Update: December 2019
The La Paloma Airport stopped flights in 2018 because of the Civic Rebellion that continues to this day in Nicaragua. The economy is in a tail spin, so there is no telling how long the airport will be closed or if it will ever open again.
Our island was very tranquil, an oasis of peace. In 2003, we often walked along the beach from our house, through a winding, dusty horse path where an old airport strip was located. The runway was built by Cuba, but hadn’t seen any action since the war. The old airport strip washed out every rainy season, leaving holes the size of Mack trucks.
In 2009, the path through the old airstrip, led us to Francheco’s new lemon yellow house. Side by side with horses and cattle, we wandered along the path to visit Francheco. Then in late 2009, we noticed a for sale sign on a fencepost at the old airport strip. Uh oh! Francheco’s house was torn down piece by loving piece…a new airport was in progress.
Soon, there was a buzz of activity with surveyors, numbered sticks planted in the old airstrip, and red paint splashed over ancient trees.
Then, the machines came. Big, loud earth moving machines. It reminded me of The Lorax. For months we awakened to the beep, beep beeping of the earth movers leveling and gouging the old runway. They called this progress in the name of tourism.
Graders, backhoes, and dump trucks arrived by ferry. Experienced workers arrived from Managua. Promises were made to hire local workers and they filed to the new airport office to fill out applications. Sadly, no local people were ever hired to work on the new airport strip.
Several months later, the runway was ready for asphalt.
In late 2010, asphalt smoothed and caressed the runway.
The fence was installed around the perimeter of the runway to keep out the wandering cows and horses.
Last December, 2012, the custom-house was completed.
Soon, the control tower will be finished.
We’ve heard so many dates for the opening of the airport that our heads spin…2010…2011…2012. But, this is Nicaragua and we run on Tepe Time on the island…slow..no worries…no rush. The time for the grand opening will be sometime this year. I’m still not sure what to expect when the airport opens, but as always I’ll post the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of our new La Paloma airport.