El Salvador rambles

El Salvador navy.....a Vietnam relic.....Apocalypse Now, 2012 edition!!!

We've been really enjoying our explorations of nearby towns around Bahia del Sol.  As we reported a few days ago, we took the dinghy up the estuary to Herradura, a little fishing village on the water.  Just got a few photos back from the lab...

Food court at the market...served in baggies w/ a fork.....tasty business!!!

Internet cafe

Herradura recycling center

Two days ago we took the bus to visit the small city of Zacatecoluca.  About 2 hours away, this bustling city gave us a good taste of the local landscape.  The bus ride itself is quite a scene.  Much like the Tokyo subways, they have a guy who's job it is to pack as many aboard as possible.  We stood for about 1-1/4 hours before we could grab a seat.  Counted about 120 people total on the old school bus!!!  Vendors come aboard often, pushing their way down the aisle through the crowd, selling water in baggies, papusas (a local delicacy...a thick corn tortilla filled with bean paste), vegetables, and other treats.  Then the conductor climbs over people, both sitting and standing, continually shaking his change bag to collect fares.  You know how in the US you see women putting on makeup in their rear view mirror as they drive???  Here we had a woman on the bus putting on deodorant in the 90 degree heat.  How considerate of her fellow travelers!!!  Great stuff!!!

Mass transit, Zacatecoluca style

Typical Zacatecoluca street scene

Cindi especially liked the pharmacy at the central market!  "Que necesita???  Tenemos!!!"  (what do you need??...we have it!!!)