Mon 0831 in bed, didn't sleep too badly overall, got this vague kind of, oh no, I don't want to deal with all the crap today feeling, I think I've just maybe got this idea that the bus service here is going to be strangely awful even though I kind of know there's supposedly like an air-conditioned bus and there's a bus terminal and I think I've just kind of formed this slightly strange impression that everything is absolutely chaotic and unmanageable from talking to Juan the other day.
I think I've also got this vague idea that I'm going to feel really kind of pressured in Santa Ana, which I need to fight against, is that I've just got visions of either not being able to do stuff or like having to get up at seven in the morning to go on some trip to the lake or the volcano and it's it's fine right it should be fine but it just all feels a little bit strenuous or empty but anyway it's fine I think the thing you just take today as it comes get over there hopefully get settled in at the hostel have something to eat maybe have a few beers maybe chat with someone maybe not absolutely fine don't worry about what I'm going to do tomorrow specifically it should all be fine I think it's about an hour or two on the bus it depends whether you get the fast ones or the slow ones but it really ought to be fine I don't really know when the bus goes but I'm vaguely intending to get up nine-ish pack slowly and then perhaps head out 10 maybe walk over to the bus terminal but we'll see what happens
I do feel a bit bad about this very waffly, crappy voice typing blog, but I think the main thing, as I've said before, is to get stuff down and capture what's happening and what I'm thinking, without worrying too much about it, even if it's not going to be as nice to read in the future. I maybe should make a bit more of an effort at points to type stuff up using the on-screen keyboard, or circumstances for getting that bluetooth keyboard out, but this is better than nothing, and I think what with being in a dorm when I'm there, I maybe do a bit of typing on the on-screen keyboard, or maybe get the keyboard out, because there might be some common area I'll want to sit in. Anyway, we'll see what happens. While it's easy to make excuses, it does feel like the last few days I haven't actually been hanging around at the hotel very much, so I haven't had that much chance to really write things up calmly and without wanting to go to bed or something. But I mean, it's probably going to continue like that, with any luck it almost will, because it's nice if I'm busy and doing stuff, but maybe there'll just be a natural point where I'll be sitting around for an hour or two and it's quite nice to actually write. Just to be clear, there's no chair in the room so it probably wouldn't be great using the Bluetooth keyboard here. I'm sure I could probably have sat somewhere out in the lobby or something and done it there. I mean it would feel a tiny bit weird but the primary reason I haven't even thought about that is just that I've been generally out or going out or whatever.
Tue 0936 OK, so didn't get a chance to write this up yesterday. On the whole things going surprisingly well with some ups and downs.
I only got up about 15 mins ago but had been semi awake in dorm (which incidentally I only realises this morning is huge considering it has two bunk beds in). I am feeling some self generated pressure/guilt to do stuff/about being lazy but TBH I am probably not going to force myself and also to some extent despite the bigger ticket stuff here (the volcano, Coatepeque lake, both of which probably involve getting out earlier than I have) there are actually loads of free or cheap swimming options here and given the guilt/desire I have to try to swim albeit tempered by general open air pool sun exposure concerns, I am probably going to go for a slog up the other hill during the day and then try to swim 3-4pmish and that will be a reasonably "productive" day of touristing. I can then maybe see about eg the volcano tomorrow and if not I am almost certainly coming back here soon after the event this weekend for ruta de las Flores etc.
So yesterday I walked over to the bus terminal (occidente) about 45-50 mins, it was warm but not insane and it's exercise and also makes me more familiar with the city and the terminal (and I am fairly likely to be passing through both on and off). Almost hidden by a load of small restaurant type stalls out front which tbh were tempting (but also very hot with all the stoves) but I wandered through. It wasn't super clear where/how/which buses to santa ana might have been fast/aircon, there was one enquiry desk but it had a specific company name on so I wasn't sure about asking them. Long story short I nearly went to ask the driver of one fancyish coach but the door shut as I was edging down there, and I saw a lot of locals lining up to get on a somewhat beaten up coach (but not an ex-us schoolbus) which said santa Ana so I got on that and paid a dollar.
