The history of Nicaragua, or rather the history of the US interventions there, was the one of the first instances I became aware of regarding US military imperialism and its relationship to commerce. This led to readings about other nations in Central America, such as Guatemala, where the US directly supported violent actions against democratic governments, largely becuase these governments enacted economic policies that didn't benefit companies with string ties to government officials (like the American Fruit Company). Of course, all of this seems to have begun with the US and British conceived coup in 50s Iran...
I've never been to Nicaragua. The closest to it I have come is Belize and Guatemala. I wish I had a more personal story.