Introducing Nicaragua

So you've heard how wonderful Costa Rica is, and how it's been deemed (scientifically) the happiest country in the world in the Happy Planet Index but what about it's Northern neighbour Nicaragua?

Nicaragua came a very respectable 11th in the Happy Planet Index of 2009 (remember the UK came 74th and the US 114th). So officially it's a happy country even if it doesn't have much money floating around.

It is the largest country in Central America with a land area the size of England, but only a population of 5.8 million. Although Nicaragua is north of the equator, the dry season, which is the summer, runs from December to April. We're here at the hottest time of year when temperatures can reach 32 degrees (that's a 'nice one' from me). That said, its climate is affected by altitude and there are some pretty high mountains there.

Compared to Costa Rica (which got rid of its army more than 60 years ago), Nicaragua has endured great political upheaval in recent years. Between 1936 and 1979 the Somoza dictatorship, characterised by political repression and unequal distribution of weath, ran the country. After a popular revolution, dissatisfaction led to a civil war in the 80s between the Sandanistas and the American backed Contras. The Sandanistas eventually conceded power to form a coalition government in 1990, only for its left-wing leader Daniel Ortega to take office again in 2007.

Coffee, meat, shellfish, sugar, tobacco, cattle and gold are Nicaragua's main exports. Let's hope we find some gold during our building projects! At least we know the coffee is in abundance.

And that's your Nicaraguan lesson over for the day.