And it was fine no aircon but windows open. Hardly anyone on it. Stopped a few times but not constantly. Maybe an hour and a half or so for the trip and most of that was probably edging through traffic in the suburbs of both cities. And the warmth was oddly pleasant and cosy not sweaty, a bit like being in bed, and I did also find myself wanting to nod off.
Walked over to hostel and checked in no problem, very friendly guy on reception, got lower bunk, no other guests around. They have some suggested activities here and I decided to go have a look at some of the pools on Organic Maps and walk up to cerro tecano for the view. Hostel hires scooters and is maybe a bit oriented around that, they say this is a 25 min walk but no way is it, to jump ahead I reckon it took me about 50 to walk back *from the bottom of the trail*.
So I spoke to a guy at one pool/sports place, it is usd 3 and there are no lockers and it is open air. However I think I did see this pool from the top of the hill and it looks kind of nice and a bit in a valley and shaded.
I also wandered over to another nearby pool or maybe the same one, it isn't super clear, but similar story though didn't speak to anyone. There is also a completely free pool and I have a vague notion of walking over there today to check it out (but not swim during the day) - it may also be worth paying for the other one as it may be quieter.
I then started (and tbh I was starting to feel a bit down and whining to myself) to look for the route up cerro tecano which looked like - and indeed is - on the far side and rather hard to get to, but I had hoped there was a route up the near side so went over there for a look, and called in at a slightly weird supermarket and got some elotitos con chile and a bottle of water and a small packet of takis fuego (first of the trip) and ate them as I had effectively ruled myself out of eating lunch in town by this point. (This is also one reason I kind if want to maybe not go nuts today on tourism and I may depending how time etc goes not do some of the planned stuff. I haven't gone insane on doing stuff but yesterday was mildly strenuous and a quietish day wouldn't hurt too much.) I got some mildly helpful directions (but not very) from woman on checkout.
Anyway, I guzzled the snack and navigated through the mildly dog-ridden and slightly rural streets (distinctly different feel to the city proper, chickens running round) up to the trail and then went up.
Supermarjets here just give you carrier bags BTW. No charge, no fuss. It is great. Towards the top of the trail the carrier bag I stupidly had in my hand instead of putting it in my daylack got caught on a bush and tore and I was surprisingly gutted at having it ruined.
Anyway, the walk up was quite nice and I had it to myself, though there were other people (locals I think) at the top and I met others coming up as I was going down. The guy at hostel desk had said it was good for sunset and maybe it is (eg those people going up as I came down) but TBH even with my timing I felt I was cutting it fine bearing in mind I was walking the whole way and the somewhat dog-infested nature of the rural streets. View from top was pretty cool. Despite the lock teenish crowd sitting up on the base of the cross and in part because of watching some go up, I went up there myself - the climb is not hard (but I was worrying about coming back down) but I was still pleased with myself for doing it and it did feel just a tiny bit semi-pleasurably dangerous up there, the idea of going over the sharply inclined and irregular edges felt very real and I was super cautious with my phone and zipping it back into my pocket after taking photos etc.
I did try to be a little meditative and appreciate the moment etc when I was up there, especially when not on the town side and below the cross where I had the space to myself.
I was a bit low on water but was just about OK.
So I slogged back to hostel as it was getting dark. I was feeling a bit BNM (and all this in a somewhat irrational way, given how well things has been going socially over last few days and that I had hardly been at hostel long etc, so a bit of fortune telling and general self-inflicted mental shit and assumptions and stuff here). I has a shower and shaved and was heading out for food when a guy at the desk called out to me and it was Cassiano from the meetup. We chatted a bit (me feeling a bit awkward and loserish for no massively clear reason) and I went out for food. And despite the streets all having been rammed with market stalls etc earlier it was a massive transformation at about 7pm at night, the city felt dead.
