I remember Managua, and the lake down there that has freshwater sharks because it was underwater in the ocean and slowly rose, trapping them and they evolved.

That was the explanation years ago, but since then, we’ve done a bit more reasearch and thinking on the subject.

First…… in a fishing story that may seem unrelated, but actually isn’t….. did you know that in the late thirties, a bull shark was caught (and photographed/documented) in the Mississippi River at Alton, Illinois, over 1000 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

The “fresh water sharks” of Lake Managua are actually bull sharks (now genetically identified as such).

Further, a water route to the Caribbean still exists. Lake Managua connects to Rio Tipitapa, which flows into Lake Nicaragua, which flows into Rio San Juan, which empties into the Caribbean.

Alas, no bull sharks have been sighted in Lake Managua or Lake Nicaragua for decades- which undoubtedly comes as a relief to swimmers.

But if a bull shark is sighted there (wouldn’t surprise me), it probably won’t be a direct descendant of former denizens, but rather an intrepid explorerer, recently arrived from the Caribbean.

By the way! The United States ALMOST built its canal in Nicaragua- dredging the San Juan, sailing across Lake Nicaragua, dredging the Tipitapa, sailing across Lake Managua, and then cutting through the short stretch of land between Lake Managua and the Pacific.

I’ve even watched the revival of plans for that canal in recent years. Chinese money? Or Trump declaring Daniel Ortega a clear and present communist threat, invading the country and then opening up the bidding for American firms to build the canal? Who knows? Regardless, the future doesn’t look bright for any bull sharks in the lakes of Nicaragua.

And of course the bank up a flight of steps off a central square with doors flanked by armed to the teeth soldiers.

The soldiers stuck with me, later I learned our history there.

I spent a lot of time there during the 90’s. Fascinating history. During the 80’s, Daniel Ortega was the young and vigorous champion of the poor before he left voluntarily after being beaten by Violetta Chamorro in an election.

He nursed his grudges for ten long years, ran for office again, and won the election.

Now he’s just an old, tin pot dictator, and still has a dwindling base of support among the aging revolutionaries who can’t believe that their “Daniel” is no better than the Somoza he overthrew in 1979.

I also remember the ubiquitous guns that were everywhere. I haven’t been back since 2001. My guess is that they are still there, on every street corner and in front of every bank and government building.

Guns everywhere- mostly automatic weapons- old AKs and Belgian FALs.