Over 3000 feet above mean sea level, this was a cool and quiet town. There was a zen-like peace in the center park. This place is famous for its local food: cassava salcochada cooked on firewood. I did not get a chance to try it since I spent only about an hour in the town.

You see that stall with that bored looking lady sitting there by herself with a bottle of water? What do you think it is?

It is a Bitcoin ATM and Bitcoin to cash conversion place! Did you know Bitcoin is an official currency in El Salvador? By far the most popular one is US Dollars, though!

My friend from the hotel – Paola Perez – who had helped me make all my arrangements had insisted that I visit Nahuizalco. I told Gabriel that we need to go there. He told me that it would be our first stop.

Very cute town. One of the colonial towns marked by the church, the central park and the market, it was a great place to observe the local people and their habits.

Right in the middle of the road… and I mean in the middle of traffic… juggling with three swords!!

El Salvador used to have a fairly active railway system. But it fell into disuse and does not exist any more. Although there is a government department to look after the railway lines that are not being used!! There is currently a proposal to revive railways in El Salvador.

This was one of the unused engine sitting out there in Sonsonate. From the wheel base, it looked like narrow gauge.

This is the national tree of El Salvador. I understand they come in pink and purple color too.
Although I did not get to see them. The yellow ones stood out exquisitely against the blue clear sky as the background.

This picture was taken from a running car. (explains the light smudges)

This highway – claimed to be the worlds’s longest highway – goes all the way from Alaska to the southernmost tip of Chile. There is a portion of it which is a “gap” in Panama called Darien Gap that is swampy and infested with gangs and cartels. You do not want to be there. One of my friends once cycled on this route and had to give up his bicycle as ransom to get out his kidnapping.

I have been on this road in Chile, Peru and the USA. Now El Salvador gets added to that list.

After a great day on the beaches and another day on the volcanoes, today is going to be the day to get to know the country and its people a little more intimately. We are going to visit small towns and see what goes on there. Experience a few local stuff and talk to local people.

Very excited about this part!

We are going to cover from one end to the other end of Rutas de las Flores. The first thing I learnt is that this “Route of the Flowers” does not refer to flowers but coffee plantations. Apparently, this country used to produce a lot of coffee at one point of time. Not as much today.

Did Didi win in El Salvador too?

(As a background to the rest, after Trinamul party won the elections in West Bengal, their leader, Mamata Banerjee – commonly known as Didi – lit up all the lamp posts in Kolkata with blue and white colors. You can still them if you go to Kolkata).

This was on the drive back from El Tunco to San Salvador after an ocean side dinner.

I saw this guy asking me “quieres un helado?”

Wait, am I seeing this right? There is a guy selling ice cream on the top of the lip of the crater. How did he get here so easily?

“Soy Rajib. Cual es tu nombre?” I put up a brave front.

“Carlos!”

For the rest of the conversation, I had to get my interlocutor Gabriel to help.

Turns out Carlos climbs up the volcano … every single day… with 100 ice creams on his shoulder. He charges $1.50 per ice cream.

That is his livelihood.

I could not get past the climbing up to the tallest peak in El Salvador everyday.

I gave him 3 bucks and told him that I do not eat ice cream. But he could offer free ice cream to two customers of his choice on this day.

And that I wanted a picture of him! To which he readily obliged!!