Curmudgeon's CornerJune 2008

Hi There!
Just like Arnold...I'm Back!

What's happening here on the island? Well, things are improving.
The stores are stocked.
Things like eggs, milk chicken and beef are back on the shelves.
If anything isn't available, it likely will be in the next week.

Have prices gone up? Of course.
They have gone up world-wide.
However, you can still buy a TANK of gas for your car for about $2 USD and 24 bottles of good bottled beer for about $8.50 U.S. Beat that anywhere else!!

I'm still not in the real estate business, but I get lots of e-mail asking about housing prices on the Island.
These properties aren't listed with realtors--yet.
Realtors here tend to add "some fat" over the seller's asking price in an attempt to increase their commission.
LONG TERM HOME RENTALS in Playa El Angel are extremely rare.
The same is true for large homes with a pool, & Penthouse apartments.
Check out the links and e-mail me if you're interested.

FOR SALE/FOR RENT MARGARITA ISLAND

You can please some of the people some of the time...

Many people who visit my site ask my opinions about the various countries I visit—and of course, Living on Margarita Island.
Since I'm not a realtor or developer and usually not trying to sell you something, I try to “call it like I see it”.
Occasionally someone will take a dim view of this.
To be honest, I really don't give a damn, but the following correspondence was sent to me as a result of an article I wrote for Escape From America Magazine.
You can draw your own conclusions...

Escape From America Article

I saw the review you did on Nicaragua . The fact is that Nicaragua has limitations because the USA made it that way, and for you to visit there and look for the cheapest rates it’s just crap. If you paid 15 dollars more are you not going to not eat that day? Are they robbing you of your retirement? But 15 dollars can mean so much to that taxi driver. As far as I am concern Americans should not be able to buy land in Latin America . But they have to do it because of the economy, and again because your government decided to have rights to our lands. The USA just has tall builds, serial killers and death streets. Neighbours do not know each other and living wise is just terrible (safety and medical wise). Why didn’t you invested in one of your beaches, probably because it costs so much, so now you buy land in our countries while trying to make bad rep of our countries. That is just sick. Thankfully I have read other Americans liking Nicaragua so much and appreciating the changes since revolution times. Sophia

Sophia,
I have to thank you for your e mail and will post it to all the
Americans I know. As to me paying $15 more for a taxi than a
local how would you like it if you went to the U.S. and had to
pay $15. more for a taxi ride because you are a Latina? I believe
you would scream like a scalded cat. Your thoughts on Americans
not being able to buy land in Latin America is interesting. How
about Latins not being able to buy land in America?? Really fair
is fair. The prices in America might not be so high if so many
illegal Latins were paying American taxes.
Another point, I am not retired so I was looking for business
opportunities to invest in. Possibly putting some Latins to work
and help unemployment plus make some money for myself. However it
seems as a Latina you would not want that. Better to work for the
low local wage your upper class countrymen pay than put up with a
"Gringo". As to the American dollar it seems your country loves
the free aid it gets from America. I would love to see that
stopped. Your country has limitations not because of America but
because you elect politicians that are inept, and are corrupt.
Actually just like we do in the U.S. but we don't elect
socialist.
As to Americans liking your country many that live there seem to
like it. I was writing about what I felt about retirement and
opportunity. Many years back I really liked Nicaragua. However
your country has done very little to improve itself. Tell me your
roads are good, your electric services work, your infrastructure
is working well, you don't have to pay big bribes to government
workers to get things done.
I live in a Latin country so it seems I don't dislike Latins. I
grew up in Texas with Latin friends and neighbors. So actually I
can't see what you're mad at me about. Latins have a beautiful
culture that I admire. You say America is terrible, then don't
live there. We didn't ask you to. However most Latins love it
when Americans,Canadians,English, etc move to their country and
bring employment and money in.
You are welcome to respond to this e mail and I will post it to
thousands of people.
Regards,
Scott Boswell

