Those Sunday Travel Sections just can't get enough Lakes and Volcanoes. On the heels of last week's New York Times spread, we get "Fit for Man and Beast: Surfers and Turtles Ride the Waves on Nicaragua's Coast,"by Jonathan Finer, in tomorrow's Washington Post (Sunday, December 24, 2006). The story has been done many, many times before by travel writers who feel like they're on to something. I'm as guilty as the rest, several times over and I ain't knockin' it. There's a reason the word is out — Nicaragua really is that intriguing to visit.You'll know when you go. In this article, Finer reports from San Juan del Sur (where else?) on sea turtles, surfing, tourism development, real estate, and Daniel Ortega, whose recent Presidential win provides an easy reference to the country's "troubled past" (a requisite ingredient in any short article about Nicaragua).  

Finer offers some fun turtle and surfing scenes, plus the famous view from Piedras y Olas Hotel. And of course, an ackowledgment of the "delicate balance" between tourism and tradition, in the form of a quote from the Rev. Roberto Alvarez, 32: "It means better jobs for many people, but a lot of people are selling their land and moving into the rural areas. We have to make sure we hold on to our culture."