Nica + Forest, Miramar, Nicaragua, 2019

My visit to Nicaragua came as my 50th year approached, the same age my father had when we left in the aftermath of the 1973 earthquake. The feeling of walking the same streets as my parents cannot be described. The embrace by the rural communities as we travelled took me by surprise and made me realize that I was home after so long. 

Such was this morning session near Miramar. The people of this neighborhood embraced us immediately, such as this young and her family. Their lives are extremely hard, as they endure an existence without running water, access to healthcare, proper electricity, sanitation... while living in homes with dirt floors and open windows. These were the people that I wanted to meet, these are the lives that I needed to document. 

Etsy 

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Young Nica + Field, Miramar, Nicaragua, 2020

Going back to Nicaragua for me was like going back in time to a different life. My parents made a life for themselves in this beautiful land, and giving us the opportunity for a better future. An earthquake in 1972 destroyed all of that, but did not destroy our memories of it all. The people of this country embraced me like a brother and have allowed my photography to take root in the land of my birth. I will always be grateful to them now, and to their hospitality at the time of my parents' generation in this land.

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Friends in León, Nicaragua, 2020

Earlier this year I was able to travel to Nicaragua prior to the pandemic. Thankfully it was an opportunity to revisit the country of my birth, and to also visit the same communities photographed three years ago. Thanks to my friends in León for their confidence, thanks to Maria for the image and thanks to Douglas for the kindness!

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Earthquake + Home, Managua, Nicaragua, 1972

Last month I also put forth an effort to find the location of our home before the earthquake of 1972. The first woman we met made my trip this year after a minute of conversation. It turned out that she had visited my parent's store and also remembered our apartment building. She was so elegant and exuded the past, while bringing everything into the present. We spoke for a while then followed her directions. Upon arriving we met the second woman of our morning. She had lived in our neighborhood since her birth and remembered our building perfectly as well. The thought that both woman had been in my life unknowingly took my breath away, made my year on the first day!

El mes pasado hice un esfuerzo por encontrar la ubicación de nuestra casa antes del terremoto de 1972. La primera mujer que conocimos hizo mi viaje este año después de un minuto de conversación. Resultó que ella había visitado la tienda de mis padres y también recordaba nuestro edificio de apartamentos. Ella era tan elegante y exudaba el pasado, mientras traía todo al presente. Hablamos un rato y luego seguimos sus instrucciones. Al llegar nos encontramos con la segunda mujer de nuestra mañana. Ella había vivido en nuestro bbarrio desde su nacimiento y también recordaba perfectamente nuestro edificio. La idea de que ambas mujeres habían estado en mi vida sin saberlo me dejó sin aliento, ¡hizo mi año el primer día!

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Gallo Pinto, León, Nicaragua, 2019

Everyone who knows me knows I was in heaven last month in León. The fact that this was the city my father began his life in Nicaragua, and that he may have walked past this building more than a few times, is the backdrop of this meal!

Todos los que me conocen saben que el mes pasado estuve en el cielo en León. El hecho de que esta fue la ciudad en la que mi padre comenzó su vida en Nicaragua, y que pudo haber pasado por este edificio más de unas pocas veces, ¡es el telón de fondo de esta comida!

Nica + Fence, Rama, Nicaragua, 2017

Her portrait was the result of happenstance earlier today, as we tried to make our way to the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. Spontaneity is the name of the game for the next two weeks, and as we followed the map on the phone to the eastern coast we ended up at a river and this village. It seems that the phone thought we had a boat, since it gave us the directions which included a river for the last 2 hours of our ride.

Without hesitation we dumped our drive to the river and walked into this village immediately. The majority of the homes are made of wood, and the people are as friendly as anywhere on the island. This has been my experience so far in Nicaragua, being embraced by my cousins as well as strangers anywhere we go.

We walked into this village last evening even though it was cloudy in order to speak with the people. They welcomed us without reservation and invited us to come back this morning if the sun was shining. Well, the sun was shining and we returned to find the children more than happy to be photographed.

One such girl is the one smiling in this portrait. She was a treat to photograph, so young yet so confident in front of the camera. Their shyness is one of the most beautiful aspects of the Nicaraguan people, especially those in the countryside. She was something else, a truly remarkable spirit living the most difficult life yet rising above it all with humility.

The people in her village lack running water, sewage system, toilets, medical access while at the same time sleeping in homes without screens and at the mercy of mosquitos every single night. The fact that she can present to the world with such a smile makes me pause.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.