First Day in Nicaragua

On our first day in Nicaragua we were spoiled with a trip to a private island in Lake Nicaragua. Mr. Jose Alvarez, former member of the Movement for Nicaragua (MpN) Board of Directors, open his home and island for us to spend the day. The MpN is a civic initiative whose objectives include increasing public awareness and encouraging citizens to participate in the decision-making process. MpN its grassroots outreach effort addressing constitutional reform and encourage citizen participation in the electoral process. Since the inception of the MpN, it has organized numerous debates, forums and public, non-violent pro-democracy marches designed to increase awareness and civic participation in politics.

Mr. Alvarez’s island is one of 365 small islands of volcanic origins. Lake Nicaragua is the tenth largest fresh water lake in the world and the second largest in Latin America. It is connected to the Caribbean Sea through the San Juan River. The lake’s most famous inhabitant is a freshwater shark, the Caribbean bull shark, which migrated up the San Juan River to the lake and over the years has adapted to the fresh water. We did not get to see any sharks.

Picture left to right: Joe, Christy, Marianne, Adam, Mr. Jose Alvarez, Valerie, Marshand, and Josh.




Marshand, Valeria, Marianne, and Adam enjoying the afternoon on the island.


Lunch was on another island where fresh fish was served (note the size of the teeth on the fish in the picture).


After seeing the head, tail, bones, and scales on the fish, I opted for the vegetarian meal (thank you Valerie) which consisted of rice, beans, fried cheese, and plantains. Marianne is pictured across the table enjoying her lunch.