Reality Check

I’m sure this isn’t news but there are a lot of poor people in Central America. There is trash, dog shit and other such things not too far from the nicest places. I’m pointing this out so as to not give a completely distorted view of these countries.

Actually many of the times I’m most favorably impressed by something its in part due to the contrast provided by the underlying reality of poverty. That the people are amazingly happy, friendly and welcoming in spite of these problems is inspiring.

There are beggars around, but not many. And the people selling things in the parks are not at all pushy. Nothing like the border town effect we’ve seen in say Tijuana.

In the park in Granada there’s this guy that sells cashews. They’re great. I bought a few pounds of them and give them away when beggars show up. It works surprisingly well, even at the border crossings. Someone shows up demanding money, I give them money and they keep on asking; I give them a handfull of cashews and they politely and with feeling say thanks and don’t bother me again.