An Unexpected Adventure in Lago Apanas 🇳🇮 Jinotega Nicaragua

[@jaymesturdivan3635]

Another great video! I'm a creative and always making things. Ive had a booth at markets and festivals, not just to sell my items but also because I love the atmosphere and meeting people. I also like classes, taking and teaching. I'm hoping to continue these things no matter where I end up❣

[@jaymesturdivan3635]

I want to be a bit more specific on classes, arts and crafts, mostly.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

There are definitely classes. I took dance classes here myself, for example. Arts and craft classes exist. I've never taken any myself but they are out there. Probably will take a bit of effort to seek them out. But they certainly exist and offering classes seems like a great option.

[@RebeccaOre]

@@jaymesturdivan3635 Esteli has a community center with classes playing music, doing art, and other such. Leon would be similar.

[@cleaneatingwithclaudiaepic4895]

Very cool video, really enjoyed seeing it. Do you have something like this from i.e. Esteli, Matagalpa, Puerto Cabezas or Bluefields?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Esteli and Matagalpa, yes. But not Puerto Cabezas or Bluefields. I need to get out there, but basically it's just to explain to people who no one is actually interested in those locations. Everyone seems really intent on them, until they find out what they are, then absolutely no one goes there. Not that it can't be nice but it's not in any way what people are expecting. If you go into my channel page and use the search bar for my channel only, just pop in the city you want and what I have should pop right up.

[@cleaneatingwithclaudiaepic4895]

@@ScottAlanMillerVlog thank you. I found some Matagalpa and Estelí ones and check them out. Looking forward to possibly see something for Puerto Cabezas in the future

[@alaindaoust4511]

Is there a DnD scene in Leon? That might make my list of deciding factors, haha!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

I don't think that I could classify it as a scene. But we know some people who play regularly (including us.) We have a weekly group with friends from the beach. And one neighbor plays like daily.

[@kevinadams9468]

Love your videos. Overall, you are easily the most helpful with advice for travel to or relocating to Nicaragua. I am planning a trip to Nicaragua before the end of the year to scout out some rentals and potential homes for sale (as you also recommended). Your videos on real estate and the problem with 'real estate agents' in Nicaragua was one of the most important videos I have seen on the subject. Your style, humor and delivery make you one of the easiest and most enjoyable people to watch. Keep up the great work!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Thank you so much!

[@Alexmndt]

Indeed! I normally won’t watch people’s video that are this long! Because most of them are repetitive and no new information at all. But you’re very well informed, and knowledgeable!

[@mikedenham5882]

That’s one of my concerns, is what to do with myself if I do move to Matagalpa. I’m working now and I know I won’t be able to there so, gotta figure it out. I want to do something!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Made a video for you. Should be live in a couple of days.

[@TheAshleyCarter]

Loved seeing this video! And what a beautiful lake in the mountains!!!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

It was great filming it. It's a neat spot to stumble on up there.

[@Alexmndt]

I think most things that we do in the US are in Nicaragua, especially in Managua. I’ve done my research! And I’ve been waiting to go back and experience life down there. The things that are probably not available in Nicaragua are themed parks!! But you can take a trip to Mexico City and visit Six Flags or to Orlando (very cheap flight on Spirit, although not recomendable airlines. ).

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Spirit is always my first choice and they are the second best ranked airlines in the US now. They are my favourite airlines to fly in the US. Theme parks are definitely not available here. But they have them in Guatemala and Mexico on the central american border. And a lot of them. So it's a possibility.

[@RebeccaOre]

For me, it's fish keeping, cooking, writing, raising orchids. Great place for motorcycling, horse back riding, boating if near water, keeping various animals/birds (don't buy wild caught parrots), and finding people to play music with. Gamers live here, too. Fishing and hunting for people into those things.

[@RebeccaOre]

Lago Apanas is a RAMSEUR protected water fowl location. Check to see if motorboats are allowed. Other cool thing (I've seen the KZbin video) is the rally to the top of the highest mountain in Nicaragua, really the same kinds of people who do hill climb rallies in four wheel drive trucks. Also drag queen contests -- Miss Gay Matagalpa, for instance. Gambling and billiards in Jinotega, not that I've done either myself.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

My roommate is a big time billiards player, and he's probably the most regular person at the local casino. So I plan to do some videos with him showing some of those aspects of Nicaragua sometime. We do own our own billiards table, too.

[@mikedenham5882]

How are you doing those over head shots without a drone?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Magic ;) Insta360 X3 with a 3 meter pole.

[@crowneplaza8899]

I think that having a car is all u need and u won't b bored.

[@shemade9521]

Hello! Always looking forward to your videos. On the same topic would it be easy to find dancing, painting or gymnastics classes in Leon area?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Those should be easy. Dance classes are common, I've taken them myself. Painting I've not taken but I've seen people talk about it. The arts are big here. Gymnastics I have no idea, but I would assume so. Things like karate classes are very common, and yoga classes. So you can see that similar things exist readily.

[@Alexmndt]

What type of businesses do you think would be ideal to get into in Nicaragua? My brother went last November and he was amazed how many businesses were along Carretera a Masaya (NIC-4) and crowded! Most prices were similar to Seattle prices (like some coffee shop near Galerías Santo Domingo). That means that there’s a market for that. So I’ve been wanting to visit Nicaragua and perhaps open a coffee shop over there, and eventually one in Seattle (we are good with coffee up here ).

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

That's a super hard question. And it can't be "what kind of business will work" it's "what business will work for an expat." Local businesses have huge advantages in market knowledge, access to labor, ability to work for themselves, connections to resources, etc. Is there a market for upscale services? Yes. The rising middle class is doing well and people want things. But I'd be super wary of seeing some local businesses attempting something and trying the same thing as a foreigner. I've got quite a few videos on this. Basic business rules apply... ask what you offer that is a unique advantage. If you are going to do coffee, how can a US cafe compete with a local one. The local one has so many more resources and knowledge and access to farms. As a foreign investor in any market, you come with a huge disadvantage versus local investors with a lifetime of market knowledge and connections. And in many cases, existing established businesses. And often their profits are tiny. A willingness to earn less is also key. Just replicating what the locals are doing already is unlikely to work because the market will naturally saturate and you lack early market access. If you did the same thing before anyone else, that would give you an advantage, but you'd risk people being able to copy it quickly. Businesses that will do best is when you have something that people want and offer it with unique expertise that can't be easily replicated locally.

[@mitchparajon8126]

A little island music won't hurt

[@MostHigh777]

I wouldn't worry about being bored you'll probably be murdered.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

In the safest or second safest country in the hemisphere? I think you are picturing the US. It's crazy safe here.

[@RebeccaOre]

Nope. You're more likely to have a five year old girl thief try to talk her way into your home by claiming to be a personal friend of your dog (I didn't let her in). Murder is rare -- about as many gringos have killed Nicaraguans as the alternative. In Jinotega, the score is one of us killing, one of them dead. None of us have been murdered.

[@chele-chele]

Your ignorance is showing...