Ingredients

Whole grain oats (Avena Integral) *this is very important that it is NOT Avena Mosh
Cinnamon (Canela Molida)
Brown sugar (dulce – available in the market in a brown block)
raisins (pasas)
Wax paper (papel para hornear)

Directions:

Put wax paper on a baking sheet
Preheat oven to 300 degrees
spread the oats level over the cookie sheet
sprinkle brown sugar (grated) and cinnamon over oats

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes
Let it cool for 30 minutes
Add the raisins in the very end
DO NOT COOK THE RAISINS!

Enjoy with yogurt or milk as a cereal.  Feel free to add slivered almonds and shredded coconut too.

Ingredients

3 eggs
1/2 small red onion
1 small Jalepeño
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup crumbled Nica cheese (queso nacional)
1 tbsp olive oil
pinch of salt and pepper

Directions:

Heat olive oil on low in medium skillet.
Thin slice onion slivers, and put them in first.  Let them sweat for 2-3 minutes.
Slice jalepeño rounds and mince the garlic.
Evenly disperse the rest of the vegetables in the skillet.
Don’t stir!

Separate the yolks from the whites of the egg (add the yolks to your dog’s food for added protein)
Fork or whisk together the remaining egg whites
Pour the egg mixture over the simmering vegetables
Sprinkle the Nica cheese on top
Put a lid over it until the cheese melts a little (Nica cheese doesn’t melt like regular cheese)
Fold over one side to meet the other side of the omelet evenly.

Cook for 2 minutes on each side.
Add Salt and Pepper to taste.

View from the balcony of Dale's condo of the famous Colorado beach break

Located in Hacienda Iguana, the private golf and surf beach club, 40 minutes west of Rivas on Playa Colorado. An up and coming community, this is the prime location for golfers and surfers alike. Dale’s surf condo is conveniently located less than a minute from Rio Colorado, the world class surf break of Central America. The condo is equipped with a board rack, a few rental surf boards, big screen TV, DVD player, maid service and cook service if requested.  It has ocean views, swimming pool and beach club access, surf access, a full kitchen and air conditioning.

Rate:
2 people – $150 per night*
3-4 people – $200 per night*
5 people – $250 per night *

* Prices vary for Easter week & New years
* Cook Service – $15 per night

Capacity:  5 people
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Beds: 4  (2 full size, 2 singles) and 1 futon

Availability: email for availability
Location: Hacienda Iguana, Nicaragua (50 minutes West of Rivas, 20 minutes North of Playa Gigante)

Contact: info@nicaland.com

Beautiful master bedroom with Ocean view

An inside view of the surf oriented condo

The back dining patio on the beach side of the Surf Lodge, NIcaragua

If you are looking to visit the up and coming surf village of Playa Gigante, what better way to spend your week than living it up on the beach in a surf lodge?  The lodge is perfectly located securely in the center of town, walking distance to shops, restaurants and bars.  The lodge is fully equipped to handle eight people comfortably and has a full kitchen, air conditioning, hot water showers, generator for power outages, night security guards, games, movies, DVD player, Ipod dock and more.

Rate: $275 per night
Capacity:  8 people
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 5

Availability: ONLY AVAILABLE JANUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 15 2012
Location: Playa Gigante, Nicaragua (40 minutes West of Rivas, 20 minutes South of Hacienda Iguana)

Contact: speak@nicasurf.com

The great room, Surf Lodge Gigante, Nicaragua

Private, Air conditioned bedrooms with private bath

One of the many ocean views at Prana del Sol

Prana del Sol, (the Yoga Lots) is an exciting new community located just a five minute walk from Playa Gigante, and a 35 minute drive West of the city of Rivas.

The lower lots (Yoga Lots) at Prana del Sol

Since it is such a desired community at extremely affordable prices, and these owners will have a great effect on the village, there is a strict interview process for purchase.  The HOA consists of the owners themselves and the group will vote on all issues not listed in the CC&R’s.  The community has basic infrastructure and collects a mere $600 a year maintenance fee to keep the roads, gutters, drains, fences, retaining walls, power lines and security up to par.

