Desvendando the unknown

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Date: 24/01/2013 to 27/01/2013

Path: We follow the Panamericana to the border, where to turn off sense Conception attack. Then follow the Carretera 8 to San Salvador.

El Salvador Homeland

Little heard of El Salvador before the trip. All comments regarding the country revolved around its beaches perfect for surfing or mainly of urban violence, remnant of a civil war that ended just over 10 years ago. For very little we will not include the country in our path, but fortunately, change of opinion. What we found in El Salvador was a very receptive people and a different culture. Left side of the beaches and the historic fall Ruta de las Flores, Before reaching effervescent capital San Salvador.

After much discussion, reached a consensus: we will go through El Salvador before heading to Honduras. Alright so the passage would be short, least one week, but at least we would have an idea of ​​what this country is so despised in America.

El Salvador is a nation that treats different challenges. Invariably, hurricanes and earthquakes destroy their cities, while the country is still recovering from a civil war that lasted over recent 10 years and over em 1992. Although it is the smallest country in mainland Central America, El Salvador went through a process of economic liberalization, permeated by free trade agreements and is now the third largest economy in the region, just behind Costa Rica and Panama. The country's official currency is the U.S. dollar, introduced since 2001, when the country suffered from the impact of the variation in its trade balance. But despite the dollarization, El Salvador remains a cheap and affordable destination for tourists.

We chose to meet a part of the cultural country, at the expense of its beaches, up because none of us is a great surfer. So we decided to meet the Ruta de las Flores, a stretch of approximately 40 km that cuts the west of the country. The name comes from the abundant wildflowers that grow along the road, especially between November and February, when they are in full bloom. The flowers are really beautiful, as well as waterfalls and mountains that spread along the route, but the charm are the same colonial towns of the region.

We crossed the border of Guatemala and drove until I attack. This is a small town known for its many colorful houses. It was here that we prove for the first time a local delicacy: a pupusa. As a corn tortilla stuffed with thicker everything imaginable. The staff likes to eat with cheese, a kind of crackling (chicharron) and beans, but there were also options sausage, meat, chicken, local plants and so. We spent the evening in the city walking the streets and enjoying the atmosphere of small town.

Next day, passed rapidly Apaneca, relatively town like I attack, before heading to Juayúa. By the way, various lookouts to observe the landscapes.

We had the great fortune to be a Saturday, day that happens in the city a fair fare, that brings people from all over the country, beyond the curious foreigners. The food choices were endless and everything looked pretty good. The meats ranged from frog and rabbit to common options of meat and chicken. Not to mention the desserts. A very neat dish was only R $ 10.

Apart from food, the fair offers a good range of local crafts. Pouches, portfolios, garment, toys, souvenirs and everything a street fair can offer. Everything always colorful!

We left the Ruta de las Flores straight to the capital: San Salvador. Like any big city, San Salvador has an army of cars and crowds on the streets of downtown. What somehow makes these cities alive, No. misread as the chaotic.

It was in the center we find the Plaza Barrios, where is located the National Palace. The visit is guided by him and free. In El Salvador, entire university is required to provide training to the government for a specified period so you can complete your course. In the case of the National Palace, the university provide guide service.

A visit tells a little of the history of El Salvador through murals, documents and objects used in the old Palacio. This had to be almost completely built in the early twentieth century, after a devastating fire reduced it to rubble.

Learned how history repeats itself in several Latin American countries. Military oligarchies in power, U.S. interference and popular resistance against dictatorships. In El Salvador, peels as represented guerrilhas Farabundo Marti National Liberation (FMLN) took power in 1992, after a bloody civil war.

We had the opportunity to accompany musical performances allocated inside the Palace. Schools and institutions from across the country had some of their customs through music. All accompanied by regional sweets, between them quite like banana with chocolate.

Still took a last Blvd in los Heroes, Zona Rosa and Multiplaza, where the nightlife takes place in San Salvador. For a moment we felt like we were in Sao Paulo. The trendy bars and restaurants resemble the glamor of the more affluent neighborhoods in the capital city. Came to be weird to do such a program during Expedition Mulamba.

The passage was short for El Salvador, but the luggage was great. Unravels the mystery of the country was for us. We began to understand the reality of Central America, which knew little. We continue on the road. Next Stop: Honduras.