Friday, May 20, 2011

Beaches & Volcano











Have you ever been asked on a date, "Are you a type of Beach person or a Volcano person?" Most of the time you will only get one answer, but what if that person likes both options as much as the other? What if you like the other thing of what your special person chose? or What if you do not remember what was her answer and you are becoming desperate!                             



Well, there is no necessity for being alarmed, in this case,                             

                           El Salvador is your best choice!!

In El Salvador, there is no worries if that person likes to do the both things, or you both disagree or if you just accidentally forgot what that special person had said. El Salvador will provide this two answers with a spark of adventure, fun, and having an unforgettable experience within the range of  20-60 minutes.











Whether you or your special partner is a Volcano type. Well, El Salvador has 22 volcanoes in his tiny little area, but my two favorite volcanoes El Salvador has are Volcan de San Salvador and Izalco. Within the waste of 20 minutes(depending on which zone of San Salvador you are situated), you are arriving to the top of the Volcano of San Salvador. Whether you go at night or daylight, the view (as you can see) is incredible, with just a height of 1,893 meters (6,211 ft). In addition for providing a better experience, there are few restaurants that you could go and have a meal, meanwhile you are enjoying the view. Some of the name restaurants are ......... and within the price of ...... a person could eat an entire meal. 

  
Moreover if you are more into action, climbing and sporty activities, well, Izalco is the best choice that I could provide. Within just 30 minutes, you and/or your partner will be arriving. Izalco has a height of 1950 meters (6398 ft). I have been twice to climb this volcano.

A little story that I will always remember. My first time, it was with an activity of my summer camp called "Sherpas". It was trip for only father and son. Back then, I was 12 years old. When we were in the middle of the Izalco, it started raining. I thought everybody was going give up, but few people back-down. After we were decided to continue climbing, there was this tiny BIG issue; the volcano is mostly made up of rocks and soil, so when we made a step was very slippery. For me that wasn't an issue, I was very excited to climb it with my father. After climbing and climbing, we finally got to the top of the volcano. At first, I felt really cool because we were above the rain. I felt like an angel. However, the view was not that impressive because of the rain, but seeing how the clouds were disappearing little by little was the thing that I most liked. I think few people have had this experience and let me tell you, it was great! One of my best days in my life.










      (Costa del Sol)
(Costa Azul)        
  (El Puerto de la Libertad & Nightlife)


In addition, El Salvador is located in the Pacific Coast. El Salvador has many different beaches, however, the top 3 best beaches I would recommend to visit is:

  • Costa del Sol: Within a 40 minute trip, you and/or your partner will be arriving. The  most beautiful and a "must experience" of this beach is because of his long path of walking from the house to the water. In addition, Costa del Sol has hotels and private houses one beside another. Moreover, there is this 2 "must go" restaurants; Maricos Mary and Ola Betos. Mariscos Mary specializes more on cocktails and their best plate is "La Mariscada." La Maricada" is a cream soup that has a little bit of every seafood a gigantic lobster. In addition, Mariscos Mary has one of the best "Michelada". A "michelada" is an alcoholic drink made of beer with lemon, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper,(tabasco as preference). Sometimes, "La Mariscada" must be eaten between two. This experience cost no more than $18  In the journey going to Costa del Sol, you will pass 2 "must experience" places in El Salvador that I am going to blog next.
  • Costa Azul: Within a hour trip, you and/or your partner will be arriving. The most beautiful and "must experience" in this beach is because of the privacy you have in the area. There are few houses that are beside each other. This beach is very private sort of speech.
  • El Puerto de la Libertad: Within 20 minute journey you and/or your partner will be arriving. The most beautiful and a "must experience" thing is how a mini city has been created in-front of the beach. In addition, El Puerto de la Libertad is considered on the top 10 best beaches to surf in the entire world. Moreover, I would strongly recommend to stay for a few days if you consider yourself as a reggae music, bare feet, cold beers, and sun-warmed hammocks. A place to "must go" is El Tunco. At 5 minute distance, there are 3 bar/restaurant/somewhat discotheque that makes the nightlife.





(El Puerto de la Libertad)

(note: Despite the gradual rejuvenation of each beach, mostly on La Libertad, robberies still occur. Use caution at night.)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Country of Short Distances


El Salvador is situated in Central America. Being neighbors with Guatemala in the North, Honduras in the East, Nicaragua in the South, and the Pacific Ocean in the West. El Salvador is considered the smallest country in Central America, with an area of 21,041 km². Comparing the size with other countries around, El Salvador is one fourth of the size from Guatemala or Nicaragua or Honduras.


El Salvador is also known as "the country of short distances". From the capital, San Salvador,

  • The beaches are 35 minutes
  • The San Salvador Volcanoe 20 minutes
  • The Volcanic Lake (AKA "El Lago Coatepeque) 30 minutes
  • Guatemala 4 hours; Antigua Guatemala 5 hours
  • Tela or Ceiba, Honduras 5 hours
  • Managua, Nicaragua 8 hours
  • El Salvador's airport 30 min
    • in the same road, one of my favorite places and "must go" Olocuilta 15 min.
  • From any location in San Salvador to night life places, 10 minute (the most)
  • Soccer Stadium 10 minutes
  • Churches 7 minutes
  • Another department 15 min to 1 hour and 45 min (if it's the farthers one)

     
In addition, San Salvador has many different places to go shopping, such as Galerias, Multiplaza, La Gran Via. Each of them, every mall has its own speciality:
  • Galerias; with the best theater
  • Multiplaza; with the widest variety of night life within young people
  • La Gran Via; being an open sky mall. It also has a night life but more focused on older people