Giving Way

The women in El Salvador certainly did not waste any time shedding whatever traditional or conservative clothing their ancestors may have once worn. The number of indigenous people still alive in El Salvador is very low, and the conservatism of the mountains of Guatemala gives way to a steamy coastal lifestyle here. By far the most entertaining thing about being here are the bus rides. There is a custom here of exploiting the opportunity that the buses provide to sell, sell, sell! So every time the bus stops (or almost stops), on jump hoards of ladies in tight tank tops and short skirts toting any number of local foods, plus children selling water and cold juices, and men from the market trying to sell you an ice cream or a bag of cucumbers. You can eat very well on a bus. My favorite treat was the fresh coconut sorbet they I got on one particularly hot day on the way to the city.

San Salvador itself seems like an interesting place to explore... worlds apart from Guatemala City, where I did not really even consider getting out of the colectivo. El Salvador catches some bad press for its gang activities that account for most of the country´s high murder rate. Mostly, it is like gang activity in the US where you don´t even see it if you are not involved in that life. There are much more dangerous places to travel, that is clear. People here are generally warm, open, and very candid once they get talking. They also seem to have a business savvy that functions very well.

There is a striking contrast between Guatemala and El Salvador not just in the attire and overall culture that is dominated by Latino influences, but also in the development rate. Here there are shiny new malls, modern roads, and billboards prompting us to throw our trash in the bin to keep El Salvador beautiful. Here you find a country that is really ready to jump into the modern world full swing since they have little to tie them to a traditional past. That is the impression, at least. I really wanted to jump off the bus up in the mountains and explore the lush green hills and remote towns to see how they differ from the coast, but alas, the journey goes on, and much about this country will remain a mystery.