The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes

literally and otherwise

In 2021 I was taking private Spanish lessons in San Juan del Sur with a woman who would become one of my best friends there. Dinorah asked me to write extensive essays in Spanish on random subjects of my choosing. I think she could tell I had a wild imagination and shrewdly challenged me to translate a meandering mind into a new language.

The exercise got me thinking about Nicaragua’s tourist tagline, the “land of lakes and volcanoes.” Of this there is no doubt, a country roughly the size of the state of New York holds over 20 volcanoes, several active to this day, as well as a plethora of beautiful lakes, including Lake Cocibolca which is the largest in Central America.

And then there is Ometepe (photo below). A magnificent natural wonder and must visit, Ometepe is a two volcano island set inside Lake Cocibolca and really is the crowning representation of Nicaragua’s slogan.

I started to reflect on my own personal experiences in Nicaragua, as well as the human (rather than the natural) history of the country, and it all coalesced in my mind. Nicaragua’s tourist slogan is perfect and expands well beyond the topography.

The people of Nicaragua represent the Lake; on most days, tranquil, beautiful, predictable, warm and inviting. This is a personal perspective based on my experiences but is also shared by many foreigners. Nicaraguans are very kind, cordial, friendly, and eager to help and please. I have seen this across multiple spectrums, whether it be dealing with my house, Sonrisas Felices, doing business in the country as an owner, seller or buyer, as well as everyday interactions in the streets. This is the Lake and is the reason why I’ve built a life there.

Then there’s the Volcano; infamous, imposing, a cauldron of pressure capable of extraordinary violence and destruction. This represents Nicaragua’s history, from the arrival of the Spanish to modern day society. 2018 was a stark reminder of the incredible strain and seismic stress that exists in everyday life and the power and ferocity of the explosion, once released. It is a savage spectre that, at times, you can just feel in the air, seeping like noxious fumes in private quarters.

It’s this duality that confounds me most, I wrote in my Spanish essay. Who among us is the Lake, and who is the Volcano? Beyond speculating about individual Nicaraguans in my life, it is clear that while many could be one OR the other, it’s also true that many are both …and unlike land volcanoes, which are always visible and can even be measured, monitored, and predicted to a degree, it is the human Volcano that is truly unknown, unseen, and always on the move.

So what did Dinorah think of my grand Spanish allegory?? She was fascinated with the construct..except of my grammar :).