Interesting commentary on what can be done to improve historic downtown Managua in El Nuevo Diario. Róger Solórzano, the young man behind the very popular tourism site vianica.com, suggests ways to improve this area an earthquake once knocked down and nobody bothered to rebuild. His emphasis is on creating green spaces — gardens, monuments, woods, so people have the option to walk somewhere that isn't commercial.
The last bit struck me, reminded me of my own fascination with a decaying Midwestern city, as Róger finds something beautiful about Managua despite all odds:
The last bit struck me, reminded me of my own fascination with a decaying Midwestern city, as Róger finds something beautiful about Managua despite all odds:
"It would seem that today there's nothing left we can do but resign ourselves. But I firmly believe that there is still time for us Managuans to protest for a city that belongs to everybody, and still time for government leaders to take into account urban criteria and modify the current project ...
"I like my city a lot, despite the opinion of so many people -- national and foreign -- and I believe we can make it prettier still. I would like for Managuans to see our city as it is, and not resign ourselves to let any criteria (perhaps compromised by unadequate interests like populism or stuburnness) come to design the place where we live. Well then, this is the opinion of one Managuan who truly loves his city, and I direct it to my fellow citizens, my fellow countryman, and my current leaders." (my translation)
