No se permiten a sacar fotos!!!

Throughout my two hour walking adventure it became quickly clear that Managua is by no means a city for pedestrians. As the cars fly by they throw into the air a layer of dust and after the first bus passes you it becomes clear there are less restrictions on car exhaust here then in the states (or, as is commonly the trend, there are but it is not enforced). The sidewalks are not at all friendly. In Valparaiso, Chile I had to constantly watch my step for dog poop, or sleeping dogs in some areas, but in Nicaragua it is a consistent puzzle of broken cement. Suddenly there is a hole then a drain in the middle of the walkway, then a step, and then a bodega of some sort blocking the way.

One of my landmarks for the directions of my second walking adventure was the US Embassy. Naturally it is a bulky, large, gaudy looking building that is totally out of place in to its surroundings. Uninviting, and actually a bit intimidating, the area is completely gated off and has a diversity of security surrounding it. As I begin to pass the mansion office building, which sits, on the side of a hill I pull my camera out and snap two innocent photos and keep walking. About ten steps later I notice the security guard in the front of the building is starring at me and talking quickly into his radio as if there is a threat approaching. It didn’t take me any detective skills to understand they were talking about me. About twenty meters later two other guards dressed differently come toward the road, now it is obvious they are discussing me. I can’t help but keep glancing over as I try to ignore them and keep dodging my way through the cracked sidewalk. Finally, as I am just about to completely pass the large gaited entrance and one of the guard’s steps to the edge of the road and starts to whistle me down. I hesitated to stop, thinking maybe I could act dumb and just keep walking, instead I stop hold both my hands out and point toward myself asking if it is me whose attention he is trying to get. He asks me to cross the highway, which is no easy task, this would be like crossing Olden Ave with no one following the speed limit, stay in lanes, and every car honking. Regardless I take my time and walk across the four lanes. After shaking hands I ask, as if I didn’t know, what the problem is. Did you take a picture of the embassy? He asks me. Yes I replied, esta una problema? Supposedly no one can take a photo of the embassy, not even US citizens. I ask why, and simply get that it is simply not allowed. I continued to pry into why this is the case while remaining as obedient as possible. Upon request I show them my ID, first I can get out of my wallet is my drivers license, then the copy of my passport. As they confirm that I am whom I claim I ask again why? stating that I can simply go online to get probably something close to the same photo that I just took, also consider that the location is surrounded by highway that is then surrounded by what appears to be jungle. Stopping everyone from taking a photo would be impossible. Finally I get the answer, por seguridad. De quien? I ask. La sugeridad de usted y la sugeridad de los personas de Nicaragua, is his response? I apologise and say, lo siento, pero eso esta rediculo?...... (didn’t realize the time, will finish later, everything wound up okay, they just took my passport number and i left)...On the taxi ride back home I snapped another photo!!) :)