San Salvador, USA

¨The U.S. Embassy considers El Salvador a critical crime-threat country. El Salvador has one of the highest homicide rates in the world ; violent crimes, as well as petty crimes are prevalent throughout El Salvador, and U.S. citizens have been among the victims. U.S. citizens in El Salvador should exercise caution at all times and practice good personal security procedures throughout their stay.¨
If I had read the U.S. Department of State´s website regarding travel in El Salvador prior to our trip through Central America, I probably would have had us either flying from Guatemala to Nicaragua or even taking our chances in Honduras, where a military coup was underway. I would have been constantly looking over my shoulder and assuming the worst in every Salvadoran man and woman I came across.

Lucky for me, I didn´t check the website.

After our amazing time at Playa El Tunco, we headed back to San Salvador, apparently one of the most dangerous cities. In this hostile city where even the houses in the ¨nice neighborhoods¨are hidden behind bars, deadbolts and razor wire, we somehow survived.

Let me tell you how we managed to survive...

First, we got our dirty clothes together to be washed at our hotel.

Next, we braved the streets of San Salvador by walking two blocks, crossing a busy street (from what I hear, pedestrian-vehicle collisions are common) and settling down for a savory meal of burgers, fries and cokes at Wendy´s.

After this scary ordeal, we continued several blocks down the street to the Metro Centro, a mall that is possibly only dwarfed by Mall of America. At one point, I found myself alone. Kyle and I were separated! I realized that I would have to do the unthinkable. I swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and went bra-shopping in San Salvador. The horror!

Unsuccessful in my shopping needs, we made our way out into the mall once again.

Here, surrounded by hordes of Salvadoran men, women and families, we fought for our lives...

to make sure and get tickets for the next showing of the new Harry Potter (in English with Spanish subtitles). Man, this city is tough.

After the movie finished, we walked out and found outselves standing in the dull afternoon heat. Our eyes met and we now knew what we had to do. Bravely, we crept along the main street again, cars zooming past mere feet from the sidewalk that we stood upon. Before we knew it, we were there. That´s right, home of the 5 dollar foot long (even in El Salvador). We ate our Subway sandwiches and made the arduous 3-block walk back to our hotel.

Collapsing on our bed, we turned on our T.V. just in time to watch Swing Vote, starring Kevin Costner (in English). Man, this day was tough.

Our time in El Salvador´s capital city was a terrifying ordeal of American burgers, movies and television. We walked the deadly streets and somehow managed to make it back alive.