Impressions Of A New El Salvador

San Salvador is the capital and at the largest city of El Salvador. The complete name of the capital is "La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador" (the City of the Great Holy Savoir). The capital lies upon a seismic valley in the tropics and surrounded with volcanoes and prone to earthquakes, which is why the Spaniards named this area "El Valle de las Hamacas" (the valley of the Hammocks). This expression is a real one referring to the constant seismic activity (movement like in a hammock).

San Salvador is one of the important cities in Central America but it is the third largest city after Guatemala y Managua. But the city is one of the largest growing cities in Central America.

History

The location of the present city is near the city created by the Spanish Conquest. But little is known about the Capital Cuzcatlan because it was abandoned by its inhabitants to avoid Spanish rule.

The town was founded on April 1, 1525. The city was rebuilt and changed twice locations and the new site location "Valle de las Hamacas" was chosen as it had more space and more fertile land thanks to the Acelhuate River.

The population of the country has suffered during the last one hundred years, but life has to go on. The capital was damaged through an earthquake in 1917.
A coup installed the military regime from 1932 to 1944 and the war against Honduras which ended in 1969 left the country in poor conditions and with little intellects to start the recovery. But a new earthquake in 1986 destroyed many government buildings and other important structures such as the "El Siglo" building, once a well-known department store within the city. The city was still in ruins after almost 14 years after the earthquake.

After celebrating the Peace Accords in 1992 the country started a new stage in the history of the country. Nowadays the country is on its way to recovery and tourism is growing in the country and creates new possibilities for its inhabitants. In 2001 the colon, currency of El Salvador through all history has been changed against the dollar. Since then the population got familiarized with the new currency. There are distingue opinions about the currency change, some say it was a good measure and others are not very convinced about the change because the levels of income haven't changed.

But the way is marked to an increase of the economy supported also through the people who left the country years ago and supported through the years their country and family left behind.

Behind the WTC of San Salvador is the Crown Plaza Hotel located on the hill with and beautiful view to the city. When walking through the 'plaza' of the world trade building there is sign of change to better. Lots of restaurants with different kind of food are at the 'plaza' and one I liked very much is the "Fire of Brazil" Churrascaria - the authentic Churrascaria of Brazil. The people are friendly and the service and the salads are excellent.





There are a great variety of salads that is almost impossible to taste all. But with little of everything you can go through the whole variety without feeling your stomach full. On the contrary you can drink a digestive drink to feel better. But in my opinion the restaurant is worthwhile for a visit you can reach it through a walking tunnel from the Crown Plaza Hotel.






When you still not know where to spend your proximate vacation why not think about vacation in El Salvador. The modern airport is inviting the new airplanes from Taca airlines and Copal and in a short time the low cost airline 'Spirit'.


Talk to you soon

Anton

Flying Can Still Be A Nice Adventure

On a Wednesday afternoon with fairly good visibility and nice temperature we lifted to the Mexico City’s sky with Embraes 190. The embraer 190 a member of the Airbus family with a length of 36.24m, 4,267 USGls of fuel capacity and a diameter of 3.01m and for a passenger capacity of 96.

The sky wasn’t much clouded and a beautiful view to our majestic ‘Guardians Popocapetl and Iztaccihuatl”. Even so they have only a small white costume like a mini skirt and not a long skirt as in some passed winters. But anyhow the view from the plane is always a beautiful one.

You never get tired of this beautiful view, it is like the saying, “where ever you travel and wherever you stay it is always something different and new”

Oh, I just forgot to tell you I was on my way to San Salvador in the country El Salvador. It has been a long time that I flew with Taca Airlines, but I was pleasantly surprised about the change they have undergone. First of all the new fleet of Airbus planes, secondly the service – very friendly personnel. The plane is quite comfortably with two seat rows and what I liked best with no noise at all in the interior. Not like other planes where you just feel that they will fall apart in all their independent pieces when taking off.

Taca is still one of the airlines that serve a small snack and of course without charge. I felt like in the old days eating your small snack looking out of the small window, below a white carpet that looks like a great cotton field all the way to the horizon. It’s just wonderful how Taca reminded me of the old flying days.

Don’t get me wrong it is not the money that is important, no, it is like a certain kind of service to customers. I think the time is over that the airlines are in red numbers, they charge so much for overweight that I cannot imagine to lose lots of money for small snacks.

Service is that counts and Taca has it, thanks.

Talk to you soon.

Anton

Never Get Bored When Travel

You know when traveling you never get bored even when traveling through the same place. There is always something different.

You remember my last post, when I wrote you about traveling through Miami airport. Today I arrived near the passport control and in 123 I got through passport control. (but remember counter 28 to 33 is most of the time faster than any counter because there were almost no one in the queue.

So, I had to wait almost 20 minutes for my luggage to come out. But to my surprise even the security check was less crowded than in other days, even though it is still vacation time. but anyway I enjoyed my stay at Miami airport this time. I had time to drink a good 'Samuel Adams'. For people who are not familiar with certain customs, it is one of the best beer in the States. If you are thinking differently you can post your comment. But as a German I think I know a bit regarding of beer-drinking. But beer drinking is only a question of taste. Everyone has a different taste and you can post your personal opinion.

You know beer drinking is like wine drinking, some like it sweet, some medium sweet and some dry as I do. You know the wine that grows near my home town area is very dry, some even say it is like acid. But I like it very much.

So, when you travel always enjoy it, even so it is for work you still can enjoy your trip. And if you go to the Dominican Republic enjoy your flight as I do and have a nice stay. Or may I say, “See you in Santo Domingo?”
If you hate the cold there is no better excuse than go to the Caribbean Sea the best get away place in the world.

Talk to you soon

Anton



Anton Winkler likes to write about different subjects. For more information go to his website antonwinkler.com
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