El Salvador in a Nutshell

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We only had the privilege of spending 9 days, in what is perhaps Ashley's favourite country in Central America, because of time constraints. There is so much to El Salvador that we didn't get to experience like the beaches, the surfing and the hiking but our time here was incredible nonetheless. First off, let us just say that El Salvador seems like a daunting country to visit because we hear that it's dangerous and you don't hear of many people travelling there on holidays. However, it was fairly easy to take local buses everywhere including in the big city of San Salvador which has a comprehensive transit system. Before going, locals warned us that the crime rate is at an all time high and to be very careful. We encountered nothing but warm helpful people who were eager to chat for nothing in return (unlike other Central American countries). Keep in mind that you should not walk around drunk and alone late at night but that's a good rule of thumb anywhere you go; and certain areas of each city tend to be a little more dangerous like any other city around the world.

Our first stop was Alegria, which is a cute, small, very walkable town up in the mountains. We didn't have any accommodation booked but had looked up a few which resulted in us passing on the most well marked one for USD16 a night each and following a child to one we saw earlier for USD20 for the room. We had supper that night at a tent in the main square; papusas, the El Salvadorian tortilla food pocket that we'd heard ravings about. For three papusas each and two cups of hot chocolate drink mix (the same kind we get back home) it cost USD3; these were the cheap food prices that we were hoping for in Central America. The first morning we woke up and left our pension, a bevy of tents greeted us in the square offering coffee, cake, breakfast, and and various goods for sale. It was a fun, energetic atmosphere we weren't expecting. We went to another place for a papusa breakfast and were back in the square later that day for a cappuccino (instant coffee with aerosol whipped cream) and cake (the kind we might get at a large bulk warehouse store at home). Coffee and cake cost more than breakfast and it was much less satisfying. We hit up another Papusaria for lunch before taking a walk to Laguna de Alegria; a volcano crater lake with restorative tendencies. It was a pretty steady uphill where we saw the most ginormous bug either of us has ever witnessed, and were on the receiving end of some youths 'practicing their English' by professing their love, presumably to Ashley (although Dan was the one who responded with reciprocal affection). We paid the USD0.25 to visit the laguna, but it still quite the dry season and it was not large but did have a beautiful hew to it. On the return walk we had one offer for a ride back to town but chose to walk so that Ashley could take more pictures. After heading to another restaurant to eat and having papusas Ashley pointed out what many of you have probably noticed; we were eating a lot of papusas and had nothing but on June 17th. The next morning we avoided the local dish and made our way to San Salvador.

More pictures here.

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Photos

Big Bug!!!!
He was just cruising along the road. Dan used his hat to give the picture some scale.

Wall Art in Alegria
Randomly through town we found art on buildings

Comments

[ClaudiaMom]

Big Bug!
Good story. Sounds like a holiday.