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Mi Casa es Su Casa

Tacuba, El Salvador

After two glorious weeks in Guatemala, it was time to be heading east towards Costa Rica where we would be meeting friends in January. We decided that the next stop should be El Salvador for the mere fact that we knew alot of tourists didnt go there. From the few tourists who have visited the country, we heard amazing things- so we knew we had to make the trek. Getting on our bus from Guatemala City to EL Salvador, we already sensed a difference in the people on the bus. It seemed the people who were from El Salvador were doing everything they could to make us feel comfortable. An El Salvadorian woman with two little children offered us food and her personal cell phone number should we need some assistance while in her country. A man sitting across from us who was in El Salvador for Xmas, but who lives fulltime in Long Island offered to drive us to our hostel. We really couldnt believe it! Wasnt there a huge civil war in this country not 20 years ago? Why were these people being so....nice? Perhaps it was my east coast cynicism getting to me.
We arrived at our hostel and again,were taken aback by the pleasantness of the staff -who happened to be called ¨Mama and Papa¨ because they really were the mother and father of the House. They cooked us dinner and right away we knew it was the ¨Mi Casa es Su Casa¨ mentality at this place. Everything that was theirs was offered to us. We went to bed under a mosquito net in this new mysterious country after a long game of poker with some Californians we had met- excited and pleased with what we had already begun to believe was going to be our favorite country on this trip.

permalink written by  joshandmary on December 25, 2009 from Tacuba, El Salvador
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Coffee, Hotsprings and Feelings of Home

Tacuba, El Salvador

Our second day at Mama´s Y Papa´s was full of excitement. We had been introduced to their 30 something old son Manolo who was keen to tell us how he loves America. He would be our tour guide for our first full day in El Salvador. The plan of the day was to drive around the area, see a coffee plantation, dip into some hot springs, and visit a colonial town nearby. We were stoked. Some of Manolo´s friends from America were up visiting too so along with us we started the trek in a 1997 Toyota blaring hair band hits of the 80s.
The first stop was Ataco. A small pastel colored colonial town with cobblestone streets (there seems to be alot of these types of towns in central america) we stopped and sipped some hot cocoa made on the premises at a chocolateria. After, we walked around a market where I picked up some coffee bean jewelry (Hey we are in the heart of coffee country here). Once we soaked in the quaintness of the town we were off to the coffee plantation.
For those who love coffee, but dont know where it comes from- well alot of it comes from El Salvador. Next time when you´re at Starbucks,check the bean maps. Being a fan of Starbucks (I´m a sellout I know) I was excited to see how the coffee bean process began. Actually coffee beans start out with a red covering and are white inside. It almost looks like a little cranberry in the beginning. After many hours of picking the beans, they are then dried out in the sun. From there, they are put through machines and soaked in several types of juices. The smell of the coffee is unmistakable after being in central america for a minute. Josh thinks it smells like olives, I think it smells like stale beer, one foreigner compared it to baby poop- you get the gist. After the beans are almost ready to be shipped, women go through the painstaking process of picking out cracked or broken beans with their nimble little fingers. From there they are put into 150lb sacks and hauled off into trucks where they are shipped to suppliers. Thus, the cup of coffee in your hands right now as you do your daily blog reading (because I know you all read this blog everyday- it´s just that interesting!)
The hotsprings were my favorite part. Manolo drove us to an estate of a coffee plantation owner, where he said we could use all the hot springs. Pizza and beer rounded out the hot spring experience nicely- a pleasant reminder of home. Great first day in El Salvador. Tomorrow, we would be completing the 18km hike aptly named *El Imposible* Goodnight.

permalink written by  joshandmary on December 25, 2009 from Tacuba, El Salvador
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Feria Gastronomica

Juayua, El Salvador

The day after Xmas in El Salvador! Along the Ruta De Floras, we stumbled upon this quaint little town called Juayua. Pronounced (Y- You- Ah), the town, like many others, was speckled with pastel colored House and cobblestoned streets. However, the main draw to this place besides the adorable hostal run by a young 24 year old couple, is the Feria gastronimica. Yes. Food Fair. People come from far and wide to enjoy the amazement of this food fair which is supposedly the biggest and most popular in all of El Salvador. Usually only open on the weekends, the food fair at this time of year, was also to our delight, open during the week for the holidays. Along with an Aussie couple from our hostal and a lone British guy, we stumbled down to the townsquare where the event was to take place.
The sounds and smells where unbelievable, but what was probably more unbelievable was the array of options on the menu at this particular food fair. Anything from cow tongue to well, other unmentionable parts of the male cow anatomy (Andrew Zimmern eat your heart out buddy!) Being gastronomic adventurers (but not quite like AZ) we settled for filets of pig and rabbit washed down with local pilsner beer. The chocolate covered bananas and strawberries sent us all into a food coma for the next couple hours until we ventured out again for some pupusas and live local music. Twas a great day! Tomorrow the beach!

permalink written by  joshandmary on January 5, 2010 from Juayua, El Salvador
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Surftown El Salvador

El Sunzal, El Salvador

So I called this area El Sunzal, though the real beach area is referred to as El Tunco. If you ever visit El Salvador (and I imagine that most of you reading this probably won´t) the area that can be decided as most famous is the 80km of coastline at the southern border of the country. Rough waters, and black sand beaches make this an amazing place and since it´s recent write-up in the NY Times, tourists seem to be flocking to this destination. However, the main reason that this place is so famous is its point break. That´s right, just like movie starring the late (and great) Patrick Swazye. This place is surfer central. If you aren´t a surfer or plan on ever becoming one, then this place isn´t for you. However, for those interested in learning or at least interested in listening to the local aussie crowd about their adventures on the waves, then come on down.
For the two days we spent here, we learned more about surfing then we probably will ever in our lives. People love it and they live for it. I even got into the spirit a little bit, though I only body boarded. Surfers are out every minute of day, and it´s especially good for inexperienced surfers because of the water here is lacking of a strong undertow. However, all good things must come to an end and for me, it occured here when I had to deal with food related illness. Not to get graphic, but it (and you know what I mean) was not pretty. Being the wise well-traveled individual that I am, I did bring antibiotics with me, and thankfully was feeling a little more human the next day. We stayed an extra day in Tunco since both of us were up all night (me dying, Josh watching me) and left on a Tica bus for Nicaragua the next day.


Note· As I think back about my time in El Salvador, I can proudly say that it has so far been my favorite country. The people here go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable, and more importantly, that you love their country. It is also by far themost dangerous country I have ever visited. If you or someone you know is thinking about going, it would be in your best interest to hire a guide. Guns are rampant here and you don´t want to be caught alone, by the wrong people, with your guard down. Also, always bring Cipro for travelers diaharrea-(This has been a Public Blog Service Announcement)

permalink written by  joshandmary on January 5, 2010 from El Sunzal, El Salvador
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Hey everyone! So it's finally our turn to travel! For the next six months, Josh and I will be traveling into the unknown world of Central America. Full of Mayan pyramids, white sand beaches and jungle walks, Central America is a dream come true for us backpackers. So, for all of you at home, we...

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