I think I was mildly in need of food (albeit not that hungry and I had eaten that junk) and maybe it was affecting my mental state. I went down one street and a couple of bloody dogs started barking at me (and this is in the centre more or less) and I turned round and that was perhaps a good idea and they sort of tried to get round me a bit. An old woman called "vaya" and showed them off but they kept coming round a bit so I just kept walking back the way i'd come and they did leave me alone but I was a bit pissed off and mildly shaken. Don't expect this in a city at 7pm.
As is always the way, I couldnt find anywhere acceptable to eat because I was desperate - after I saw loads, of course. I nearly went into KFC - well, I did - but I wasn't going to pay USD 6-7 for a basic meal. I finally grabbed a breast and a leg and a huge bottle of Pepsi (50 cents for 355ml or a dollar for 1.25 litre, so I couldn't resist the larger) but had to eat it rather furtively and awkwardly in the street and it was so hot it was a struggle but it did help mental state I think.
This was right by main square so I sat there for a bit finishing my Pepsi and then went back to hostel. I asked if I could buy a beer but they don't sell it but recommended a supermarket two blocks away. Went there - actually the nicest big supermarket I have been in yet - and got three cans of Carta Blanca for 1.40 each and brought them back to hostel. I was a bit awkward and sat to one side of a group chatting (which was perhaps a bit weak given Cassiano was there - he invited me to join then just after) and did get chatting with people. All very amicable really and we ended up going to a surprisingly nice bar (La Berga I think) where I ended up chatting to some other people who had joined us English route. Spoke to Canadian woman and her possibly Dutch travel buddy and they were both very bullish on Nicaragua and also confirmed the existence of the boat (Dutch woman had apparently been exchanging WAs with captain) so while I am maybe not rushing over there ASAP and we will see if el Salvador has too many attractions for me to go, I am quitely likely to still head over there post ruta de las Flores.
Got back about midnight-1 and cleaned teeth and slept broadly fine I think. Not really hungover this morning but I really didn't feel like (as had been a vague plan) getting up 7ish to try to go swim at one of the pools 8ish. It isn't as if I an a morning person in general, despite not being really hungover it isn't as if diet or rest yesterday had been amazing etc. I also vaguely guilty wondered if I should go do the daily walking tour at 930 but TBH I don't massively fancy it and it is definitely not a must do.
So I am sitting here on terrace feeling slightly bnm but most of the people from last night are sitting around (but it is a bit more sub-groupy than last night, slightly, and also most are talking Spanish and while they may be over-confident or I am over-modest, I suspect they are at a somewhat higher level than I am - there is also an Argentinian guy here who I spoke to a bit last night who clearly doesn't rate my Spanish at all, in a way I find a bit at odds with eg my successful discussions at the meetup the other night, so it might not be entirely welcome in language grounds alone if I forced my way in, and except for the bnm feeling I actually want to just ait here and write this and decide what to do and be vaguely chilled, I just wish I felt a bit less bnm about it. Have exchanged brief words with Cassiano and Mifch fwiw.)
It is also vaguely somehow reassuring that these people *are* sitting around in the hostel at this time in the morning and are not all off on activities. Albeit I think most of then have already done the volcano.
There is no water so the bathrooms (ie toilets) can't be used. Sign say this is a city thing not just here so I genuinely don't know if I am going to be unable to have a piss or a shit for ages. I am not desperate just now but this isn't ideal of course. Hostel does coffee (not super cheap but not terrible - 1.5ish) and I was and am vaguely tempted but what has decided me against it is that I dont want to encourage my bowels to start moving when there are no toilets.
I am feeling a mix of pleasantly relaxed and also pressured about wasting time and wishing I had a longer/indefinite trip etc.
Fwiw I have not actually spoken any Spanish with the people at the hostel (except the guy when I checked in), for context on the whether they are too high a level to want to put up with my Spanish etc stuff above.
