It still etched in my mind the subtle experiences I've had in El Salvador. My journey to this small country in Central America was loomed with anxiety because I have no expectations about it. All that I thought were the gangs and the poverty in this country. It was quite the opposite that I have encountered when I was there. It was a 5 day journey and I was kinda hesitant to roam around but I am quite keen enough to slowly accept that I was there and I have to explore.
Day 1:
I left Los Angeles with a numb feeling because I worked the night before. All I have in mind was to go to sleep. When I arrived at home, I have to do my packing for I have not done anything because I have to work seven days straight just to avail this small vacation. I did my best packing and then took a hot shower to slightly wake me up and then called an Uber at 1100H to drop me off at the airport.
When I arrived at the airport, I checked in without no issues and then lined up at the security with no hassles at all. The flight supposed to leave at 1400H but it was delayed for one hour. We start boarding not until 1515H.
We arrived at Houston IAH at around 2300H (almost midnight) where I will have a ten hours lay over and we will resume the flight the next day at 0900H. Now I got stuck at the airport with nothing to do except wait for the connecting flight in the morrow. I checked the airline lounges if I can check in there but apparently they were all close and will open at 0500H.
So I roamed around the airport and enjoyed the comfort of their massage chairs and tried to close my eyes a little bit because I have not slept for a tad 24 hours and I felt like I am high at that time and like a zombie which was numb and doesn't care at all of what is happening around.
I then took the skyway going to Terminal D (I came from Terminal A) at almost 0500H to check in at the small airline lounge there. I then took some coffee and ate some sandwich because I was so hungry and sleepy at that time. I napped for 2 hours and then went back to Terminal A (via the skyway) to get ready for the boarding at 0830H.
The plane left at 0900H-ish and we arrived in San Salvador at almost 1100H. The flight was quite bumpy when we are near the city but all in all it was a fair flight. Luckily, we arrived safely at San Salvador.
After passing the immigration and retrieved my luggage I looked for my ride (I pre-booked it before I came) and the driver took me in and drove me to Barcelo Hotel where I will be staying. We arrived at the hotel and I checked in after that. They gave me a VIP pass and settled m eat the VIP room in the 8th Floor.
When I settled in the room I took a nap (but it wasn't a nap at all because I slept the whole afternoon due to lack of sleep for 24 hours). When I woke up it was already 1900H and it was already night time. I looked at the view at my window and it was amazing at night.
San Salvador at night was awesome. The lights all over the city resembled like twinkling stars from where I am at. It really stunning!
I felt hungry after I woke up so I took a quick shower and went down at the restaurant on the lobby to eat dinner where I ordered a salad, seafoods with vegetables for the entre and tres leches for the dessert. I also tasted the local wine.
After dinner, I roamed around at the hotel and then went back to my room and tried to check my social media and also watched some clips or videos at YouTube. I cannot go out because it was already 2200H when I got back to my room. And it was dangerous to roam around the city on the wee hours.
Day 2:
The next day, I woke up at 0600H and prepared myself then I went down to the lobby restaurant to eat breakfast. I had the coffee first, then enjoyed the buffet breakfast they offered. I took the traditional breakfast and then enjoyed the wide array of fruits from pineapple to papaya and oranges. It was abundant.
After breakfast, I went back to the hotel and see what to do. I booked a tour to Santa Ana and the nearby lake but when I woke up that morning I opened my email to see that the experience was been canceled last night while I was sleeping. Haist. So now, I was left without nothing to do.
So I stayed in my room the whole morning watching vlogs from YouTube and then in the afternoon, I hired an Uber to bring me to the centerville where the national palace is located.
On my way there, I noticed that the streets were kinda colonial era vibe and when I was near the center the traffic was really bad and new buildings can be seen. The streets near the national palace was been under renovation that is why the traffic was bad.
I alighted from the Uber near the palace and from there I walked towards the plaza where I can see the view of the national palace. It looks like a colonial era building and the cathedral was just right there as well near the plaza. I did not went inside both buildings because I was wearing shorts that time and I don't want to be cited when I went in there because of my outfit.