The road coming in to Prana del Sol

Ocean view from the middle hill - Prana del Sol, Nicaragua

Chanelle and Kassidy in Victoria, B.C. Canada

After watching the debates, the news, and the market… it sure feels good to be unaffected down here in the tropics.

After watching the debates, the news, and the market… it sure feels good to be unaffected down here in the tropics.
Some of you have inquired about the new beach front law that is trying to be passed restricting building near the ocean… the proposed “Coastal Law”. Under current law, building is restricted within 98 ft (30m) of the high tide mark, and the bill aims to extend the restricted area. Nicaraguan Attorney General, Hernan Estrada, recently ordered review of property titles within 2,642 ft (802m) of the water, as a temporary measure, until the coastal law has been appropriately structured and passed.Our good news is that the Attorney General of Nicaragua, just approved one of our titles near the beach in Hacienda Iguana for worry-free resale. We have eight more on their way of being approved, and all the beach front Popoyo listings are definitely approved. This is a law that probably won’t be passed anyway, but it’s good to have the peace of mind now.
Speaking of beach front, Dale and I just determined that the price of ocean front property in Hacienda Iguana has gone up six times in the last three years since it’s opening, and is STILL tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than beach front without surf, in Costa Rica. Go figure. Amazingly, two Ocean front lots just surfaced in Hacienda Iguana, making them the only beachfront property available inside the gates.
Chanelle and I recently took a trip to Canada to visit most of the inhabitants of the Prana del Sol site, the quickest selling, fastest growing development in this area. We suspect so many sales because of the extremely affordable lots and of course it’s diverse terrain and epic beauty. The Canadians were quite hospitable, and I must say, British Columbia is a gorgeous place with gorgeous people. The wet Victoria weather reminds me of Nica right now, as I listen to the drops on my tin roof. The rains are coming down, and will continue through October. The last ten months have been un-doubtedly gorgeous, so we’ll see what the next month holds. Though I’ve found that the surf is still good and the roads are sure fun for 4x4in’!
Come visit us down here and see what all the talk is about!

Chillin' poolside in front of the Villas Iguana Condo complex

Was it the polished white sand beach with not a spec of seaweed or tar on it, or the clear rolling waves with only me for as far as the eye could see, that sealed my stay here? The moment I sunk my feet into the bath water warm Pacific, bordering the famous Hacienda Iguana beach, I realized, “Wow. This is not what I expected Nicaragua to be like”. The offshore breeze made the heat mild, and the unscathed air, crisp and clean, showed no bugs, no smog, no haze, only the scent of a few local’s campfires. There were no scary people, no bandits, no pickpockets, in fact, there were very few people at all. I was captivated from that moment on, and to this day, call Iguana beach the most beautiful I have ever seen.

Welcome to Hacienda Iguana golf and beach club!

Was it the polished white sand beach with not a spec of seaweed or tar on it, or the clear rolling waves with only me for as far as the eye could see, that sealed my stay here? The moment I sunk my feet into the bath water warm Pacific, bordering the famous Hacienda Iguana beach, I realized, “Wow. This is not what I expected Nicaragua to be like”. The offshore breeze made the heat mild, and the unscathed air, crisp and clean, showed no bugs, no smog, no haze, only the scent of a few local’s campfires. There were no scary people, no bandits, no pickpockets, in fact, there were very few people at all. I was captivated from that moment on, and to this day, call Iguana beach the most beautiful I have ever seen.
Much time in Hacienda iguana proved it to grow quickly and is now becoming the most happening place around. It has no “nightlife” per say, but many visitors from all over the world with the same focus…. the waves. Harboring two of the best surf breaks in the country, Hacienda iguana had no idea what they stumbled upon when building their world famous golf course community. From my condo patio I would watch surfers walk in from the neighboring development, Rancho Santana, and sometimes boats cruising from San Juan del Sur just to get part of the action.
The astounding part of living down here is that a lot of people that venture this way share the same outlook on life, and I have made lifelong friends with travelers in short amounts of time. An elegant homestead centrally located in jungle lined valley, Hacienda Iguana holds beach front condos, golf course town houses, and hilltop villas. It has easy to follow trails, alive rivers, flowing creeks, and the most unreal sunsets you’ve ever seen. I’ve never felt more safe in my life living here, often walking at night alone under the stars and always being greeted with smiles from the local staff.
With shoes rarely gracing my feet, fresh lobster brought to my door, the ocean at my fingertips, and the company of amazing people who share the same adventurous spirit… I feel like I, am truly, living the dream.
Come visit us down here and see what all the talk is about!