I live in Canada and I like it here. I myself made a lot of friends in
the US, because I attended University there. But I experienced
prejudice
and racism while living there. (I was always "Mexican", or if I was w/
my African American friends then I was "black". I had managers asked me
if I could better my accent. I lived in the southern part....so like
southerners don't have accents!!!) In Canada I have never been treated
that way. People here, for the most part, are very respectful of other
cultures. To tell you the truth I did not appreciate Canada until I
lived in the US 7 years.
I also, of course have strong feelings about illegal immigrants. This
is
something that the US has caused. There is not mystery about the
involvement of CIA to train our own, so we fight ourselves and to bring
such poverty that people have to immigrate. In Mexico the "campesinos"
live very poorly and that is the people that immigrate, mainly to Texas
and California. The wealthiest states of the US, and guess what?....you
probably know. This was Mexico before!!!!! But now Mexicans are illegal
in their ancestral land.
I have seen the jobs "illegal immigrants" do. They work very hard, with
no benefits, and low wages, but they do not ask you for your $ for
free.
They work for it. A lot of people want that chance to bring their
children opportunities they did not have. So they buy into the illusory
"American dream". The US is so double standard that illegal immigrants
can file taxes! Maybe you did not know that! And they pay their taxes.
You are not paying anything for them. Employers do deduct from their
paychecks.
About the buying of the land. I said this because of your attitude
towards these countries. It is easy to say why you don't see great
progress. Well in Nicaragua for instance during the Somoza government
there was not much done about education and health and anything that
had
to do to improve the livelihood of the Nicaraguans. They (the Somozas)
ran the country for their own interests. When the revolution came there
was no money in the banks. The government had no money to back expenses
for the country. Somoza had kept his $ in their own private businesses.
And now, I understand the rationalization of food, water and
electricity. But The Sandinista did worry about health and education,
this is a fact. And then they had to deal w/ the "contras" trained by
CIA, and the US government had the World Bank cancel loans to
Nicaragua.
(Maybe you know all of this)The following governments made it a point
to
pay the international debt, which has been greatly reduced. But the
country hasn't had the chance to concentrate in itself. There are
better
roads and you can see malls and restaurants. Granada was very death and
ugly before and now is a major touristic place. I visited Granada in
the
80's so I know what it looked like then.
I know there is corruption, big time. But corruption has been taught by
Americans politicians. It is naive for Americans to think that their
country is better. In the suburbs there are good services, police is
always at hand. Streets look clean. But why do US have ghettos? Why is
there so much discrimination in a country that is free? Do you think
that the roads and public services are the same where immigrants or
blacks live?
I have been to Houston, Texas, Arkansas, Michigan, New Orleans,
NY,....and same thing everywhere......a lot of Americans live in those
trailer houses. Now I know some people just want to live like that. But
a lot of people do work hard and still they have a hard time paying
bills. Everyone is in debt in the US. Go to Detroit.....there is a
third
world country....why don't you put your business there and offer
employment. They need it!!! Again politicians get the money so needed
for those communities (so it is all the same) But US wants you to
believe otherwise.
Now Canada I am proud to say, takes a lot more taxes, but I see them in
our roads, our healthcare, our clean streets, in winter our roads are
safe. I only have seen one trailer community where I lived. Well
maintained because retirees who only come in the summer live there. But
even if you live in a bad area the housing is pretty good. The apts are
nice. Also, police is very friendly and you don't feel threaten when
stopped by one.
I am happy to see a lot of people thinking to vacation or retired in
Nicaragua. I went to see this guy's website where he showed his
retirement pictures in Nicaragua. I feel glad he is enjoying himself.
Slowly the tourism is increasing and that has brought more jobs and
businesses. But your comments bother me because you are looking at your
business interest. There is enough fish in the water for everyone, so
you would get your people so you can make your $. But don't try to
affect other countries w/ your bias reviews. I read a lot of reviews in
Nicaragua from Americans, and they all said great things and also adv
that Nicaragua is one of the safest countries. But there was no mention
of that in your review. Instead you go and say that your hotels sheets
had not been changed for 3 days. Did they tell you this? How did you
know?
Not everything in a country is good, I know that. But Nicaragua is
trying and I have high hopes for its future. I want to retired there. I
would like to buy land (which by the way it is still very cheap...I
don't know where you went to see real estate prices) and there build a
house and allow people to build houses around and give them that
property. That is one of my dreams. I also collect clothes and shoes I
can give to children. I have come to believe in socialism because the
democrats have the US interest and it is not for the people. Some
Americans are waking up and seeing how many lies the US government
hides
and they portray Latin countries as barbaric and w/ hardcore dictators.
But they were happy w/ Somoza's dictatorship for almost 4 decades (so
that's a contradiction). There is a reason leftist are gaining more
control. People are tired of been poor. Bolivia has so many resources,
petroleum and silver and yet it is the poorest country in Latin
America.
???? Did you know the water in Nicaragua is owned by Spanish investors.
And the services are very poor and they charge a lot. They are sure
making money, and like you, they are employing Nicaraguans. But this is
not to the Nicaraguans benefits. You talked about American aid. Let's
just say that they are just settling the many deaths they caused during
the revolution. "But Latin American is not asking for that $ if it
causes the US intervention in our politics. Buy our exports, we'll do
business, just don't tell me how to run my country." That is what all
Latin Americans are saying.
Now you may be a great boss. I don't know.....but since you are there
experiencing Latin America try to have a partial mind on things. That's
all I recommend. Gob will bless you for the extra 15 dollars you paid.
I
also believe people should not try to buy art work in our countries for
cheaper prices. If you can afford it, just pay regular cost. I don't
only think about what I am getting for my $, I also think that these
people have families and a little extra money makes their day. And
really does not affect my income!
Well I hope you post this message as well. thanks

Sophia,
I'm finally getting to answer your e-mail message to me (re:u gringos suck!!!!!)
It seems you don't like America but I see in your letter you took advantage of our education
System, since you said you attended a University in the USA. Also, since you seemed to really dislike America why were you in the U.S for seven years?

As to prejudice and racism—what do you call trying to charge a ‘gringo’ $15 more than a local?
And racism- you act like there isn’t any racism in Nicaragua. Why is it that the lighter skinned Nicaraguans are considered upper class? In America there is a possibly of a black man being elected President. I wouldn’t call this racism!

I won’t go into all the political opinions about Nicaragua you wrote about in your message, but I will say that as far as Grenada is concerned, you can thank the ‘gringos’ (American, European, Canadian) for the beauty there now and not the government or politicians.

About the poverty in America, Canada has poor people too. Most every country in the world does. So don’t blame it on America. America is not Mother Theresa to the world!

Socialism-If people in Nicaragua are so happy with it, why didn’t it work? I know Nicaragua is trying socialism again, but from what I could see it still isn’t working.

Enough about politics…I simply have one last question.
If you love Nicaragua so damn much, why are you living in Canada?
Scott Boswell

Thanks to all my loyal readers through the years, and welcome to new subscribers. Hasta La Vista
The Curmudgeon

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