The afternoon was very hot and I was sweating a lot. I roamed around the center and looked for the Glass Church but when I found it it was closed at that moment. It was unfortunate that it was close because that structure was famous around the country.
I saw a Starbucks so I went in and ordered a frapuccino and stayed there to get cooler. Omg, I did not expect that day was very hot. Good thing the tour was canceled or else it will be tiring to do it because of the hot weather.
After roaming the center, I went back to the hotel and went in to the Churchill Room (which is another restaurant there) and ordered some cool mojito and a savory tortilla soup. I stayed at the restaurant for 2 hours sipping my mojito and checking my socmed. Then I went back to my room and tried to cool off by taking a cold shower.
At around 1700H, I walked towards the mall in front of the hotel called Bambu Mall Center and checked out the stores there and the restaurants. After browsing the mall, I went back to my hotel and stayed in the room watching more vlogs in YouTube.
At least my goal of resting was been achieved in San Salvador or else I the experience that day was pursued I guess I will be extremely tired when I got back of the hotel because it entails a lot of walking and hiking the whole day. Haist!
Day 3:
I woke up that morning only to be informed from my email that the experience I booked for the El Tunco Beach and the waterfalls was canceled because of low clients. They cannot afford to bring me alone there because it will be too costly for them so they canceled my experience. So here I am got stuck at my hotel.
It's also timely because that day, I will be transferring hotel to El Cinco Bed and Breakfast Hotel. So I immediately went down to the lobby restaurant and ate my breakfast. I sipped coffee first then ordered a pupusas breakfast which was staple in the country. My breakfast was hearty and I took my time enjoying it. I also enjoyed the wide variety of fruits they displayed and then sipped more local fruit juices. Oh so yummy!
I went out to check the pool and went up the 10th Floor to check the VIP Lounge where I have also an access. I stayed there at the lounge for a while to enjoy some desserts and tea. Then after an hour I went back to my room and pack my luggage because I will change hotels that day. I checked out at 1300H and called for an Uber to dropped me off at Hotel Cinco at Zona Rosa which was just at the opposite street from Barcelo.
Actually, I can walked to there from Barcelo but because it was hot at midday and plus I have a luggage to pull, I opted to call an Uber. I checked out at Barcelo and then the Uber had dropped me at the other hotel where I checked in right away. The hotel was also nice and self sustainable because of their nice garden. It was also pretty there,. They have their own restaurant and I stayed there to drink a shake and a small cheesy cake they called quesadilla. Yum!
After the afternoon snack, since I have nothing to do, I decided to call for the Uber to drop me at the Glass Church since it was close when I went there the other day. When the Uber had dropped me there, luckily it was open. Yay! I then registered and went in the church. Upon entrance I was in awe of the beauty of the stained glass reflections on the wall. The church was all illuminated by the afternoon sun through the stained glass by the roof of the church. It was stunning there. It was a work of an excellent architect and the whole nation celebrated him because of his excellent work. Wow!
I then went back to my room to charge my iPad and iPhone (gadgets) and then went out of my room during dinnertime where I walked to the nearby Dennys and ordered a sizzling variety of steaks and a dessert which is crunchy apple pie caramel with vanilla ice cream which was always my all time favorite dessert from Dennys.
After dinner, I walked around Zona Rosa which was actually bare and had no life hahaha, and walked back to my hotel and checked out my socmed in the cozy comforts of my room at the hotel. Hehehe.
Day 4:
I slept well the whole night and woke up really sore and beat up. I don't know why I was sore but it seems that my lactic acid was on the rise again. Haist. I took and warm shower that time and I felt better afterwards. I then changed after the shower and went down to the restaurant to have a nice breakfast because that day I have a tour called Rutas de las Flores which fortunately was not canceled. Haist.
I ate a regular breakfast with two sunny side ups and bacon with bread and spreads, yogurt, coffee, and OJs. An then I waited for my ride which then came right after and had a little introduction and briefing about the trip. I met Osman, who will be my guide that day, and I was already comfortable with him right away. And take note, that I am the only client that day and he did not cancel me, unlike the other experiences I signed who canceled me because there were not enough tourists. Haist!
