Yet they still do not know what the war was all about. From San Carlos, I took the boat to the Solentiname islands, a haven for artists and artisans established by the local farmers with the inspiration and logistical support of Catholic priest Ernesto Cardenal. I had the privilege to stay as a boarder with the boatman's brother and his family. They gave me the grand tour of the islands, visiting caves, farms, a family of very gifted painters, and an artisan's village. Solentiname is an oasis of peace and harmony where everybody knows everybody, each family has enough land to grow what they need for a living, and the crafts bring in some extra cash.
Visitors are welcome and quickly adopted into the community.
The major challenge to long-term sustainability is that young people have to leave the islands to get secondary education or beyond. The nearest high school is in San Carlos. Since there is no employment on the islands other than subsistence agriculture and crafts, young people who do continue their education past grade six often move to Managua to find a job. Nicaragua has left a strong impact on me because of the openness, honesty, and hospitality of its people as well as the scenic beauty of the lake.