While having morning coffee with Karen at El Gato Negro Bookstore, we talked about Sid's sailboat washing ashore and bobbing on the beach. Afterwards we went down to the beach to check it out.

Sunday Beach Day

2007-09-02T14:04:00.001-05:00

Dan and I went to Maderas Beach this morning to check out the surfing. The September swell is huge as well as the waves, some surfers were able to catch them. Sushi came along with us.

Hotel-Sitting

2007-08-29T10:16:00.001-05:00

Dan and I are hotel-sitting at El Jardin Garden Hotel and Restaurant. Valerie, April and Brandon are vacationing in Italy for three weeks. In the meantime, we are keeping an eye on the place and watching over Sushi, their French poodle. The hotel overlooks Nacascolo Bay, the bay immediately north of San Juan del Sur. www.eljardinsanjuandelsur.com

El Pozo Restaurant

2007-08-28T18:09:00.000-05:00

We tried out the newest restaurant in San Juan del Sur, El Pozo. Located half a block to the market (two doors from the art gallery.) The food was very good (I had the pork chops and Dan had the steak). We are very excited for our friends, Christian, Claire and Shaun. The decor is trendy Europe-meets-Latin-America. Click here for more photos.

GR & Linda : 1 Year in SJdS

2007-08-27T07:19:00.000-05:00

Surrounding by many of their friends, GR & Linda Butler (pictured center below) celebrated their one year anniversary of moving to San Juan del Sur. They moved from St. Louis, Missouri (yay!) and are the enjoying the tranquil life of Nicaragua. The event was catered by El Colibri Restaurant, with Bartenders from Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort. Click here for photos.

Feria Latin Flavors 2007

2007-08-26T11:27:00.000-05:00

Dan, Jiff and I went to this event in last Friday. This first annual food fair was held in the Crown Plaza Conference Center in the heart of Managua. The opening gala included a chef-wear inspired fashion show and samples of national food. The cerveza girls were well represented (Toña and Premium). It was nicely done and was a unique experience for us and for this country. Click here for more photos.

Fire It Up! Barbecue Class

2007-08-24T13:24:00.001-05:00

Fire It Up! Barbecue Class is part of the series, Cooking With Anna. In this class Anna Webster, professional chef and former restaurant owner, prepared a range of barbecue items such as Magic Rub Beer Can Chicken and Fall-off-the-bone Pork Ribs Coca Cola Barbecue Sauce. If you are interested in being part of future classes and to see more photos, click here.

Galería del Sur opens in SJdS

2007-08-23T04:38:00.000-05:00

This month San Juan del Sur opened its first art gallery, Galería del Sur. The space was donated by the Quinn family of Colorado and renovated by a team from Century 21 San Juan del Sur. The gallery features works by Nicaraguan artists (as well as local gringo photographers.) Dan and I will both display some of our children's photographs in the gallery. More images of the gallery here.

U.S. Trip : Ft. Lauderdale & Wilton Manors

2007-08-22T14:00:00.001-05:00

We spent a total of four days in Wilton Manors/Ft. Lauderdale area. We went to the beach and caught up with friends from Washington, DC.

U.S. Trip : Toledo

2007-08-21T22:42:00.000-05:00

We spent 4 days in Toledo with the Waite family. In the picture below I'm with my god-daughter Emma, age 5. More picture of our trip click here.

U.S. Trip Day 1 :: Managua, Nicaragua

2007-08-09T20:10:00.000-05:00

We are on our way to Florida and then Ohio to visit friends and family. Our trip begins with our stay at the Camino Real Hotel in Managua, Nicaragua.

3 Parties in 2 Days

2007-08-05T21:03:00.000-05:00

We recently attended three parties in two days. Birthday party for Vince at his place near Marsella Beach; Anna Sofia's first birthday party at Rocamar Restaurant; and "T-Shirt" Cathye's birthday at the Iguana Bar and Restaurant. Happy Birthday to all of you!

Playa Maderas

2007-07-23T17:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we went to Playa Madera. Something for everyone to see. Great surf. Great bods. I heavily recommend the smoothie at the Pepsi shack. Peruvian Fred offers the best smoothies around. I enjoyed a banana-pineapple smoothie. No additives.

House Sitting

2007-07-16T13:06:00.000-05:00

We are currently on a house-sitting assignment at Nacascolo Bay (the bay north of San Juan del Sur Bay.) The house belongs to our friends Tim and Anna Webster who are attending a family reunion back in the states. Villa Laguna is as beautiful as the view of the Bay and Ocean. The house has 2 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms, huge kitchen/living/dining area, a garage, several decks, a swimming pool with a swim-up bar, and a separate guest house with two rooms and a bathroom.

Poker Night is hosted at Villa Laguna, which will continue with us as hosts. Anna's cooking classes are also offered at the spacious kitchen. Tim and Anna return on 25 July.

Street Repair

2007-07-12T17:28:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know this little town, getting a street repaired is a big deal. On our first visit to San Juan del Sur in 2000 only the major streets were bricked or paved. The rest were either dirt, gravel or just neglected. One by one the Alcaldia (City Hall) is repairing the streets. This particular street, in front of Hotel Villa Isabella, is financed in part by Paradise Bay Development. Other developers have stepped in to help repair the village streets.

