typical street scene El Salvador - this happens to be La Libertad

The local language is Spanish though some of the words are different and El Salvador uses US dollars so that's easy. Funny though how I found myself comparing the prices in US dollars to pesos at first! One of the local foods is a 'Pupusa' a thicker smaller tortilla 'stuffed' with any combination of meat, cheese and beans, it is served with a kind of Spanish Kimchee - cabbage, carrots, spices, jalapenos and salsa. There is a skill to making the Pupusa so it is interesting to watch and some locals have their own way of eating them- some peel them open like a pita and stuff it with the Kimchee. They usually cost about .35 each. Fired plantains are a main stay as well as rice and beans - which we love. Near the airport is 'Pupusa Row' - row's of 40 + pupusaieras, some have a variety of fillings!

The landscape is finally lush and green, green, green: green grass, palm trees, mango & cashew trees with colorful fruit and flowers. Most roads are paved and everyone passes buses and slower traffic on a regular basis. One honks lightly to warn bicyclers or dogs (yes, they actually stop and walk back the other way) of your oncoming vehical. Locals houses are everything from fancy behind colorful walls to hillsides of tin and concret shacks.

The local women carry large baskets or bags of secret contents by balancing them on their heads as they walk down the street! Men carry their stuff on their shoulders while walking or riding a bike. Local people make about $5 a day but the younger ones will go hungry for a month so they can buy a pair of Adias sneakers- Jorge said. There are 2 high-end malls in the main city of San Salvador where some stuff is more expensive than in the USA. The city looks like any other city in America with the signs in Spanish. Bicycles are very popular here to as a mode of transportation as well as hitch-hiking and buses.

The locals seem generally happy & friendly and don't seem to mind us foreigners. Some get a kick out of saying 'Hello' (in English) and are happy to stop and chat for a bit. There are security guards (military looking guys with guns) everywhere, not because there is any danger, but because when the Civil War ended there were 60,000 unemployed military guys so they formed security agencies.