Well amigos,
I have sad news. While we were out swimming in the ocean, enjoying our first Salvadorian sunset (and what a beauty she was!), a rogue wave came up and swept away my purse, clothing, beer, shoes, and mi amigo, Kyles, lens cap. It was a tradgedy. My the time I got to it, it had gone through two waves. I am pretty upset that I will be unable to post anymore pictures. But at least the memory stick was saved and I didnt lose any previous pictures. Greg has his camera so we will not miss out, but he doesnt have the cord to upload them so you will. I have tried to dry it out, and save it, but to no avail. The lens wont retract and keeps saying there is an error. The more I try the more upset I get.
BUT ANYWAYS, im not letting materialism get to me and Im going to continue to enjoy myself (but I understand if no one wants to continue reading).
El Salvador is amazing. We checked into this hostel, El Roble, recommended by our friends, Madison and Gavin. Upon arriving, we knew we had found paradise. Our original plan was to spend 2 days here, and 3 days in El Tunco, a surfing village about 20km west. When we got here, we knew we werent leaving. We decided to splurge on a $30 dollar room for a couple nights, for some privacy (finally). We didnt realize at first that along with the $30 dollar room, they also fill up the other pool for you. So not only is there one pool, there is two. Happy hour is from 7am-5pm and drinks range from $1-$2. Breakfast is free and consists of fruit and fresh buns with delicious jam. Mangos are everywhere (and free!) and you smell them as soon as you wake up. We havent done much outside the hostel since the town has really nothing to offer. Yesterday we did sweet FA, mostly read, swam, lounged, ate.
We watched Fargo after eating Pupusas for dinner, and went to bed. We have been UNDER budget the last couple days (even though we splurged on the expensive room). We realized that El Salvador uses the US dollar so things SEEM expensive, but they are really the same.
The Salvadorians are great. They are hard faced people but crack a smile with a simple "buenos!" The beer here is Regia, or Pilsener. Its good and cheap. The most popular thing to eat here is Pupusas. They are like perogy pancakes, usually with beans, cheese and bacon. They are served with tomato sauce and coleslaw. They cost 30 cents each and 3 fill you up nicely. Weve eaten them two nights in a row now.
El Salvador seems a little wealthier than Nicaragua. More people speak english, most have swimming pools (whether they have water or not is another thing), there is less garbage, nice cars, big shopping malls, and lots of fast food joints (which are pretty pricey). It is so easy to navigate. The bus station is modern with signs instead of people yelling (although they do that anyway). We are finding ourselves shorter on time everyday, since we get stuck in places longer than we expect almost every time. We have changed our route, so instead of going up north to Copan, Honduras, we will go west, to Antigua, Guatemala and the beautiful Lago de Atitlan, then North. Saves a couple days of overland travel, which we desperately need, since we have friends flying to Belize in 40 days, and friends flying to Mexico in 50!!
Today we took a bus trip to El Tunco (since we decided to stay here 5 days and just bus there instead of stay there) and we were so glad we decided to stay here, at El Roble for 5 days. El Tunco is VERY gringofied, VERY expensive, and VERY hyped. There was nothing more than some overpriced beachside restaurants ($12 dollar seafood soup! and drinks were $5!! Good thing we made it back to the hostel in time for happy hour!) and a couple overpriced surf shops. There were so many rude tourists. We feel very humbled to be the only white people on the beach near our hostel, which gives us a much more authentic feel of the real El Salvador.
Everytime we get to a place I make the mistake of falling in love, and staying for too long only to realize that we will only have less time in Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and Mexico. We will leave in 2 or 3 (or 4 or 5) days and go west to the Ruta de las Flores which is supposed to be one of the nicest places in El Salvador. We will go to Juayua for the food fair over the weekend then on to Guatemala City and Antigua.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Greg and I are thinking of boogie boarding til Noon on this beautiful 7km stretch of deserted beach. No houses, restaurants, nothing. Just palm trees, sand and surf. After noon we will enjoy happy hour til 5 beside the pool. Maybe paint a little with Seca. Maybe have a bonfire in the evening. Our hosts Seca and Darren and there fabulous staff have spoiled us and waited on us hand and foot, and we are so blessed. El Roble is definetly somewhere we will have to come back to (with Gavin and Madison!!).
Anyways my internet time is up. I wish I could post the pictures of the hostel and the BEAUTIFUL sunset, but you will all just have to wait. Until then, Buenos noches, mi amigos!!
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