Afraid of getting stuck on the "Gringo Trail"? You can experience the best of the real Nicaragua if you know when and where to look. The NCX Guide to Festivals and Events is exactly that...your guide to discovering what the other guidebooks leave out. A few highlights: There is one where they dress up their dogs in funny little costumes to be blessed by the priest at the cathedral. Then there is the one where the beat of African drums, chanting and dancing goes on until the daylight hours. Then there is the one where eight-foot tall women dance with their short, big-headed suitors singing satirical rhymes about the audience. And of course, the one where the devils descend upon the city is not to be missed. Nicaragua is so rich in festivals that you can always find something fascinating going on if you know where to look. Most travelers, however, miss what could be the highlight of their Nicaraguan adventure since even the best travel guides go into little detail about the festivals and events. In this country the festivals are the pulse of the culture and the people. You haven't seen Nicaragua until you have experienced the parades, the fireworks, the food and the alegr a that surrounds these events. Don't plan a trip without including a few days to see the local festivities. And who knows, maybe you will see me there