A A
RSS

About the Author

meRichard Arghiris is a British-born journalist, traveller and writer of Anglo-Greek descent. He has co-authored a series of best-selling Latin America guidebooks, including Footprint Handbooks to Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.

He also contributed to various Dorling Kindersley and Rough Guide projects, writes content for magazines, blogs and websites, and has seen his work published in UK national newspapers like the Observer and The Independent.

Prior to becoming a full-time travel writer, Richard occupied a plethora of colourful, if mostly terminal, work roles. He was, by turns: a croupier on a seedy Mediterranean cruise-ship, an usher in a crumbling seafront cinema, a machine operator for a brutal Dutch factory, a clerk, a waiter, a chef, and extremely briefly, a double-glazing salesman. His past lives include bouts in London, Amsterdam, Brighton and at sea.

In 2003, Richard embarked on an epic 10 month voyage between the capitals of Mexico and Panama. His eyes were opened to the stunning natural beauty of the Americas and nothing was ever the same. He is today grateful to make a living doing the things that have always sustained him through the good times and bad: travelling and writing.

More recently, Richard set up Interamericana in answer to the call that journalists will now need to be writers, bloggers, photographers and videographers. It’s official launch in November will coincide with his final escape from the UK. Having dismantled his London base, packed his bags, paid his debts and sold his possessions, he intends to relocate to Central America to write and relax.

Bookmark this post:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr

Located in Nicaragua’s most remote and disconnected province – the North Atlantic Autonomous Region – the diminutive settlement of Waspam is the centre of the Miskito universe. This short video clip, featuring music from Miskito musician Li Lamni, was shot on take-off from town’s modest airstrip.

Mr Edgar ‘Rasta’ Coulsen is a native of the Caribbean town of San of Juan del Norte – an end of the world settlement perched at the mouth of the Rio San Juan. In this short video interview, Interamericana talked to him about the changes that have taken place in the region since his childhood.

One day, me and my compadres took a trip up the Río Istiam – a tranquil waterway that meanders inland at the isthmus between Ometepe’s two volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas. The river is home to abundant bird life, caimans, turtles and herds of indolent livestock. Many thanks to Jennifer Kennedy and the three Matts – Barwick, Hicks and Ashford, who appear in this video clip.

Via Via is something of a León institution, attracting Nicas and foreigners alike with its buzzing multi-cultural atmosphere, dirt-cheap bottles of rum and rousing Friday night music sets. Amalgama, featured in this video, are an institution in themselves, playing everything from rock ballads to crowd-pleasing revolutionary classics. In this clip they are accompanied by itinerant musician Richard Crandell and his Zimbabwean imbira.

As a poor chele, or white boy, rhythm was never going to come naturally to me. Nonetheless, my militant salsa instructor, Angel, patiently tried to teach me to dance. And when he could be patient no longer, he simply ordered me to the nearest disco…

Granada’s international poetry festival kicked off yesterday, 14th February 2010, with a belting set from Katia Cardenal. Performing at the Plaza Independencia, Katia sang a mixture of rousing folk songs and revolutionary ballads, including a superb homage to the Miskito people of the Atlantic coast (2nd song featured, actually in the Miskito language). Turn up the volume, pour yourself a rum, kick back and enjoy…