Restaurante Reconcito Mexicano

2007-07-11T18:42:00.000-05:00

This little restaurant located near beach offered delicious Mexican food prepared Nica style. We shared a plate of chicken and pork tacos. We went with a group of friends from water aerobics.

Afternoon BBQ at El Nido Bed and Breakfast

2007-07-08T20:08:00.000-05:00

We went to an afternoon barbecue at El Nido Bed and Breakfast. The B and B, owned by friends Pat and Cheryl Lynch is located a few kilometers north of San Juan del Sur. We swam in the pool and chatted with friends before we shared a BBQ lunch prepared by the hosts and Tim and Anna.

Night of the Iguana

2007-07-07T15:57:00.000-05:00

Iguana Cafe & Bar reopened last night after undergoing many months of renovation. Under new management (Henry), the bar has a new look that opens up to both the town and to the beach. The second floor bar is the perfect place to people-watch or to just kick back and enjoy a nice cold cerveza. Stop by and check it out! Photo gallery, click here.

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T22:19:00.001-05:00

Happy Fourth of July (American Independence Day). We went sailing aboard Pelican Eyes sailboat with a group of friends. It rained during our beach time and a sprinkled on our way back to San Juan del Sur. Tonight we had a special 4th of July Happy Hour with hot dogs, onion rings, barbecued chicken wings.

Sandino Gets A Facelift

2007-07-03T06:49:00.001-05:00

This well known mural in San Juan del Sur received a face lift this past week. The mural shows Sandino (Augusto César Sandino) behind guerilla fighters. Underneath reads, "Jamas Nos Vencerán" which kind of translates to: "They will never beat us." Nicaragua has been involved in military conflict in the 1970's revolution and then in the 1980's Contra War. This mural has been around for as long as we've been visiting San Juan del Sur (since 2000.) Nicaragua is known for its colorful murals depicting history, scenery and people.

Canada Day & 4th of July BBQ

2007-07-02T17:00:00.000-05:00

Canada Day & 4th of July BBQ at Big Wave Daves was on 1 July, 2007. The joint event was a fundraiser for Stones & Waves Veterinary Clinic. Many local residents from Canada and the United States as well as Nicaraguans and visitors from other countries came to celebrate, dance, win prizes, eat burgers and hot dogs, and have a great time. The evening ended with a mini fireworks display in front of Big Wave Daves. Photo gallery click here.

Buen Provecho

2007-07-01T00:15:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I took a cooking class called Seafood Delicious taught by Anna Webster. She prepared a variety of seafood appetizers and entrées. For a photo gallery of the food and class, click here.
Class was taught in her beautiful home Villa Laguna in San Juan del Sur.

Fiestas Patronales

2007-06-22T02:05:00.000-05:00

This will be a party weekend as San Juan del Sur honors its patron saint, John the Baptist. Music, food, games and parades from June 22-24.

Community Trash Clean Up

2007-06-13T18:31:00.001-05:00

Life continues after the fire. Dan and I are living comfortably in Casa Guanacaste at Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort. More on that in future blog entries. On June 10, 2007 John Berger organized the first Community Trash Clean Up Day. The community was near the El Oro development about 3 kms outside of San Juan del Sur. Everyone young and old came out to participate in the effort and in the lunch barbecue afterwards. The highlight after lunch was the raffle where many great prizes were given away to those who participated in the clean up. For more photos of the clean up, click here.

Fire Fire

2007-06-11T15:51:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I posted anything. The reason for that is because our house caught on fire! It occurred Sunday morning, June 3, 2007 while we were on vacation in Costa Rica. The owner of Piedras y Olas, Chris Berry was vacationing with us. These amazing photos were taken by our friends George, Denny and Natalie.
Many people showed up to help put out the fire and carry out our personal belongings. Dan Fisher, a third generation fireman from the Phoenix, Arizona area, was a hotel guest and helped organized the effort. Sailboat captain Denny Meijering directed many of the people.
The roof of the house sustained the most damage. The house itself is made of concrete and did little damage to the overall structure. The roof will be totally replaced. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical.

Reconstruction has already started and in about three month's time we will move back! In the meantime we are staying at another villa at the resort.
We cannot thanks our friends enough for all their efforts!

To view photos of Casa Jocote before the fire, click here.

C'mon Get Happy!

2007-06-01T11:19:00.001-05:00

Happy Hour at Pelican Eyes...Piedras y Olas are on Wednesdays and Fridays. 2 for 1 drinks and special appetizers are offered. Above, I am pictured with friends, Denny, myself, April, Natalie, Valerie and Brandon.

