Pupusas on top of the world

So I made it to San Salvador safe and sound despite traveling through Honduras during a military coup. I actually didn´t even notice there was a coup happening, nor did I know anything about it until Walberto and Larry from CBC told me when they picked me up at the Tica Bus station.

Before arriving here, I spent a lovely 4 days in Managua visiting friends in Barrio Walter Ferretti and La Centroamerica. I´ll post pictures next time, as I don´t feel comfortable yet wandering around San Salvador with my camera. There has been a lot of gang violence in the barrio in the last year- basically, if you´re a teenage boy, your life is in danger just sitting outside of your house. Last week, a 19-year old was killed with a machete by members of Los Perros, although he wasn't part of any gang himself. Despite this, I got to meet my friend Gustavo's new 3-month old baby girl, take everyone out for pupusas, get caught up on gossip, and eat my friend Tere's unbeatably delicious pollo asado, tostones and frijoles molidos. Being in Managua felt like being home again, with the intense heat, chaotic streets and hot sticky school buses belting out clouds of exhaust. And it was so nice to spend time with everyone there.

Here in San Sal, Larry and Walberto gave me a wonderful welcome. First they dropped me off at my apartment in a pretty upscale neighborhood right behind the Chilean embassy. It´s probably the nicest place I've lived in all my travels in Central America. After resting for a couple of hours, they took me out for pupusas in Los Planes, a hilltop scenic overlook of the city surrounded by tiny pupuserías with wooden tables set up on the sidewalk. Larry and Walberto are perhaps two of the most warm and welcoming people I've ever met. I immediately felt comfortable with them as we talked about the coup, the work of CBC, and life in San Salvador and Managua. This week I'll be my orientation week, so I'll post more about CBC's work later on. Saludos!