In November 2006, just before the Nicaraguan election, Andrew Anthony published How I woke up and smelt the coffee in the Guardian UK, a British journal. Since you now know how his story ends (with regard to the elections) it makes for a captivating read, the story of a political sympathizer during the revolution years who returns in 2006 to see what's new in Nicaragua. Anthony does a remarkable job not only of evoking the feeling of the 1980s when the Sandinista revolution was in full force, but in looking at Daniel Ortega in the modern era.

One of the best guidebooks of 2006? It's possible. Planeta.com, one of the Internet's most popular web portals for international travel information is running a contest in which our own Moon Living Abroad in Nicaragua is one of five contenders for the category "Place-Based Guidebooks" (the others are The New Key to Costa Rica, South American Handbook, Bradt Costa Rica, and Bradt Argentina).

Take a look at, or participate in, the contest at Planeta.com's website. Voting is open from December 5, 2006 to January 12, 2007.

"When to go?" is usually the question we get most frequently about Nicaragua, followed by "when does it rain the most?" But you don't have to let rain spoil your trip.

The folks at Piedras y Olas hotel in San Juan del Sur had a great idea in 2006, and called it the Rainy Day Challenge. Read more for this fun promotion:

Check out our feature article in the current news stand edition of Transitions Abroad magazine (November/December Responsible Travel Issue). "Nicaragua's Evolution" by Randall Wood and Joshua Berman starts on page 38, and begins with the first line of our book: "Forget everything you thought you knew about Nicaragua." If you like what you see, buy the book and book a trip.