Lemon Cheesecake in San Juan del Sur

2007-05-28T23:13:00.001-05:00

This lemon cheesecake was my dessert at El Jardin Garden Hotel & Restaurant. This is one of our favorite restaurants in San Juan del Sur. El Jardin's regular menu offers a blend of Thai/Asian and Mexican flavors fused together. Weekly specials include a sushi, shrimp tacos, Thai fish cakes and shrimp fritters. Despite the wonderful dishes, my favorite part of the dining experience is the dessert. Weekly cheese cakes include berry medley cheese cake, Bailey's cheesecake, white chocolate cheesecake and lemon mousse cheesecake. El Jardin is owned by very good friends, April Whann, her son Brandon Whann, and her mother Valerie Castillo. (April is known as the Cheesecake Queen or Dessert Queen of San Juan del Sur).

The restaurant is located 5km north of San Juan del Sur on La Cholocata Road. Operating hours: 5 pm to 10 pm, Thursday through Sunday. For reservation call (505) 880-4765 or (505) 896-2179 or email awhann@hotmail.com.

Art in the Park

2007-05-26T23:45:00.001-05:00

Art in the Park was held on Saturday 26 May 2007 at the Central Park in San Juan del Sur. The event focused on artists of all kinds - painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers and food vendors. Many local artists shared their skill with school children by teaching painting and mosaic pottery. Local food vendors provided food and refreshment to the crowd. The highlight of the day was the raffle of 10 bicycles to local children. The bicycles were donated by residents and businesses of SJdS. Art in the Park was organized by Stones & Waves Veterinary Clinic. Sponsors included DHL Express, Delta Air Lines, Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort, Fundación A. Jean Brugger, and as well as many local businesses. Click here for more photos of Art in the Park!

Animal Rescue

2007-05-24T13:09:00.000-05:00

These foxes were among the animals that were recently rescued in San Juan del Sur. Other animals included ducks, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, pacas and pisotes. Often times young animals are captured (at the expense of the mother) and raised as pets. When the owners cannot care for them, they are taken in by Stone & Waves Veterinary Clinic and Wildlife Center. The animals are evaluated and determined whether they can be reintroduced into the wild. Many animals have been treated and released by the center. Unfortunately for these foxes they cannot be released because they lack hunting skills and have no fear of humans. One of the goals of Stones & Waves Veterinary Clinic and Wildlife Center is to teach wildlife conservation to the community at large.

View from the Hill

2007-05-23T23:31:00.000-05:00

This is one of the many spectacular views from Pelican Eyes...Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort in San Juan del Sur. The resort is built on the hillside overlooking the village and bay of San Juan del Sur. The resort offers three swimming pools, two restaurants and a sailboat. Future plans include a fourth swimming pool, tennis court, yoga center and a gym and fitness center. Dan and I have lived here since February 2005. We are the resident photographers, and I do many of their marketing and graphic design.

Surf Lesson :: Day 1

2007-05-14T18:14:00.000-05:00

Surfing Day 1: This morning at 10:30, I took my first surf lesson at Playa Madera. My instructors were Brandon and April Whann (pictured above.) They were confident that I was going to "get up" on my first day. (April had taught me how to boogie board and body surf.) She told me to apply what I had learned, to the surfboard. After riding several waves on my belly, then on knees, I finally stood up. It was very wobbly but the sensation was incredible! Kudos to Dan who had his camera ready from the beach. My instructors were very excited for me. Not bad, eh for a 37-year-old (I just had a birthday.)

Nicaraguan Art

2007-05-12T11:19:00.000-05:00

Nicaraguan art (paintings) are usually colorful and vibrant and depicts daily life. Dan Polley has photographed many of these paintings. Nicaraguan Painting Gallery. Art in the Park will be held on May 26, 2007 in San Juan del Sur. This all-day community event will celebrate local artists of all types. This includes painters, sculptors, musicians, craftsmen, cooks and dancers. Painting classes will be held for kids as well as raffles, games, and prizes. For more information, click here.

2007-05-10T19:12:00.000-05:00

Sacuanjoche, Nicaragua's National Flower
Photo: Dan Polley

Surf's Up

2007-05-09T17:17:00.000-05:00

This is a new hobby that I plan on starting very soon. It's hard to live in San Juan del Sur and not take up surfing. I've been encouraged by friends and visitors who take lessons from locals. Last week I met a couple from Calagary, Canada who have never surfed, get up on their their board. Hopefully in the next week or so, I'll be posting photos of me on a board!
Photo taken by me at Playa Madera, the local surfing beach.

Old Cathedral in Managua

2007-05-08T22:32:00.000-05:00

We (Dan, April, Brandon and myself) went to my dentist in Managua today. I went to a dentist who is popular among the ex-pat community in San Juan del Sur. After my visit, we saw "Spider-Man 3." My initial reaction was that it wasn't as good as "Spider-Man 2". Too many people died in this one. I think there will be a "Spider-Man 4." They can't end it this way. The picture above is of the Old Cathedral in Managua. It was heavily damaged by the 1972 earthquake. Efforts are underway to restore this landmark. Photo: Dan Polley

La Cara del Indio

2007-05-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

This is my first post on my blog. Through my photography I will share my life in this fishing village of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. This is San Juan del Sur's famous La Cara del Indio (The Face of the Indian.) This rock structure is located in the northern part of the bay (to the right when facing the ocean.) Legend suggest that he is looking for his love who was lost to sea (or Costa Rica).