1652 back at hostel with a 900ml whole milk which I am drinking cold. It is uht from the taste but still nice. Abortive effort at going swimming, both sihuatehuacan (sp) and nearby sapopa (def sp) close 4pm and 430 respectively and I turned up at sih a few mins before 4. Ffs. Swimming has been vaguely looming all day (I cannot swim too early cos of uv) and then I fucked it up. Could have gone at 3 if I'd only known/remembered, especially as has been fairly cloud today so hopefully less uv. I had no phone with me when I got to pools and couldn't swim as there is afaik no locker so had left it back at hostel so I couldn't check the location of the free and probably 24h pool on calle china to fall back on, I did make a foray up some street with a vague hope of ibtersecting called china but that turned into a dead end and I gave up.
Still no water at hostel which is mildly concerning (we can't use the toilets, we have drinking water). I did on advice of guy at desk trog over to Metrocentro Santa Ana (2km each way) as they were bound to have water and I has a dump there. After that I got a nice but bit pricey usd 1.50 fresh orange juice squeezed in front of me (from green skin oranges, and with sugar added - they asked and I said yes) and served in a plastic bag with ice and a straw and I went to cafe Manhattan for a couple of pupusas.
This morning I walked up the hill at the west side of town which is much closer to hostel (albeit vaguely edgy about whether I'd need toilet) and that was pretty cool. At the top I was trying to see if you could get higher up and was walking down road towards which might have been the observation tower when a guy in apickup offered me a ride in the back and after some confusion (my Spanish was really bad here for whatever reason, maybe he had a strong accent or I was edgy) I got in and from watching map on phone as I bumped (mostly standing after initial sit on tailgate - there was a sort of cage) along I realised we were going past where the lookout might have been and in the end after stopping for him to probably get some snacks (maybe his own home? Far from ckear - some kids came out and maybe money changed hands) where I gobout and thanked him and said I could walk he said he was going in so I got back on we picked up two young boys who I said hi to but was a bit shy with in retrospect but they did talk to me one or twice though I was really struggling with Spanish, maybe due to wondering where the hell id end up, but the map suggested the road looped round down to a sort of highway and it ildid and I got out there and ahook everyone's hand and offer him money for petrol which he declined (not sure if I should've done this but have read about this as hitchhiking etiquette and this felt like it slightly overlapped) I got out and waved goodbye. And I then ended up walking 3km along the main road back into town, but it was kind of a cool experience anyway and probably worth it.
I really don't know what to do tonight or tomorrow. I vaguely feel I ought to do volcano or the crater lake swim but I have an idea the volcano is half closed and getting up for 7am bus or whatever sounds a bit miserable and I could maybe do it another time when it may be fully open. And the crater lake sounds cool but it is another bus job and there is the swimming angle of awkwardness with clothes and storage and stuff and open air swimming with strong uv and tbh it might be as well just to have a swim here early (8am) and then fins something else to do with the rest of the day or putter around a bit.
Honestly it is somehow not that big a deal but at the same time not being able to go to the toilet in the hostel or possibly anywhere nearby is a serious pisser, no pun intended.
1845 went out for walk with Cassiano and a German guy (Lewis?) And we got some 3 for USD1 plus and had them back at hostel. Maybe some sort of Spanish class at 7, free? Probably very basic but wth.
I asked if anywhere nearby has toilets and was told we can use toilets here with some water bottles to fill cistern, so that is a load off (pun not intended but I will go with it).
Also asked and volcano is partially closed due to weather and going next week would likely be better. Also wrt coatepeque lake Cassiano says it is good and showed us cideo, I spike to hostel chap who said (as Lewis had) there is a hostel there and it is not insanely expensive, especially for being on the lake. So while it maybe slightly time wasting, by current feeling is to try to swim tonorrow early 8am putter around rest of day, go back to ss on Thursday then come back here (barring very pressing conference neetups urging me to go elsewhere), perhaps put in two nights and do the volcano, then do ruta de las Flores and probably come back here and make a side trip to the hostel by the lake then - that being less time critical that ruta de las Flores, and I can book in advance, and then I can swim there without stress about getting restaurant to look after my stuff etc etc.