The Cathedral in Leon, Nicaragua after the rain

I am very blessed to be able to live on the beach next to the two best surf breaks in Nicaragua, which makes it hard to leave sometimes. In the quaint fishing village of Gigante, I have a world of convenience at my fingertips with fresh fish and lobster every afternoon, and a fruit and veggie truck that delivers to my doorstep. As I watch the kids surf from my kitchen window I feel as though I could literally go months without leaving this place and be completely content just walking around my little paradise. However, we all need to switch it up sometimes. After living the Campesino life for a while, out here in the sticks, a trip to the Colonial cities of Nicaragua was well overdue.

Little Nica boys at the expresso station in Granada, Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, there are endless ways to travel affordably. It’s crazy how you can take a wallet breaking fifty-dollar cab ride only from the L.A. beaches to Hollywood, but you can travel the entire coastline of Nicaragua for nearly six-dollars. You can cruise in an air conditioned shuttle, lounge in a large tour bus, squash into an expresso, cram into a chicken bus, or hitch a ride in the back of a truck, true Nica style. For me and my traveling buds, it was onward, whatever way we got there.

I am very blessed to be able to live on the beach next to the two best surf breaks in Nicaragua, which makes it hard to leave sometimes. In the quaint fishing village of Gigante, I have a world of convenience at my fingertips with fresh fish and lobster every afternoon, and a fruit and veggie truck that delivers to my doorstep. As I watch the kids surf from my kitchen window I feel as though I could literally go months without leaving this place and be completely content just walking around my little paradise. However, we all need to switch it up sometimes. After living the Campesino life for a while, out here in the sticks, a trip to the Colonial cities of Nicaragua was well overdue.
In Nicaragua, there are endless ways to travel affordably. It’s crazy how you can take a wallet breaking fifty-dollar cab ride only from the L.A. beaches to Hollywood, but you can travel the entire coastline of Nicaragua for nearly six-dollars. You can cruise in an air conditioned shuttle, lounge in a large tour bus, squash into an expresso, cram into a chicken bus, or hitch a ride in the back of a truck, true Nica style. For me and my traveling buds, it was onward, whatever way we got there.
Granada definitely didn’t disappoint after spending most of my “city” time in Southern Nicaragua’s bustling metropolis of Rivas. Now Rivas has incredible third world charm, but Granada has elegant stately hotels, elite and lavish private islands, and sidewalk cafes filled with imported wines, fresh vegetables, lettuces and spices, and food from all over the world. We stumbled into the Garden Cafe, feeling a bit dirty in that pristine town, and were struck by the gorgeous site of crumble coffee cake, warm chocolate chip cookies, and coconut fudge brownies. Damian, the very friendly owner of the cafe, welcomed us right in where we enjoyed Turkey Pesto and Mediterranean veggie sandwiches. We would return to the Garden Cafe four more times on this short trip, every time taking some savory treat to go. Local comedor, Johnny Three Fingers, was a good place to start our night with a bottle of Flor de Caña Rum and a Gorgonzola crusted Filet Mignon. From there we hit up El Club and Cafe Nuit for some live music and to shake our thangs, proving Granada to be the most elegant, stylish, and romantic city I’ve seen in Nicaragua.
A two dollar expresso ride to Managua and a thirty -five dollar taxi through peanut fields led us right to the heart of Leon. The mango and gold cathedrals flushed in the warm afternoon sun, and thirty year old bullet holes in some struggling buildings forced us to feel the history of this town. Quite liberal and artistic, the town is painted with political murals and Nicaraguan pride. El Hotel los Balcones harbored our things as we sipped ice cold Toña’s hovering over the main street of Leon from our balcony. It’s a city filled with youthful nightlife, vibrant characters from all different countries, never-ending latin music, and everyone meshed together on one humid dance floor. In the spirit of Nicaragua and it’s intense past, we paid a visit to the Museo de la Revolución, where we met Francisco, a veteran revolutionary fighter. He took us through the highs and lows of the revolution, the fighters and the leaders, and the survivors and the fallen. He let us in to what was happening behind the photos we see on the post cards, and his words brought to life how vivid and consuming it actually was. For our final lesson, Francisco took us to the feeble roof top of that old government building so we could get the ultimate view of Leon.
Three taxi rides, and a fruit truck hitching later, I finally made it home to my quiet little village where a loose horse grazed in my yard, and the kids caught a sunset surf. I think I’ll be just fine right here, in the campo… atleast for a little while.
Come visit us down here and see what all the talk is about!

