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Published: December 17th 2010
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Fight for the bags!
This was the bus after us WITHOUT any white meat on! To get to El Salvadore we had to pass through Honduras. Meaning two boarder crossings in one day, so we were execting it to not go too smoothley. Leaving Nicaragua we took a faw busses and got on a minumbus (rammed) to the Honduras boarder. Approaching the boarder we begin to slow down. What we didnt realise is on the pacific side of honduras, travelers tend to drive directly through to El Salvador. Meaning they have only the short boarder crossing time to drain you of all your money. So slowing down at the boarder their eyes lit up as they made eye contact with you. Anyone who was standing in the street is now running along side the bus. Before long they are clambering onto the roof and untieing our bags and surfboards. the bus was still moving so we opened the windows and got a good grip of a couple of the guys who had their hands on our bags. By the time we stop and get off all of our bags and boards are on their way to seperate clyle carts! I held on to any bags I recognised as ours as 2 or three locals fought not
only against me, but against eachother. I looked up to see how the boys were doing. All the same! I laughed for a minute at the randomness then realised the bag with mine and jonnys board wasnt being fought for by any of us. I looked around and saw Pedro about to cycle off with it.... nice try Pedro.
The other side of the boarder things were just as crazy. We found the bus we needed. As the driver was explaining the price a little guy, no heavier than 6st soaking wet, came over trying to steal our custom. Our driver paused, looked at him, kicked him up the arse, then talked again as if nothing had happened. The little guy comes back in a mood but with stones to throw at our driver. Drive laughes and begins to take off his belt! The families and hildren around us laugh as drive chases the little guy with his belt! Drive comes back laughing and victorious. A minute later the little angry guy comes back looking more angry and with a bigger stone. Again drive laughs and runs towards him while undoing his belt. Then......the little angry guy runs off to
his bus and comes back with a machette! What does our driver do? He Laughs, begins to undo his belt and runs towards him! The little angry man concedes! Our driver returns to the bus with a hero's welcome and everyone laughing and clapping. Honduras is crazy.
Eventually we got all our things together and crossed Honduaras!
first impression of El Salvadore? Very friendly with everyone giggling at you if you made eye contact. some people sang songs at us, but as the only white guys (exept Tal) we couldnt complain. An old man got on the bus smiling from ear to ear with a walking stick and a 5inch nail in his hand. He greated me so I dazzled him with my fluent spanish. He nocked the nail on his walking stick and said something in spanish to me. I looked to the back of the bus and laughed at the boys giving a "check this guy out" look. I looked back at the man and sure enough, he was nocking the nail up his nose with his stick. He had a few more tricks up his sleeve! with us and all the locals on the bus eggin
him on, we saw them all.
We got to Las Flores with high hopes of surf. There was none! This place was a secluded little cove with only 2 places to sleep and nothing else for a couple of kilometers. There were a few boats about so we organised a fishing trip. With a cooler full of beer we hit the water for 4hours! Worryingly, after a couple of hours the driver was still keeping up the pace drinking with us. We followed trawler boats to follow the biggest fish and drive latched onto one so we jumped on board! they swaped us some shrimp for a few lagers! We each caught 2-3 of these beast fish in the pictures and ate like kings that night! we gave the rest to the local guys and swapped fishing stories over a few vodka shots
With no surf we moved on to El Tunco near La Libertad. We walked along the small beach front road looking for a place to stay and who did we bump into? Kiwi Dean..again (third time)! He showed us his hostel with a pool and all you need for $8 a night. This place had it all!
Surf, nighlife on the beach (with a cheekey moshpit on the saturday) local drum bands playing and a 25c bus to La Libertad (a crazy but friendly city/market). We had a whole week here so it was definatley the best place yet!
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