Last May, I had the opportunity to visit El Salvador for work. My team was holding its Annual Meeting, and as the communications lead, my role involved developing the event's look and feel, as well as coordinating graphic design, photography, and video vendors. In addition, I was a speaker on two segments, which made me both excited and nervous ahead of the event. The weeks leading up to the meeting were very busy, leaving me little time to do research or make many reservations in advance, as I normally do. However, I relied on the recommendations of friends who had lived there and decided to go with the flow, truly taking in whatever I got to see or experience in the country.
The schedule ended up being as hectic as I anticipated, but I still managed to see some sights, which I wanted to outline in this post.
My first impression upon arriving was how green San Salvador was. The ride from the airport to the hotel was lined with trees and volcanoes, a sight that was nothing short of stunning. Additionally, I immediately noticed how friendly the people were. We stayed at the Hilton Hotel, which was in a great location and mesmerized me every morning with stunning views of the volcano, along with delicious fresh pupusas.
As a surprise to no one, food was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Every morning, I indulged in pupusas, the national dish of El Salvador, along with coffee. I was impressed by the high quality of the latter, which explains why it is so well-regarded globally.
I also had the chance to visit a few restaurants, and although I couldn't take the best pictures, these were my favorites:
Il Buongustaio: Located inside a boutique hotel, this Mediterranean restaurant was a great brunch option in a setting that felt secluded despite being in a popular area of the city. I really enjoyed the pistachio pancakes and, of course, many cups of coffee.
Lobby Gastrobar: Lobby was my favorite restaurant of the trip. It is located right next to Il Buongustaio, and as soon as we walked in, I knew I would love it; the decor and music were spot on. My friends and I were exhausted when we dined there, but we had quite a few frosés (which were delicious) and the best hummus I have ever had in my life.
Olor de Mar, located on El Zonte beach, was perfect for our arrival day when we just wanted to relax, feel the breeze, and enjoy good seafood. I achieved this goal with a watermelon and pineapple "raspado" as a starter drink, grilled shrimp with basil pesto rice (camarones rostizados) as the main dish, and the platanos sunset for dessert, all with a gorgeous view of the sea.
Cajamarca Bistro: Cajamarca is a stunning event venue located in the center of a coffee farm on the San Salvador volcano. We had a dinner party there on the first night of our event, and although it took place at night, I could tell it was a truly beautiful place. That’s why I decided to return for lunch on my last day in the country, this time at the bistro on the property. It turned out to be a great decision, as I got to walk around and discover the cutest colonial chapel. For food, I ordered a typical carne asada, the perfect follow-up to a much-needed meat soup after a night of drinking. As a souvenir, I highly recommend the Cajamarca Coffee Roasters coffee, which I brought home with me and enjoyed until the last bit.
In terms of sightseeing, on the second day of the event, we went on a tour of the city center, which I really appreciated, as it allowed me to gain a better understanding of the country and feel like I learned something valuable.
We visited landmarks like the Plaza de la Libertad, the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and one of the places that astonished me the most – the recently inaugurated Biblioteca Nacional de El Salvador (BINAES).
Regarding the event and my presentation, it went amazingly well! It gave me the opportunity to meet new people, strengthen friendships, and remind myself that I am capable of coming up with my best ideas at the last minute.
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