At the top of La Majosa, overlooking Hacienda iguana, Nicaragua

It’s been a busy couple of weeks filled with fun and exploration. There is so much to see here that it would take years to discover, including the hovering mountains and vast valleys of southern Nicaragua. Every day that I drive to Hacienda Iguana from Gigante, I pass by La Majosa, the stooping giant overlooking Iguana. I heard rumors that you could see the Caribbean side of Nicaragua from the top, and Dale told me stories of traversing it on horseback years ago. To get a better idea of my bearings, I had to do it. With my other adventurers by my side (or in front of me rather) we began the trek with a super tranquilo Nica named Rafael. He came along with his machete to help us find the trail, and it didn’t seem to phase him at all that he was about to climb straight up for a 3 hour round trip.

Braving the mountain August 12, 2008
Hi everyone, and welcome back to Nica Land. For those who are just joining us, my name is Kassidy, and my good friend Chanelle and I are committed to showing you the land that Dale’s been telling you about, and what’s happenin’ down here in Nicaragua.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks filled with fun and exploration. There is so much to see here that it would take years to discover, including the hovering mountains and vast valleys of southern Nicaragua. Every day that I drive to Hacienda Iguana from Gigante, I pass by La Majosa, the stooping giant overlooking Iguana. I heard rumors that you could see the Caribbean side of Nicaragua from the top, and Dale told me stories of traversing it on horseback years ago. To get a better idea of my bearings, I had to do it. With my other adventurers by my side (or in front of me rather) we began the trek with a super tranquilo Nica named Rafael. He came along with his machete to help us find the trail, and it didn’t seem to phase him at all that he was about to climb straight up for a 3 hour round trip.
As i dug my boots into the natural stone stairs of the incredibly steep Majosa, my breath was short and my vision blurred. The sun wasn’t saturating this area, but there was little breeze because of the overgrown brush that blanketed the trail. My friend Morgan stayed with me and told me about the archeology of the path and how paths like this are how a road begins…a part of history, the more and more years that the locals traverse it. I hung on to his every word, concentrating only on the sound of his voice to keep me from passing out. This trail was literally straight up with no landings for a break. Of course Rafael is basically running up it in his jeans and flat shoes. Of course through the whole thing, he had not one sip of water or a bite to eat. This, for him, was an everyday thing. After this, he probably had a whole field to clear with his machete. This, for me, was enough exercise to last me a month.

An hour later, calves burning and and in sweat drenched t-shirts, we chopped our way to the summit. I snapped out of my meltdown and realized how far up we had just gone…. incredible. High in the clouds we hung over the cliff that showed us Gigante, Hacienda Iguana, Rancho Santana, Tola, Rivas, Lake Nicaragua, and the island of Ometepe. Rafael said that on a clear day, the Caribe would show itself too. This particular mountain, is part of a finca owned by local, Steve Snyder, who told me it’s also filled with three toed sloths and monkeys. It truly is an amazing specimen of natural beauty and part of the many gorgeous landscapes that Nicaragua boasts, besides it’s white sandy beaches.
I bought Rafael two liter’s of Toña for his kindness and delivered them on a Sunday….perfect day in Nica for a couple beers. I think he was pretty thrilled, as he waved like a crazy man at me this morning from the field as I drove by.
Come visit us down here and see what all the talk is about!

