We probably received the most warnings about El Salvador and its capital. Only saw a couple MS gang graffiti, and not nearly as many firearms as our guidebook had prepared us for. Nonetheless after dark everything gets locked up and its better to take a taxi.
We pulled in late at night and found that the best hostel in the book was actually only a block away from the bus terminal, and they happened to have an incredible diner attached, with camarones y carne asada (con gallo pinto, claro que si!) for $2 a plate.
Next morning we headed out by local bus to the city center, where we checked out the national cathedral and a very interesting and beautiful rainbow-shaped church that looked like some soviet-bloc architectural monstrosity from the outside. All markets were great to walk through but worthless to tourists looking for souvenirs. It was great, however, being in such a "dangerous" country because all day we were the only gringos we saw
Later in the afternoon we took buses (with plenty of help from the ticket men on the bus--who would stop the whole vehicle to take the time to understand and explain how to get to where we wanted to go) to the National Anthropological Museum.
Guide included for free, supposedly in English but she switched to Spanish after the first sentence. As nice as all of the exhibits were, Aaron and I were focusing all of our attention on trying to understand what she was saying. Context helped a lot, but we went back to check out the Mayan Religion room, which was awesome.
Conclusion: Salvadoreans have been by far the most friendly, awesome people we have been hosted by in Central America. Don't skip it based on the bad things the news may be saying about it.
EDIT: Memory card died, lost photos. Check out pictures of Iglesia del Rosario in San Salvador to see the highlight of our day there.
We pulled in late at night and found that the best hostel in the book was actually only a block away from the bus terminal, and they happened to have an incredible diner attached, with camarones y carne asada (con gallo pinto, claro que si!) for $2 a plate.
Next morning we headed out by local bus to the city center, where we checked out the national cathedral and a very interesting and beautiful rainbow-shaped church that looked like some soviet-bloc architectural monstrosity from the outside. All markets were great to walk through but worthless to tourists looking for souvenirs. It was great, however, being in such a "dangerous" country because all day we were the only gringos we saw
Later in the afternoon we took buses (with plenty of help from the ticket men on the bus--who would stop the whole vehicle to take the time to understand and explain how to get to where we wanted to go) to the National Anthropological Museum.
Guide included for free, supposedly in English but she switched to Spanish after the first sentence. As nice as all of the exhibits were, Aaron and I were focusing all of our attention on trying to understand what she was saying. Context helped a lot, but we went back to check out the Mayan Religion room, which was awesome.
Conclusion: Salvadoreans have been by far the most friendly, awesome people we have been hosted by in Central America. Don't skip it based on the bad things the news may be saying about it.
EDIT: Memory card died, lost photos. Check out pictures of Iglesia del Rosario in San Salvador to see the highlight of our day there.
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