Bluefields, Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest and least-densely populated country in Central America, but it is also the poorest. Bluefields, a small city on the western shore of Bahia de Bluefields along the country’s Caribbean coast, is comprised, predominantly, of people of African descent — the largest in Central America — creating a unique creole culture in the region. English is the dominant language, although Spanish is also widely spoken.
Of all the urban environments in Nicaragua, Bluefields is among the more impoverished. It’s hard to be a tourist walking the street without being stopped every few minutes by a local who is asking for a handout. Even children panhandle at storefronts, hoping for generous tourists to wander through the door and leave them with a few cordobas on their way out. It’s no wonder.
Feral dogs roaming the streets in various stages of malnutrition go virtually unnoticed. By their own admission, if the residents of the community are barely able to afford feeding themselves and their children, they certainly are not going to feed wild dogs. The dogs are common throughout Nicaragua, but Bluefields has what seems to be the lion’s share of the sickly variety. It’s a — pardon the pun — dog-eat-dog world where everyone is out for their own survival, the dogs included.
Depite the extreme level of poverty in Bluefields, it is not without its charm. There are numerous quaint little B&Bs up and down the streets, several delicious restaurants with breathtaking views of the bay, and some of the best street food in the whole country. The Creole influence in the area, coupled with local ingredients, has created very unique cuisine that marries Hispanic dishes with African ingredients.
Bluefields is poor financially, but rich beyond measure in culture. From the unique dialect, to the wonderful cuisine, to the abundance of human spirit, Bluefields is truly one of a kind. The people are very welcoming of tourism, whether from from hotels and restaurants or the local liquor stores. The people of Bluefields are proud of their community and love to show it off. Everyone works hard for what little they have, and they are happy to do it. For a city of such small size, Bluefields has an enormous heart, ready and willing to share it’s love with anyone who steps onto their shores.