By Rick Steves

Tribune Media Services

While Europe is my passion and the focus of my work, Central America has long held a fascination for me. I took my first trip to the region in 1988, during El Salvador’s civil war. Over the years, I’ve returned to Nicaragua and El Salvador several times, as recently as a few months ago. In my columns, I’ll periodically share some impressions from my latest trip.

Driving an hour outside of Nicaragua’s capital, Managua, we visited the town of San Juan de Oriente, where 90 percent of the people are indigenous (of native rather than European descent). The locals are descendants of the Nahuatl Indians, who settled here some 5,000 years ago.

For centuries, the town’s economy has been based on pottery. We met local artisan Valentin Lopez, who is passionate about keeping pre-Colombian art alive through his craft. As we sat in his workshop, he danced while his son played the marimba (a xylophone-like wooden instrument favored among native Nicaraguans). And as he danced, he explained the connection of his craft to his indigenous past.

We gathered around the potter’s wheel, and he demonstrated the traditional way pottery is made, painted, and burnished. It’s all organic: clay pounded by bare feet, brushes made of a woman’s hair, and giant seeds as burnishers. I saw how in tune these potters are with nature. In the United States, potters order clay on the phone. But here, they hike to the clay pit and gather it themselves. As his son kick-started the potter’s wheel, Valentin noted there is no electricity involved — “The power is rice and beans,” he joked. When the boy quickly got the wheel ramped up by using his muscular leg, Valentin added, “This town produces very good soccer players.”

They turned the wheel over to me, and I jumped at the opportunity to humiliate myself. Climbing into the potter’s chair is like straddling a strange animal. I pushed the heavy stone wheel with my feet. It was awkward. With images of Fred Flintstone trying to start his car, I struggled to get it going. My foot nearly got pinched and dragged by the rough wheel under the brace of the table — which would have made me probably the first person to lose a leg to a potter’s wheel.

The potter’s son helped me get the wheel turning with a full head of steam and then he slammed a blob of clay onto my spinning worktable. I cupped it, and it wobbled. He showed me how to be gentle with the clay. As he trickled some water on the blob and guided my fingers, the clay came to life. But my creation was still a clumsy piece of work; eventually (and effortlessly) it was made elegant by my teenage teacher.

Glancing down the row of eight stations, all under the shade of a corrugated tin roof, I imagined this cottage industry in full swing. I came to appreciate the timelessness of the technology. The advent of plastic must have done to pottery what the advent of steel did to blacksmithing. Indigenous people want vessels that are of the earth, made by hand, and ornamented with the iconography of their ancestors. Though decimated by European colonialism, there is still a native pride throughout the region. As long as there are indigenous people — even if there are no tourists seeking souvenirs — there will be potters in Latin America turning their wheels of fortune.

The struggles of native peoples are widespread throughout Latin America today. They are often the ones discriminated against in schools, the workforce, the judicial system, and so on. If a mestizo (mixed-race Latin American) loses his temper or does something violent, rather than say, “The devil made me do it,” he’ll say, “Se me salio el indio” (“The Indian just came out of me”). Even to call someone indigenous is regarded by some as an insult.

I grew up fascinated by the revolutionary Pancho Villa, but I always considered him a Mexican bandit. Native Latin Americans refer to him as a hero who stood up against white dominance. As long as indigenous Latin Americans are kept down, my hunch is that the headlines will be filled with the Pancho Villas of the 21st century as native peoples stand up for their rights in an aggressive — and often uncompromising — modern world.

As I watched Valentin and his son turn, polish, and bake their pottery, I felt their sacred connection to their ancestors (much healthier than the connection I enjoy to my ancestors). I gained a new respect for the strength of pre-Columbian culture in our hemisphere.

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.