Typing all this with on-screen keyboard as no privacy to dictate and its all quite piecemeal so I don't want to go get the by keyboard.
Wed 1759 at cafe Manhattan for dinner. So we had the spanish class at 7ish, with alcoholic refreshnent thrown in, then we went to the Chicken Bus Bar (owned by hostel) and had a free drink and some beers and I got chatting to various people there and ended up going on to a sort of club and then (this apparently being the done thing) at about 2 we got some ubers and went to a gas station (my group went to the wrong one first) getting some beers en route and sat outside.
I didn't actually drink an insane amount given the length of time but I got home about 430 or maybe closer to 5. I was semi-awake and not exactly hungover but tired quite early and I basically stayed in bed til about 2, reading etx.
I was going to go swim at sihuatehuacan but by the time I got out of hostel and over there it was nearly 330 and it shuts at 4 so I decided that was sillly and went over to sopopa but it is shut Wednesday (it would have been open til 430 another day though, so not quite so pushed for time) but I had looked up roughly how to get to the free pool and with a little bit of luck I got there without my phone. It was quite nice actually, busy but so big I had plenty of room to swim. I had worn trunks out under trousers, I left my bag with a stall (I bought some fried yucca from them after, bit oricey at 1.50 but it was nice and I looked on it as quid pro quo for looking after my bag and declining any payment). Xhanged afterwards in a small changing cubicle.
The water was cold on getting in but not bad after. As I had been told, there are fish in there - I think it is sort of a stream which is diverted and the water flows through thete. If you stand still the fish come round and it feels like they are sort of nibbling at your legs, which is odd but quite cool.
I did/do feel a bit guilty about last night but I don't think I was really a particular idiot or anything. I think the swim helped although (probably just because it was tiring and I am never that good etc) I did suddenly get a slight burst of homesickness.
A guy I had been chatting to last night who had said he was coming to my hostel turned up as I went out just before swimming and we greeted each other etc.
1908 back at hostel. Bumped into Lewis on walk back, we had a brief chap. Incidentally I think the guy I was with last night who was slightly spongy but not bad and was sort of leading our Uber group was in reception with Mitch when I went out for dinner and I wasn't quite sure I recognised him and it was a tiny bit awkward but not bad.
I feel very slightly under the weather. I felt it when I was eating the avocado at Manhattan, I don't despise them like I used to but I really don't like them much and I felt bought to eat it as it was fruit/veg and healthy etc. But my stomach feels just the tiniest bit oss.
I think there maybe a pupusa cooking class on now which I didn't really want to do (although it is apparently free) but I an having kind of stupid "maybe unshould have done it, will regret it" type thoughts about it, like it is a huge deal. Or for that matter as though I won't be here again when it is not implausible I will be here for it another time if I really wanted to.
I felt a tiny bit sad to be leaving when walking through main square (red tshirt, and feelng very slightly cold in the fresh brerze - post swimming I also felt a bit cold with long sleeve top on except when I got refreshing warm bursts from the low afternoon sun. I hope I am not coming down with anything, I don't think there is much to this except maybe slightly poor diet etx and maybe some aftereffects from last night. But i was feeling a bit sad to leave as i said, although I'd also sort of half like to put last night behind me a bit, but I am not really leaving, I am really just popping back to san Salvador for a couple of nights as I am almost certainly coming straight back here after to do ruta de las Flores etc as noted earlier.
Guys playing shithead. I don't want to join in (I never remember the rules) and don't feel too bad, actually sort of vaguely comfortable sitting here, and I also half kind of just want to sit here and go to bed early. I do have three beers in the fridge so I just might have one of them later or two or three, bit no rish. I might try to leave them here til I return or maybe leave them for someone else as a freebie or maybe take one or two back to san Salvador.
Thu 1108 on terrace with coffee, then leaving. Just got some advice about rural de las Flores from Douglas.
