Check out last Friday USA TODAY's "Nicaragua rising: War-torn image gets a tourist makeover," yet another travel piece from Nicaragua's happenin' southwest corner. The reporter, Laura Bly, came to Randy and me to recommend hotels, transportation, and to generally help plan her trip; and though she fails to mention it in her article, she was carrying both of our books (she did list gotonicaragua.com in the "If You Go" section). Bly's article covers all the required topics, scenes, and imagery for a San Juan del Sur–based Nica travel piece, but does not mention the big Valentine's Day murder trial of an American there. 

This is an important story for gringos living abroad in Nicaragua. There is a great deal of contention behind last week's guilty verdict for Eric Volz, a Nashville native and the creator of El Puente travel and culture magazine who has been living in San Juan del Sur for several years. Volz, along with San Juan del Sur resident, Julio "Rosita", were sentenced today to 30 years in a Nicaraguan prison for the brutal murder of a young local woman. Volz's friends and family have launched a concerted effort "to ensure that Eric's innocence is recognized," petitioning the US and Nicaraguan governments and holding a "Bridge to Freedom" benefit concert in January. Keep an eye on Outside magazine, which should be running its own San Juan del Sur–based "trouble-in-paradise" feature article in an upcoming issue.