After Marathon politics with Daniel Ortega and his visitors I covered one of those events that makes Nicaragua my favorite place in the world to photograph. The Feast of San Sebastian. The city of Diriamba celebrtes the feast in such a way as to be able to be both pagan and orthodox catholic. It is the perfect mix of both cultures, Mesoamerican and Spanish. We can see how the native americans adopted what suited them from the catholic religious symbolism and adapted it to their own set of existing beliefs. The colonial Spanish authoriteis where happy enough to let it happen as long as it happened under the guise of the catholic church. It's the same all over Latin America. Any way it is God's gift to photographers.

here are the pics.


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter


Celebration of the feast of San Sebastian, Diriamba, Nicaragua 2007. Photo Tomas Stargardter - copyright Tomas Stargardter



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The third scene of our play was done with the visit of the President of Iran. At least we got some decent images out of the event. Ortega took him to the slums of Managua, Barrio Cuba where they held thier political theater again it was hard work, lugging gear and running all around the city. I got the pool duty on his afternoon prayers at the Islamic Center in Managua.

here are the pics,


Daniel and Mahmud go up the stairs hand in hand. Photo Tomas Stargardter Copyright Tomas Stargardter


Doing the chant thing. "El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!" Photo Tomas Stargardter Copyright Tomas Stargardter


Local girl in costume gets carried away with exitement. Photo Tomas Stargardter Copyright Tomas Stargardter


Up a tree waiting for the presidents. Photo Tomas Stargardter Copyright Tomas Stargardter


Local boy sells icecream. Photo Toomas Stargardter Copyright Tomas Stargardter


President Ahmadinejad prays at the Nicaraguan Islamic Center. Photo Tomas Stargardter Copyright Tomas Stargardter


Daniel and Mahmud in Daniels's Mercedes Benz SUV. Photo Toomas Stargardter Copyright Tomas Stargardter

The second act of our leftist party left me with these two jewels. What impression did I get form them? Well Daniel Ortega we know, he is a pragmatist or an oppurtunist. Hugo Chavez is blow hard with wads of money to spend and Evo Morales is the real deal. Of the three, Evo, the only true beleiver probably will not last. That's just my guess.

Latin America is turning to the the promises of the left. After years of getting reamed by the rght wing and neoliberal governments they have had it. There has been economic growth. That is their only claim. But cronyism, currpution, and incompetence has been rampant in an epic scale. The wave of demcoracy that swept Latin America in the 90's is failing because our governments have failed us, and we have failed to make them acountable. To paraphrase Shakespeare "The blame is not in the stars but in ourselves."

At least these new leftist governments will spend more money on the dispossed which are the great majority in Latin America and we hope that instead of stealing the money they will at least spend it wisely.

here are the pics.


The two revolutionary commanders salute themselves. Photo Tomas Stargardter copyright Tomas Stargardter


Revolutionary Chic! Daniel Ortega drives Hugo Chavez around Managua in his Mercedes Benz SUV with expired licence plates... Photo Tomas Stargardter Photo Tomas Stargardter copyright Tomas Stargardter

Last night we had our great leftist party. Our new President Daniel Ortega was sworn in as president and Evo Morales of Bolivia and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela where the guests of honor. After the main ceremony, we went to the Juan Pablo II plaza to a larger celebration and better pictures. Incidentaly the swearing ceremony was delayed for about two hours because Hugo Chaves came late. After his own inauguration in Venezuela he sped in his jet to Nicaragua to attend our ceremony and we all had to wait patiently for him to arrive. (He is paying for the party for the next 5 years, so I guess it would have been rude to start without him.) any way it was a greulling day's and night's work.


Hugo, Dnaiel and Evo. Foto Tomas Stargardter copyright Tomas Stargardter


Thats them again. Foto Tomas Stargardter copyright Tomas Stargardter


And the crowd goes wild. Foto Tomas Stargardter copyright Tomas Stargardter


Ortega brandishes a sword, replica of the original one used by Simon Bolivar that Hugo Chavez brought to him as a present. Foto Tomas Stargardter copyright Tomas Stargardter


Tha man himself. Foto Tomas Stargardter copyright Tomas Stargardter


"El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido" Foto Tomas Stargardter copyright Tomas Stargardter

Nicaraguan President Electo Daniel Ortega will be inaugurated as president tomorrow. Preparation are on the way. HEra rea a couple.


Nicaraguan Army Artillery partices its 21 gun salute this tuesday afternoon in preparation for the inuagution of Presiden Daniel Ortega. Photo Tomas Stargardter / copyright Tomas Stargardter


A welder puts the finishing touches on a tower that will be used at the celebration of the Plaza de la Fe. Photo Tomas Stargardter / copyright Tomas Stargardte

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