The Advantages of Nicaragua

This being the first posting on our new blog, we would like to explain right off the bat how we came to be in this place at this time -- this place being Granada, Nicaragua. We retired to Costa Rica two and a half years ago because it was cost prohibitive to retire in our native United States. Medical co-pays and COBRA payments were eating us alive and Costa Rica's affordable health care situation was incredibly attractive.

However, Costa Rica was not all it was advertised to be, for a variety of reasons. On a "visa run," an action necessary to remain in good standing with the local authorities, we discovered Nicaragua. Initially, our visits were to Isla de Ometepe where stateside friends had relocated. We were, and continue to be, enchanted with that special little spot on the planet, but we also realized that Ometepe was unsuitable for our habitation because of its' lack of adequate medical facilities.

Granada was the perfect compromise solution. Close enough to the outstanding Pellas hospital in Managua for us to be comfortable -- we are, after all, a couple of old people with deteriorating bodies -- Granada also offered an array of other advantages.

Granada is a beautiful old town, much prettier than the San Jose suburb of Heredia where we lived in Costa Rica. Nicaragua is also much more affordable and the local people have been so much more friendly than their counterparts to the south. Whereas we always felt somewhat unwelcome in Costa Rica, Nicaraguans have embraced us with open arms. This also holds true when comparing the two governments.

Safety became a major concern while we were in Costa Rica. The entire Central Valley -- San Jose and all the suburbs -- has been over run with all kinds of crime, much of it violent and the police serve as no deterrent whatsoever. In fact, the police are often in on the crime itself. We became afraid to even go out at night.

Here in Granada, on the other hand, we feel safe enough to walk the streets in the evening with no problems. We read that Nicaragua is considered to be one of the safest countries in the Americas and such has been our experience thus far.

Even though we've only been here for slightly over four months, this environment simply feels better. And you know what? There's not a single American fast food franchise anywhere, not even a Subway. Just gotta love that.

Welcome to Our Blog!

Welcome to Carol and Jim's blog. We intend to use this space to expound upon whatever might cross our collective minds. It might be political, social or just plain nonsense. With pictures, of course.