Our last day in El Salvdor, bags are packed and we are leaving in a couple hours to the airport. These last three weeks were everything I expected and more. I’m really happy that my father and I have become so close and this was a great opportunity for my husband and him to bond. I may actually be coming back here in a couple of months…we shall see.
Oh, I had a pedicure today and it was the strangest pedicure I’ve ever had in my life. My father gets his feet done there and likes it. But, it was completely different than any pedicure performed in the US. They were using tools and machinery that looked like torture devices and instead of using acetone to remove my nail polish, they used some buffing machine. So weird. Fortunately the place was sanitary, but I definitely would not come back nor recommend this to anyone. Oh..and they don’t use nail polish.
I took a bunch of photos from our trip that I will upload when I’m back in LA. Here are a few from the farmer’s market.
About 5 years ago, while traveling in Germany, we stayed at an Art Hotel in Berlin where every guest room was designed with seperate artistic themes. This trend in Art Hotels has begun to spread internationally, with hotels opening up in UK, Madrid, Paris, Denmark, and one of the latest, the 30-room Reflection Hotel in Bangkok. Conceptually these hotels appeal to the fashion forward and creatively open-minded guest, as every room has been commissioned to be designed by a different artist or designer, allowing guests various experiences. “Everything from stylish deco to crazy kitsch, which can make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a fantastical abstract painting.”
via coolhunter
Spent a gorgeous day at the playa on Sunday. We went to Costa del Sol, which is one of the nicer beaches in El Salvador and was recommended by a few. The sun was scorching and the ocean was nice and warm. As we lay on our towels, so many interesting people passed us by, selling various items like sweets, hammocks, slushies, decorated shells, live crabs, necklaces and beaded accessories and mango-on-a-stick (yummmm!). I asked almost every person that came by if I could take a polaroid of them and every single one smiled and said yes. (Polaroids will be posted once I get back to the states and am able to scan them.) A sweet older lady, who has set up shop under a nearby hut, brought us cold beers throughout the afternoon, as we sunned and took in all the beautiful surroundings. On the way back we stopped at an outdoor restaurant by the coast and had ‘ceviche de camarones‘ (Shrimp ceviche).
Finally got out and had an evening to ourselves tonight, getting a well needed break from eating at my dad’s place. We went to one of the more popular restaurants here in San Salvador, La Pampa Argentina, a traditional Argentinian steakhouse famous for their churrasco style grilled steaks. I can honestly say it was one of the tastiest pieces of tenderloin steak I have ever had. So good and savory that it does not even need any type of sauce to flavor it. Although, an assortment of different salsas and sauces are placed on every table to choose from. My favorite was the chimichurri.
The place was packed, beautiful live music being played and the service was top notch. And what an absolute gorgeous setting, this 2-story ranch-style restaurant was perched atop a hill, with an open terrace overlooking the city. Check this… we had a seafood appetizer, two 8oz. steak entrees, which included both soup and salad plus baked potato & vegetables. We also drank 2 beers each and an espresso after dinner. Our total bill which included 10 percent gratuity, was a whopping $41.00. How sweet is that!! A bargain..at least for us touristos.
Nearly a week into our 3-week trip and I finally have the time and patience to update my site on what we’ve been up to in El Salvador. We have a DSL connection in the condo we are staying but most of the time it’s soooooo slow. I’ve fallen asleep a few times in my chair waiting for the pages to load…no joke. It definitely makes me appreciate the high-speed cable connection we have back home.
El Salvador is absolutely beautiful, green and lush with nature, has a spectacular tropical climate and the people are very warm and inviting. San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador has changed so much since the last time I was here, which was about 8 years ago. It’s changed for the better in many ways…better roads and infrastructure, less homelessness on the streets. In general, from what I can see the standard of living has most certainly changed for the better. I definitely notice more of a middle-class that has developed and broadened the gap between rich and poor. Of course, this does not change the fact that nearly 80% of this country is living in extreme poverty as with most Central American countries. And since the currency here is now US dollars, the prices for nearly everything have shot up drastically, making it much more difficult for people here to afford every day things. For example, we found it outrageous that the prices for the same brand electronics are actually more expensive here than the states. Eating at a fast-food chain is about the same price as in the US. I find this crazy, because the people here make far less than people in the US. Just another negative effect that capitalism has on poorer societies.
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In exactly a week from now (July 19th), we will have just arrived to El Salvador in Central America to visit my father. It was pretty much a spur of the moment type of trip, Lars and I decided about a month ago and said “fuck it, let’s go!” No particular reason, but I must admit, I have been missing my dad somewhat. I guess I’m starting to appreciate him a lot more as I get older and after my best friend lost her father suddenly a year ago, it hit me hard and was certainly a wake up call. Plus, I haven’t
Click to continue reading “República de El Salvador”