The Gringo Travel Network
For wandering gringos, nothing beats a cheap, clean hostel. They are the backbone of the backpacker community, and an integral part of each journey. If you are just getting started out on the road, though, they can seem intimidating. Not only will you be faced with different living situations, but you’ll come face to face with some of the most experienced, wise-to-the-world people out there. Not to worry though – the wandering gringos are a helpful, friendly crowd (for the most part) and the Gringo Travel Network is no exception.
To get you started on your adventure here are 5 tips every hostel virgin should know:
1. Pack wisely! Bring the extras – a towel, soap, shampoo… these types Read more
If working for a school is not for you, or you’re just looking for a little extra money on the side then consider private tutoring. You will be able to set the price for yourself, work on your own schedule, and determine the amount of kids that you want to teach.
Over time, you can turn a private tutoring service into a full-time position. In Central America there is a growing demand for teaching the English language so the need for instructors and private tutors is increasing. Private English lessons can be taught after school, on the weekends, and even in the summer. Although this may seem to limit the amount of time that you can tutor students it actually Read more
San Salvador is nightlife central for locals and expats alike. Amidst the plethora of nightclubs, bars and restaurants, La Luna shines as a totally unique hangout.
La Luna is built on the idea of showcasing Salvadorian artist and promoting art in its many forms. The restaurant is always changing as new art exhibitions are brought in. There’s live music every night, from classical music to salsa, jazz, and even folk music. Musicians come from all over the country and even all over Central America. Sometimes there’s poetry readings and even workshops to encourage local art. An upcoming event is the one man theatre act featuring Mexican artist Ermis Cruz.
The charm of La Luna isn’t just their dedication to local Read more
Walking around in downtown Santa Tecla you are immersed in Salvadorian history and culture. Architecture from the early 1900 makes a regular appearance in the Santa Tecla landscape. Beautiful neoclassical buildings line the streets and remind us of a simpler time in El Salvador.
A must see example of this architecture is the Palacio Municipal de las Bellas Artes. Here modern art meets classical Salvadorian arts and crafts. Built in 1911 by Jose Jerez, as a family home and later donated to the municipality this building became the municipal building in the late 1920’s. In 2001 the building suffered some major damage from an earthquake and was left to gather dust. In 2008 a remodel was completed and this local Read more
Culture is what makes us who we are. The way we were raised and our surroundings all affect our personal identity and also the identity of our community. Often the source of disagreements is rooted in cultural differences. When relocating to a new country, adapting to their culture can be quite a challenge but ultimately key to adjusting to our new surroundings as well as to being accepted into our new community.
There are many cultural differences between Salvadorean, American and European culture. For example, the traditional roles in the family unit have survived the test of time here. Husbands work, wives stay home and raise the children. Families and their extended family remain very close. Some even live together Read more
Coming to a foreign country you may be worried about culture shock, saying and doing the wrong thing and coming off as a jerk. But the worst part of culture shock is food shock. Looking down at your plate and thinking “What is that and did it just walk onto my plate?”. The good news is that for most of us foreigners, Salvadorian food doesn’t usually provoke that kind of reaction. It’s actually really tasty and mostly healthy. What kind of food should you mentally prepare for before coming to El Salvador? Here’s a summary of the basics.
• Pupusas and Curtido. Pupusas are basically corn stuffed tortillas, similar to Mexican gorditas. The dough is made from Masa (corn Read more
Apaneca’s location is what makes it perfect for harvesting coffee. At 1455 meters above sea level, it is the city with the highest altitude in El Salvador, and the next stop after Juayua on the Ruta de las Flores. Due to its height, some of the best coffees in the world are produced here.
Apaneca means “the river of the winds” and the city holds up to its name, with constant breezes throughout the day. Many wind barriers are created using coffee bushes, making the whole region very picturesque.
There are lost of different sights to see in Apaneca, such as the Laguna Verde and the Laguna de las Ninfas, and touring a coffee plantation is a must.
While in Read more
The greatest resource you can have when it comes to travel in Juayua (not counting a Spanish-English dictionary if you don’t speak the language) is the information available on www.juayua.com. The website is actually all in Spanish… so you will need that dictionary for sure!
Juayua.com has photo galleries of the city, a calendar of events, hotel listings, info on tour companies, restaurants, news, transportation and more. It is like one stop shopping for this little town that is talked about all over the internet as one of the best stops on the Route of the Flowers.
I think my favorite is the “Comida Rapida” section, which highlights the three “fast food” places in Juayua, all right by city Read more
So everyone knows the Food Festival in Juayua is where it’s at, but what if you arrive mid-week and are looking for somewhere to grub? Hit up the Pizzeria Al Forno… you won’t be disappointed.
In other countries I have traveled to, I often succumb, at least once, to eating at an American style pizza joint, like Pizza Hut, and I am always incredibly disappointed. Even in countries where there are local pizza chains, it is just never as good as Hungry Howies (GO MIDWEST PIZZA!).
Pizzeria Al Forno isn’t Midwest pizza, and it’s not a New York pie either, but it does what it does well. Pizzas are baked fresh, in about 15 minutes, and they use all fresh ingredients. Read more
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