Last night pretty cool. Cooking class started late so I joined in anyway. Made an enchilada (which is not like Mexican ones - its a hard tortilla with bean paste, chopped egg, a local not spicy pixo de gallo variant or curtido on, and maybe something else I forgot) and a couple of pupusas which was pretty cool. We got free vodka and coke/orange during it, class was free (albeit I had seen a $12 figure somewhere) and we went to chicken bus after and started with a free vodka and orange. Played beer pong for first time ever, we lost but I wasn't astonishingly terrible. Then giant Jenga (memories of Liv St) and we stayed on doing karaoke til 2 and then a somewhat smaller group on (we walked) to gasolinera de los mariachis (the one we went to first yesterday, though too late/wrong day for mariachis either day, but yes apparently they perform there) where we (me, Alexey, Stefan(o) and Mirch) met some locals (Jorge, Josue, Elizabeth?) who invited us over and we had a chat and some drinks. Mitch called an Uber about 4 and I'd half have liked to stay but it was actually pretty smart to leave.
Stefan sleeping in bunk above me and he invited me to join the walking tour this morning but I said I was leaving, of course. Nice of him though, and we had a pretty good chat last night (he is 34ish so way younger than me but just a bit older than most people who are early-mid 20s).
1138 clinging on here a bit, oddly reluctant to start the journey, which is really more of a FAFF than anything terrible. Let's go.
1239 bit of a duck rest. Just got on 201 at the stop near mwtrocentro (two dollars) after initially going to terminal occudente and hanging round and not daring to ask anyone and looking on web still, all ok now.
FWIW the pool I went to yesterday was Apanteos, if I didn't say.
As I left hostel Douglas was giving a woman a scooter driving lesson on road outside. I half wonder if I should take steps to learn this sort of thing (eg back home, not here) but there are all sorts of concerns, especially around my paper non-photo driving licence, and while being able to rent a scooter in places like this would be very helpful in some ways it also feels very much like something I should just accept is not for me - the whole driving business with the risk of getting killed, killing someone, getting arrested, causing damage to expensive vehicles, etc, just feels like an absolute nightmare. Somewhat torn.
I never got round to drinking my three beers in fridge last night so have left them there. They may be there when I return and I'd not someone will drink them, they won't go off or be wasted.
Jorge last night recommended something del diablo - maybe pasillo del diablo? - in San Salvador, about Isabelle round trip by uber. Worth noting for next visit there, not this weekend.
Must admit that I am still a bit confused about this de las Flires despite helpful advice from douglass. I am also likely to miss out on viewpoints being in busea not own tranaport but can't be helped. But there are like 7 towns and you don't need to stop in all of them and can do two towns a day sometimes and three days is fine without rushing, but how the hell am I going to have time to see anything? I get the buses are probably fairly short hops if maybe infrequent but if I am supposed to be hiking out to waterfalls or taking tuk tuks out there when does that fit in.? It feels like a nightmare if checking into hostels and rushing off that afternoon to do a hike or something and staying one night and then repeating the process the next day maybe it will make sense when I do it. I guess I do not have to rush but I also don't want to burn weeks doing it. I am just genuinely confused.
I will try to finally post this entry when I get to san Salvador. I plan to not drink today (TBH I have not been particularly excessively drunk even Saturday night, but still, it is cumilatively quite a lot, insofar as I have actually any idea - I haven't been writing each drink down because of the way things work) and I may even see if I can get some bread and ham and gorge on sandwiches tonight. I also hope to be able to wash some clothes, ideally openly or using a washing machine for cheap, but maybe furtively in sink. I do have some clean from home and will likely change from black troysers been wearing si far to grey trousers for the event over the weekend.
1308 exchanging wa with the hostel (I suspect it is a private let in biggish apartment really) - this is frankly a bit of a faff but not end if world, and it is good to have the local sim and WhatsApp in the a06 for this sort of stuff. Guy is being not unpleasant but a tiny bit annoying asking me for arrival time estimates even though I already gave one yesterday. Not a big deal.
