Street Business in Nicaragua

Nicaragua has a early morning rush and crowded streets. By 8am the main square is bustling with people. León is a city that works. If you go to other touristy destinations the town center is usually not too busy in the mornings. Not the case in Nicaragua. By 6am you here roosters, radios, truck horns and music. The people have a surprising routine schedule. Meaning if you see a lady selling chicken door to door in a neighborhood, chances are you will see her again the next day selling in the same area. Several women set up outdoor restaurants behind the cathedral. They set up makeshift BBQ pits and tables where you can sit and enjoy a meal in a parking space. Cars are not too bad in the evenings there when traffic has slowed down. The food looks surprisingly good. I tried a hot tamale wrapped in a banana leaf that was really warm and fabulous. It was made with a corn masa. The chicken is surprisingly delicious. Not just my chicken, everybody's chicken. Just ask someone who has been. Make shift restaurants are on the sidewalks and streets at night. Rice and beans are the staple and women sell large pots of it during a dinner rush. You can purchase this for about $1or just over 25 cordobas.
Not many handmade items to purchase here. I'm sure the craftsmanship is here just not where I was looking. I was trying to buy a handmade guitar that was really nice. I only found guitars that were about $20 and were cheaply made for the tourist. I wasn't the only guy looking for a well made guitar either. You can take a taxi to any of the 4 guitar shops around Leõn. It's just as easy to walk to them if you know the way.
When you are window shopping in this country the merchants do not bother you. If you are not interested they will not pursue you. Nothing like Mexico city or Rome for that matter. As an entrepreneur I have a hard time getting my head around this unique aspect of the country. They could sell double a day with a little persistence but it's nice to know you can just walk away without being hassled. The beach is different. The kids push shell necklaces on you like crack. You can buy one and have peace and quiet much sooner than later. Most families in the cities have the front of their house set up as a business. In America it goes Home Depot, Five Guys, CVS, and a Starbucks. In León it goes, Panadoria (small store), small local pharmacy, small restaurant, phone store. Looks just like the picture I'm posting but stores are in the front of all the houses. Houses are generally the old Spanish colonials that are made of adobe walls. Newer modern ones made with concrete beams and are mandatory if you want a bank loan for a purchase.
The bags of ketchup and mustard are displayed in the markets on tables and look very interesting to those who don't know what it is. I guess this is how the people purchase it here. They also sell soda and Popsicles in plastic bags. They look something like this and several people walk around with them. See photo with two red bags.
Selling with technology here in Nicaragua. Social networking is just now becoming hot there and many are on Facebook. Surprising how many. I met people in small indigenous villages who had access to an Internet cafe with Facebook accounts. You can make several friends on Facebook there. Internet is spotty at best. Keep in mind it's best to use Skype when making calls from there but you can change your cellular plan for the time you will be there. At this time AT&T is about $2 a minute. Data roaming should be turned off to save battery life and money.