Couchsurfing in San Salvador

Our first couch surfing experience was in San Salvador at a young man's condo in the suburb of Mexijanico. We took the bus from the shuttle dropoff headed downtown in search of a place to contact our host. He had given us the address and left the keys to his condo with the security man at the complex. A young couple on the bus gave us some advise and helped us get a taxi who knew where the condo was. We arrived and asked a guy on the street which complex was the one we were after. Turned out he was a friend of Raphael and called him at his work. Raffi told us to make ourselves at home. Later by email he let us know he wouldn't be home until after midnight. This was about 2 in the afternoon. It was kind of strange being in someones house alone who you have never met.

We wondered out about 8pm for a little supper. We were going to buy some food and cook supper for us all but not knowing what he liked and him not coming back till after midnight we retuned from a chicken repas and just went to bed instead. We locked up and kept the keys effectively locking the poor guy out of his home. Didn't know he didn't have another set of house keys. Raffi said he knocked on the door quite loudly but I guess his door knocking just blended into the neighbourhood noises of tv's, barking dogs, crowing roosters( even at 2 in the morning) and a host of other noise. We both were suprised to wake in the morning and discover he had come home. Apparently he was able to manipulate the latch with a stick through the window glass slats.

He turned out to be a very nice and trusting person. He gave us a little history of the civil war and current events in El Salvador. People are constantly mentioning the crime and violence and dangers. Raffi has 2 boys, one lives with the ex and the other with his grandfather. He has hosted over 30 people and after a breakfast of pancakes another surfer showed up. A young girl from China who has been travelling for about a year. She hitchhikes around and couchsurfs. Raffi is planning a trip next year to Europe and plans on surfing while there. We left a contribution in his travel jar.

From here we headed downtown to see the centre of the city. There is a very famous church here.Unfortunately for us it wasn't opened.Pic on left is from Google.

The downtown was amazing for the amount of vendors on the streets in front of the regular stores. I wonder how this works,who controls who goes where etc

Eventually we caught a bus to Suchitoto and planned on staying a couple of days before heading on to Santa Anna. Suchitoto is a small town with cobble stone streets.There are plates embedded on the steeple.

After a couple of easy days in Suchi  and having enjoyed a couple of local pupusas we headed on to Santa Anna. We grabbed a room in Casa Verde, the best hostal we have ever stayed at. It was clean with a kitchen a chef would love. Lou liked the wine storage in both small and full sized bottles and varieties. I unfortunetly had only choices of beer in litre sizes. Water was freely available as well as coffee,spices and condiments.

Went a short ways out of town to see a Mayan ruin called Tazumal and to sample a local delicacy called Yucca con Chicharrone. Much like eating wallpaper paste and pig skin.The ruins were small and unremarkable. There is some speculation that this is were the mayans originated.

The highlight of the trip here turned out to be the cemetario. Was quite large and very ornate. 

We both thinking El Salvador has a lot to do before it becomes the so called "hidden gem" of central America. We found Nicaragua a lot more vibrant, clean and interesting.