You've probably missed your shot to snag initial fares for 8 cents and $8.00 a piece to fly to Managua (the cut-off was May 24, but perhaps there will be another promotion), but this new service is most welcome. The announcement was made earlier this week from Spirit Airlines headquarters in Fort Lauderdale: "Service to Managua will be offered three times per week starting August 2, 2007 and will then increase to daily service starting November 15, 2007. Flights will be operated with Spirit’s Airbus A319 aircraft which features deluxe leather seats, moveable headrests and large overhead bins." Leaving from Fort Lauderdale is a huge bonus, says Nicaragua author, Mr. Randall Wood, who has considerable experience traveling in and through Florida: "Fort Lauderdale is a great airport, far better than the chaotic and mismanaged Miami."

If you haven't heard of Café Chavalos, the gourmet Granada restaurant run by reformed street kids, you'll want to soon. The restaurant/culinary school is entering Phase Two of its existence at full speed — and in a brand new building, writing a brand new blog, and offering delicious multi-course international meals. If you can't support the project by eating dinner at Café Chavalos, there are many more ways to help.

Nicaragua got some attention this week in an article by the name of "Nicaragua, the New Beachfront Frontier", published in the Los Angeles Times. The article starts off with the tired old "Nicaragua is the next Costa Rica" that’s theme, but delivers quite a bit of insight immediately afterward.

The Guardian Observer posted an interesting article about tourism in Nicaragua under the Ortega government and in particular, Ortega's promise to leave private investors alone. The article quotes outgoing Minister of Tourism Maria Rivas, Ortega himself, and our very own Joshua Berman, co-author of Moon Handbooks Nicaragua and Moon Living Abroad Nicaragua.