myers@uwmacc.UUCP (Latitudinarian Lobster) (10/28/85)
Sandino Airport and Nicaraguan Customs
Third of an eight part series.
My group flew from Mexico City via Aeronica, the Nicaraguan Air-
line. The flight first made a stop in San Salvador, the capital of El
Salvador, then continued on to Managua. We arrived at about six
o'clock in the evening at the beautiful Sandino Airport, a few miles
east of Managua. Overall, the airport seemed to be about the size of
the Milwaukee airport, though without the enplaning and deplaning
facilities.
Our reception was quite cordial - we were greeted at the foot of
the stairs by our guide from the ASTC, the Cultural Workers Associa-
tion. We were directed to the VIP lounge, where our guide aided us in
filling out the requisite forms and facilitated our getting through
the initial papers stages of customs. Hence we were able to bypass
the rather long lines where this is normally handled on a one-by-one
basis, but it still took about an hour.
We then had to go through the lines where baggage and such is
searched for contraband and weapons, which took another hour and a
half. Unfortunately, the authorization papers for getting various
donations to organizations through did not satisfy the customs author-
ities on this particular occasion - we had to leave this stuff behind,
but it was examined later and delivered to us intact about four days
afterward. While the ASTC and tecNICA representatives were not par-
ticularly happy about this, the caution on the part of the customs
officials was understandable in a country at war.
There was a great crowd of people hanging about at the exit from
customs, and outside the terminal building itself, waiting for loved
ones, cabs, etc., much like airports everywhere. We were then loaded
on our bus with all our stuff and proceeded on about a half-hour drive
to our hospedaje in the southern part of the city. It quickly became
clear why a description of Managua as a cluster of neighborhoods
rather than a city is appropriate. We arrived at our destination
somewhat bedraggled about 3 and a half hours after landing, and met
the wonderful family which took care of us throughout our stay.
One requirement which was waived for our group was the require-
ment to change $60 to co'rdobas at the airport itself, at the offi-
cial exchange rate of C$28 per US dollar (tourists can receive C$680
per dollar at the Casa de Cambio, a bank in Managua). This is one of
many advantages of travelling to Nicaragua with an aid or solidarity
organization - a disadvantage is that you are led around somewhat more
than if you go as a simple tourist, but this can be successfully com-
batted by doing alot of wandering around on your own (one thing I was
determined and able to do).
Exit from Nicaragua is very straightforward, as you just turn in
the Exit card you filled out upon entry to the country and pay a $10
exit tax. There is, of course, a duty-free shop at the airport where
you can pick up Nicaraguan cigars or Flor de Can~a rum with which to
treat your best friends in the US. There has been some trouble
recently with US customs officials harassing citizens returning from
the US: questioning sessions (at which you have every right to keep
your mouth tightly shut), photocopying of address books, etc. If you
have had or have in the future an experience like this with US cus-
toms, you should report it to the Center for Consitutional Rights in
New York City.
After you return, it takes awhile to readjust to life in the US,
but this period was all too short for me (working for the university
eight hours a day, and all that). Returned Peace Corp volunteers I've
talked to recently describe a similar kind of experience. But the
trips are definitely worth the letdown afterward.
Next: El Campo de Nicaragua (The Countryside).