El Salvador.... The land of Pupusas !
Pupusas... Salvadorians love the round cornmeal dough stuffed with beans, chicken, cheese or chicken or any combination of the above. Hand smacked together by some older Salvadoran mother and fried crispy on a flat grill. Cheap, delicious street food for 40 to 60 cents. I am trying to get over my fried chicken addiction from Guatemala and also notice they love hotdogs here. A quarter will get you mystery meat on a bun soaked with ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard. Sorry, no tofu variety here.
I am in Santa Ana in all it's unpolished glory. No postcards here but it has a certain raw charm with the streets and sidewalk in disrepair, prostitutes calling to you to visit their cantinas (there is an army base nearby) and a rather lively plaza with cathedral and theatre nearby. The streets do get quiet after 7 pm. There is also an easy volcano hike nearby that you can get to by chicken bus with great views and a crater lake on top.
There is a great hostal here called the Green House. The owner, Carlos has thought out everything and must of stayed in a great many hostals in his lifetime. Spacious single beds (yes, no one waking you at night as they climb up the bunk bed), individual outlet, night lamp, fan and side table, towel, pool, spacious recreation and eating areas, and two fully stocked kitchens. Yes, I repeat two fully stocked kitchens... decent pans, pots, plates that are not the banged up, chipped or unfit for donation and actual cutlery to go around.
El Savador seems less prosperous than its northern neighbours and the tourist trade is still in its infancy but they are trying. Unfortunately, most travelers by pass this small country and the potential spill over of the gang and crime problem from Honduras. There are plenty of guards (even at an upscale pastry shop), cops and army troops carrying M-16s, AK-47s and shotguns. I noticed that even the supermarket employees get frisked by the guards. There also seems to be a bit more homeless people here who simply flop on the sidewalk or square to sleep for the night. The Savadorians also like to make a sort of hissing and whistle sound as a means to get someone's attention. I haven't come across this until now. One interesting thing in El Salvador is the currency is American Dollars. The salvadorian colon has been completely abandoned and even the ATM's give you US bills but in $10's as most places accept nothing higher than $20. Apparently, an ex-president decided to switch their currency to US dollars in 2000 and their economy has been in shambles since then. This ex-president has also fled the country as he is also suspected of defrauding the national coffers of $800 million dollars!
Off to follow the Rutas Flores and go to mountain town of Juayua where apparently there is a weekend food market with plenty of street stalls. Stomach don't fail me now.
I am in Santa Ana in all it's unpolished glory. No postcards here but it has a certain raw charm with the streets and sidewalk in disrepair, prostitutes calling to you to visit their cantinas (there is an army base nearby) and a rather lively plaza with cathedral and theatre nearby. The streets do get quiet after 7 pm. There is also an easy volcano hike nearby that you can get to by chicken bus with great views and a crater lake on top.
There is a great hostal here called the Green House. The owner, Carlos has thought out everything and must of stayed in a great many hostals in his lifetime. Spacious single beds (yes, no one waking you at night as they climb up the bunk bed), individual outlet, night lamp, fan and side table, towel, pool, spacious recreation and eating areas, and two fully stocked kitchens. Yes, I repeat two fully stocked kitchens... decent pans, pots, plates that are not the banged up, chipped or unfit for donation and actual cutlery to go around.
El Savador seems less prosperous than its northern neighbours and the tourist trade is still in its infancy but they are trying. Unfortunately, most travelers by pass this small country and the potential spill over of the gang and crime problem from Honduras. There are plenty of guards (even at an upscale pastry shop), cops and army troops carrying M-16s, AK-47s and shotguns. I noticed that even the supermarket employees get frisked by the guards. There also seems to be a bit more homeless people here who simply flop on the sidewalk or square to sleep for the night. The Savadorians also like to make a sort of hissing and whistle sound as a means to get someone's attention. I haven't come across this until now. One interesting thing in El Salvador is the currency is American Dollars. The salvadorian colon has been completely abandoned and even the ATM's give you US bills but in $10's as most places accept nothing higher than $20. Apparently, an ex-president decided to switch their currency to US dollars in 2000 and their economy has been in shambles since then. This ex-president has also fled the country as he is also suspected of defrauding the national coffers of $800 million dollars!
Off to follow the Rutas Flores and go to mountain town of Juayua where apparently there is a weekend food market with plenty of street stalls. Stomach don't fail me now.
posted by Louis at 4:16 PM
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