San Salvador and pupusas

The first night of the Route of Maya trip was spent in San Salvador.  Our little boutique hotel turned out to be just 2 blocks from the manufacture plant of McCormick in El Salvador.  It was an interesting surprise.  I walked up to the plant to see if I could see the QA Manager there, but was not able to meet her as she was in a meeting.

The local people like to paint the electricity poles with beautiful birds:

The following morning, our local guide Rick took us on a bus tour to the center of San Salvador.  One can see some signs of colonial influence.  But ordinary people, just like the rest of the world, focused on the dilly living, like the street vendor below:

Rick took us to a very contemporary church near the city center.  The designer incorporated the sense of struggle from earth quakes, and the yearning for hope.  I like this church called Iglesia Elrosario.

 

Rick is the younger generation that benefited from the recent political stability and economical growth.  He and his relatives just opened a restaurant and he was very nice to take us there for some delicious pupusas.  His mother-in-law cooked them freshly just for us.  It was delicious and I ate two of them!
A pupusa is a traditional Salvadoran dish made of a thick, handmade corn tortilla , a maize flour dough that is usually filled with a blend of cheese, cooked meat and refined beans.  Pupusas are typically served with curtido (lightly fermented cabbage slaw with red chilies and vinegar) and a watery tomato salsa.

 Rick bid us good-bye near the boarder of El Salvador and Honduras.  I wish him all the best as he is so positive and hopeful about future, and he certainly started our trip with much friendliness and kindness.