// NICARAGUA

// NICARAGUA Crossing the border into Nicaragua, I encountered the first border issue of my trip (though it would not be the last). The presidential elections were occurring within just a few days, and international journalists were being expelled en masse, so that there could be no credible reports of blatant election rigging. The locals on my mini-bus were allowed through without much issue, but the foreigners, which included myself, a Mexican tourist, and three Argentine backpackers, were detained for questioning. One by one they were brought in while I waited for my turn; a bit nervous as I had no experience with these sorts of matters. To make it worse, as each one came back to the waiting area after questioning, I would ask what the border agents wanted to know, what were they asked, so that I could prepare myself. Everyone who was questioned said the same thing. They said "Daniel, the only questions they asked were about you." Finally, it was my turn. The mustached agent in his pale green military uniform and large beer belly could have been pulled from the scene of a movie. He was polite enough, but the issue, it turns out, was that my large camera flagged me as a possible journalist. I sat there as he scoured my social media accounts, looking for evidence of political leanings. Fortunately, I only ever use it to post nature and tourism photos. I showed him my website (this very website you're reading, back in its infancy days), and convinced him that I had no concern in the elections. So, finally, I was allowed to enter, but not without a stern warning on what I could and could not photograph in the country. Which was a lovely country, by the way, the border not-withstanding.