Jairo, the Nicaraguan I interviewed this morning, was also a good resource about street smarts.
Gringos also need to be cautious, because if you are a gringo in Nicaragua you are a dollar sign.
What does he mean by cautious?
His advice:
· Don’t wander by yourself.
· Don’t go places you’re are not sure of.
· Don’t act lost.
· Don’t be too friendly on the streets. If you act too friendly, you look gullible and easily deceived.
· If you are carrying something or wearing a backpack, be especially cautious.
· If traveling by car make sure the doors are locked and windows up.
(Another word of advice I’ve heard here from several sources: Don’t wear flashy or expensive jewelry.)
Jairo had one additional word of caution: Don’t trust every taxi driver.
A lot of robberies, he said, take place in taxies. Never get into a taxi with two men. The second man may have a gun and demand whatever you have.
Most gringos in Nicaragua are advised to use only taxi services recommended by a Nicaraguan friend or street-wise, long-term-in-Nicaragua gringo.
Warnings made, Jairo concluded with reassurance: If you use common sense and are street smart, you are safe in Managua.
When I think about it, except for the taxis, his advice is pretty appropriate for major U.S. cities as well.
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