The Rutas de las Flores is a government program for tour organizers wherein they will drive the clients around the country passing five of the department states and almost six towns or places around El Salvador. It is a whole day tour and driving around and the tour guide/driver will show the tourist beautiful places around El Salvador. At least I was not zeroed in all the experiences I booked and this one did not disappoint. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and approachable and I learned a lot form him regarding El Salvador. I talked a lot about his country, people, nice places, food, customs, and culture.
We started passing nice small towns along the way and stopped at each for a while to roam around and take pictures. Among the towns that standout for me was Nahuitalco and Ataco and the Albania Playground where I played at the rainbow slide. I also enjoyed the coffee factory where we drank nice brewed coffee and enjoyed the flowers that hanged from the ceiling. I also like the small waterfalls where we passed by along the road.
The day was very enjoyable and I took a lot of pictures of the trip and drive we did, The guide dropped me after at the Bambu Mall Center and I went to the Bruttu restaurant at the rooftop to enjoy a very unique dinner overlooking the panoramic view of San Salvador. The dinner was superb and very nice. I enjoyed it a lot. I spend three hours there sipping good wine and eating excellent foods.
After dinner, I walked back to my hotel and packed my luggage because I will be leaving the country at 1400H tomorrow.
Day 5:
I woke up still sore and numb. I guess I am not used to the softness of the bed. I then took a warm shower which had relieved my soreness. Then I went down to take my breakfast at the restaurant where I ordered pupusas this time (I never got tired of puspusas). Omg, the puspusas they served was very good and super tasty/savory.). I liked it a lot.
After breakfast, I went back to the room to finalized my packing and then got my luggage ready. I waited till 1030H to call an Uber. I went down and checked out then I called an Uber but apparently the guy missed the hotel and eventually canceled the trip on his own.
I then request for another Uber and a blue 4x4 Mitsubishi came. When the driver came out to help me with my luggage I did not expect to see a young driver and he is very handsome wearing a brown chino pants and a striped navy blue shirt. Omg, he was very goodlooking.
I sat in front near him and couldn't relax inside myself because I was mesmerized by his handsomeness. I initiated a conversation and he was very approachable. He responded professionally and form our conversations he told me that he is also a professional motorbike rider and does racing all over El Salvador. He also indicated to me that he is 18-years-old and my he looks younger than 18. His face looks handsome like a celebrity, his white teeth gleamed purely from the sun's reflections, and his hands were very smooth and nails where to die for. I was madly falling at this teenager at first sight. Haist.
When he dropped me at the airport, I was in a hurry and didn't even asked him of his Whatsapp number and IG. Haist! I was so shy and embarassed to ask fo rit. It had consumed me and that alone I regretted all my life.
After I checked-in and breezed through immigration, I immediately went at my plane's gate and opened Uber stalking his driver's profile there. There I found out that his name was Edwin Stanley who drove a Blue Mitsubishi Outlaner 4x4 with a license plate number of P694784 and I also gave him a very hefty online tip and a 5 star rating. I guess that's all I can do to him because I admire him so much. Had I obtained his socmed's profiles I should have been a nice friend to him. Then maybe God has the best reason why I did not got it.
I left the country with a heavy heart because that dude was still lingering in my mind. He was an Adonis to me and I hope our paths will cross again next time. I arrived in Houston for an 11 hour layover but still I cannot stop stalking his profile at Uber and I even called Uber pretending that I have lost item in my recent Uber ride thinking I can get his number but they cannot give it to me.
Uber had connected me to him and spoke to him on the phone but I have a difficulty in speaking Spanish plus I was embarrassed because I am thinking he has a ride at that time in the car to be dropped off somewhere. So I terminated the call without asking his number and socmed's profiles. Haist.
But honestly, he is still inside my mind and I cannot forget this guy. I crossed my finger that I will cross path with him in the future. Sorry God for this! I know you have your reasons. Thank you!
The following early morning at 0400H (after a whole night stay at Houston's IAH airport) I flew to Los Angeles and arrived safely and sound. Yay1
All in all my trip was okay despites of the two cancelation of the tours I signed in but the last tour was very impactful and loaded with good memories. Gracias El Salvador for the nice experience. I got to rest well too to get ready for my next set of straight work schedules. Hahaha. I am crazy!
