Money, Money, Money

Nicaragua has new money! About a month ago the Central Bank released new bills into circulation that are supposed to resist wear and tear longer than the old ones. Old bills were your typical paper money...the new ones are plastic in nifty colors and sizes. They've also changed the amounts a little, too. We used to see old bills of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 Cordobas (examples are on the left in the photo). Now, there are bills of 10, 20, 100, and 200 (examples are on the right...we have yet to see new bills of 50 or 500). The current exchange rate is about C$20 to the dollar. Here's a list of common things we buy and the prices in Cordobas, to give you an idea of how we use these bills:

- 1 liter of milk: C$16

- 1 bus fare anywhere within Managua: C$2.50

- 1 taxi ride from our house to the airport: C$80

- 1 dozen bananas: C$12

- 1 newspaper: C$7

- 1 Big Mac Combo at McDonald's: C$84

- 1 plate of food at a local cafeteria that Alan buys for lunch: C$40

- 1 papaya that weighs about 8 lbs.: C$35

- 1 large avacado: C$8