22305352

One Man's Love Affair Between El Salvador and GuatemalaOriginally I come from the U.S. but I have lived in Latin America since the mid-1980's. I first visited relatives in El Salvador in the late 1960's and fell in love with the Salvadorian coastal town, Puerto de La Libertad, because it reminded me of my birthplace, a coastal resort town in New England USA. I am also completely enamored with La Antigua, Guatemala, the restored colonial Capital City of Central America, because it reminds me of the town where I was raised in the USA. I should have known even then, that I was destined to return.I attended University in Boston and New York but found the academic world and the turbulence surrounding it on the late 1960's didn't suit my fancy, so I began an odyssey of working and traveling abroad in the 70's. I visited both Europe and Latin America, which broadened my perspective and my linguistic skills as I learned to be conversational in German, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish.After a long absence in Latin America, I returned to Guatemala from the United States in 1986, wher I became a Travel Guide & Interpreter for visitors to "The Land of Eternal Spring". Eight years later, the Peace Treaty that eliminated the "Civil Conflict" was signed in neighboring El Salvador. This restored tranquility to the land making it, once again, an attractive place to live. Motivated by my family ties and the memory of its scenic beauty, I returned to reside to El Salvador.I labored for years as Tour Guide, Travel Writer and Trade and Travel Consultant throughout Central America, some of it in the "Pre-Internet" era. In this year of 2005, while there seems to be no lack of modern amenities here in the cities and large towns, I still love the “other side” of Central America. The off the beaten path dappled with colonial villages, where time has stood still and oxcarts still ply narrow roads. Uncrowded and exotic hidden coves, beaches, bays and mangroves lay in wait to overwhelm you with their beauty. Coconut and coffee plantations color the country side with their abundance. And Mayan ruins are scattered carelessly by histories hand, including Joya de Ceren in El Salvador, which is the "Pompeii of the Americas." A typical Mayan Village buried beneath Volcanic Ash for 1400 years; the only site of kind in the Americas. The Copan Ruins in neighboring Honduras is considered the 'Jewel of the Mayan World'. These are a few of my favorite placesÂ…Towns and villages dedicated to the elaboration of arts and crafts are spread all over the Central American Isthmus. I know of towns located less than a couple hours drive from San Salvador's bustling boulevards where horses and oxcarts often outnumber vehicles! And for adventurers there are Volcanoes, Volcanoes and more Volcanoes. With the exception of Honduras, you will be able to spy their cones in every Central American country and a few are still active!Many travellers journey to El Salvador hoping to add to their list of sites to see “their idea” of indigenous people, i.e. “Indians.” Instead they find that the population is made up of mestizos or mixed-race people. I was once hired to drive a woman from El Salvador to Guatemala. She wanted me to drive down San Salvador’s Boulevard de los Heroes which is known for its hustle and bustle and always filled with Salvadorians so that she could take in the sites, so to speak. As we drove, I noticed that she was becoming more and more agitated. When I gave her a questioning look she shouted in desperation "But where are the Indians?!?" I merely answered "Be patient and I'll take you to them tomorrow out to indingenous village of Panchimalco.” Patience was obviously not this woman’s strong suite because she proceeded to borrow my guidebook, and I later found out that she took off to Costa Rica that afternoon on her own, taking my trusted guidebook with her. Which of course, I never saw again...so finally, with a sense of humor; a lesson in life: "Take it or leave it, but never lend it!"About the Author David, a US Citizen and Ex Pat resident in Central America since 1986 is a Trade and Travel Consultant for all things Latin American. For questions or tour information feel free to contact him. At present David is developing another travel site specializing in Latin Travel and requires your feedback if you have "been there and done that" or planning to return again. Of course, If you are a first time traveler ("newbie") to the region do not hesitate to ask David the "geek" a relocation nor travel question