The Dark Side of Travel

[Robert Watcher]

Being one who is in the age group where the nightly news contained the conflict and fighting going on in Nicaragua during the 1979 revolution - just as todays youths are fully aware of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts - - - familiar history is so evident as I travel throughout Nicaragua.

Even though tourism is an important element in cities such as Granada and some costal towns - there still can be found evidence of a strong dislike for Americans. Recently, I was approached by an older woman on the streets who berated me (in Spanish) about the bloodshed and suffering that I caused to her family and people. I have to be quick to let people know that I am a Canadian in such circumstances.

Moreso than in the central and southern cities and towns - - - northern cities like Leon (where I am living) which are closer to the Honduran borders where US supported Contras were deployed from, have strong feelings about the revolution with FLSN signs plastered everywhere as well as museums reinforcing the strong sentiments about that recent history.

Still, I was quite surprised when I visited "La Casa de Cultura" only to find a large painting that depicted Ronald Reagan on the shoulders of a Nicaraguan woman with her wrists slit and Henry Kissinger as a jester looks on. It appears that many visit this location just to see that painting. The irony - - - the plaque beside the painting stated that the painting was from an American artist.

​

 

[Asher Kelman]

Robert,

This picture is shocking, brutal but not quite unexpected. Who is the artist? I couldn't find any reference to that work online. however I did find this volcano nearby:

Vianica.com: Volc
an de Carro Negro​

What seems like a simple quiet tour can be passing by very powerful feelings that, (we can ignore at our peril), even though we seem to get away with ignorance for so long, eventually reality has to catch up and then we have to deal with it. Sometimes it's our fault and other times it's just the way things are!

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

Robert,

This picture is shocking, brutal but not quite unexpected. Who is the artist?

Asher

Anne forgot to jot the artist's name down and so we will have to return to get it for the post on the Cultural Centre that she is doing on the Travel Virgins Journal.



---

 

[Robert Watcher]

Robert,

This picture is shocking.

Asher

It is shocking - but what may be more shocking to me is how the Nicaraguan people can be such a happy and generous people . . .

. . . with the poverty they face and such a brutal and corrupt background. Between the 1972 earthquake that totally leveled the capital city of Managua, the resulting lining of the pockets of the ruling Somoza family with millions of dollars of relief funds that never made it to where it needed to go, along with the devastating US embargoes during and after the 1979 revolution - all of which have resulted in Nicaragua being the poorest country in our hemisphere.

When Anne and I have visited the different prisons and torture chambers around the country - it is evident how harsh both the Somoza and Sandinista governments have treated prisoners and dissidents over the years. In fact the large Masaya Volcano has been nicknamed the "Gates of Hell" with so many unwanted people being thrown into the vast pit during this countries tumultuous years.

Many older Nicaraguans are disillusioned with the way things have turned out with the Sandinista government that is still ruling, because while the cause was worthy at the start - most of those rebel leaders are now rich businessmen. Fortunately for the government, Nicaragua has a median age of 23 years of age in the country. It is predominated by young people who were not around 30 years ago - - - and the government works hard at finding favor with them.

Looking straight down into the "Gates of Hell" (Masaya Volcano)

All Photos copyright www.robertwatcher.com

Prisoners etchings into the concrete prison walls of the pitch black cells - including sayings like the above "I want to die"

​

-----

 

[Robert Watcher]

Robert,

I couldn't find any reference to that work online.


What seems like a simple quiet tour can be passing by very powerful feelings that, (we can ignore at our peril), even though we seem to get away with ignorance for so long, eventually reality has to catch up and then we have to deal with it. Sometimes it's our fault and other times it's just the way things are!

Asher

I did find this online from Stanford University - but it does not include info about the artist - - - I'll get that name for you : http://www.stanford.edu/group/arts/nicaragua/murals/political/33.html

This info with some of the background of the turbulent recent history for any who are interested - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaraguan_Revolution

ALL THIS SAID - I am not interested in taking sides or causing debate - I am just here in Nicaragua enjoying the people, getting to know a little bit about them and their culture, and engaging them with my photography. Many smiling faces and honest hard working people that I meet each day - as unfair and unjust as their prospects may be.

------

 

[Asher Kelman]

Thanks Rob for getting into this as without it, I'm afraid that tourist pictures of happy decent folk won't represent the real Nicaragua. One has to see the entire plant, flowers, honeybees as well as roots, parasites, pests, drought and fire. It's all about survival of a people, their children, songs, history, fears, hopes and their stories.

You do not have to advocate to report. Just need both eyes open. In this thread, that's exactly what you are doing and it's appreciated! We wouldn't just want to come away with some muralist idealist ideation of simple agrarian living and townsfolk doing everything themselves in a quaint way and not see the underlying fabric of the people's being.

Report and then we can decide for ourselves.

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

Anne forgot to jot the artist's name down and so we will have to return to get it for the post on the Cultural Centre that she is doing on the Travel Virgins Journal.

--

We were going by the Cultural Centre this morning and popped in to get the details about the painting.

The artist is William Mannetti (USA)
Name of Painting is "The Burden"
Size is 150cm x 125cm
Year is 1985 (right in middle of Nicaragua Civil War with the Contras)


-------