Beach and San Salvador

Either the property surveyor got it wrong, or the beach has washed away, but plans for this house are clearly on hold. There was another abandoned building behind this house and it looked to be a much larger condominium building. Incidently, this beach reminded us very much of the Long Beach, WA area - a beautiful walking beach that goes on for miles. Only this beach and the water were MUCH warmer.

Of course, you did not see many cows walking on the Long Beach Peninsula, either.

We took local buses to San Salvador the Saturday before the election. It costs a couple of dollars for the 2 1/2 hour ride. At many stops, vendors would come on and walk the aisles selling candy coated peanuts, pupusas, water, colas, toys, fruit, etc. The peanut seller used a tong to give everyone a taste and he consequently had many buyers. They were delicious! While in San Salvador, we went to our first pupuseria. Pupusas are a national food item. They consist of corn meal or rice batter stuffed with beans, beans and cheese, or beans, cheese and meat. These are then grilled and served with cabbage in vinegar and a mild red salsa. Two or three will make a meal and they cost between 35 and 50 cents each.

The city of San Salvador has been leveled several times in reccent history by earthquakes, so none of the remaining buildings are particularly old or interesting, but the cathedral has been rebuilt.

Saturday is market day in San Salvador. This is downtown. The market here went on for block after block after block. The currency in El Salvador is the U.S. dollar. The vendors seem to sell everything for either a quarter or 4 for a dollar. It was just a vibrant scene with very friendly people.