Preregistration is open today but I am unlikely to trog over there just to do it, Zona Rosa is miles away and it seems silly to pay like USD 10 round trip in an uber just for this. I will just have to try to be there early tomorrow (an early night tonight would be good anyway) and accept some queuing etc.
Hope to meet people (Perhaps even some with common interests who live in London?) And we will play it by ear but barring very tempting invitations my inclination is to go straight back to Santa Ana and ruta de las Flores etc after event and then maybe go to eg berlin en route to nicaragua after, and there's a fair chance I will catch up with some people i met anyway.
Experimentally bumped llm strength on keyboard up to 4.8 from default 3.4. No idea if this will be a good idea or not but wth.
1836 At Don Taco just by parque cuscatlan trying my first ever horchata. Come out for a walk as bit atuffed after gorging on sandwiches and diet coke at the Accom. I got checked in fine, chap seems nice enough, basically have a double room in a small apartment with probably a local woman who I haven't seen yet - she wasn't there when I checked in (so did snap some photos of the other room). Owner seems nice enough and possibly as a subtle quid pro quo for me not making a fuss about him turning up very slightly late has said that as I have few clothes (fwiw 1 trousers, 3 tops, 3 sets is) he will wash them for free. (He also said I could hand wash if I wanted earlier and there are hooks, so may depending on busyness also do this over next few days.
Went out to try to find a supermarket and bought milk, coke, kolachampana (sp), bread, ham, water. And had a shower and sorted clothes for washing and was in room eating and drinking coke and reading and cone out as I felt a bit bloated and the room while OK has no window and I thought getting out might be nice.
Ok, the horchata is actually really nice. The taste is vaguely chocolatey and I half wonder if I have actually had this or something similar before. Usd 2 but not too bad.
I was stupidly reading on phone on bus over and it gave me a slight headachey sickness and perhaps contributed to a modest feeling of health worry and homesickness.
FWIW it is pleasantly cool out now, verging on just slightly cold as the wind gets up. In general the weather so far has been pretty good - hot at times but not iirc ever absolutely "omfg I am dying" kind of heat and/or sweatiness etc, and there is usually some intermittent breeze or prospect of shade. I have often had fans on at night but not always and I don't think theybare strictly necessary, but probably nice. Just sleeping with a sheet as is almost certainly standard - no one has offered me a blanket or had one on the bed yet.
1849 vaguely tempted to get a coffee but probably won't. I've had plenty of caffeine with the coke zero I guess. Need to shave and not sure if I should do it in morning or tonight or both.
I only really popped out for a quick walk and to get a bit of air and to help feel I hadn't absolutely "wasted" the day (though tbh having a fridge full of cold drinks and gorging on sandwiches and just reading in my room was kind of cool of course).
Yeah, let's stop milking the dregs of this horchata as the ice melts and walks slowly back. I paid when I got it bit I almost certainly should have just gone to the caja to pay now as I am leaving, small lesson learned I guess.
2137 ok been lying on bed and not quite falling asleep but sort of. I had half hoped to get write some more general stuff on here tonight but it is fine, if a lazy evening is what I sort of wanted then that's ok. I am a tiny bit edgy about getting up and getting to event tomorrow but just have to make an effort and I think I am going to go clean teeth etc and move towards bed now.
2159 done teeth, there is no sink in the bathroom so I had to do them at the kitchen sink which is weird, and may make shaving awkward tomorrow (I may have to abuse things a bit by using a cup from kitchen to shave in my room at the mirror there) but not shaving tonight.
I ought to try to send this now. May not get much time to write stiff up over the event but we will see how it goes. The meetup I went to my first full day here has an after event one day (not sure which) but it feels moderately likely there will be something I can do the other night. Not seen woman or couple yet, whoever is in other room. As of right now the owner hasn't taken the bag of clothes I left by the washing machine but not making a fuss especially as he is doing it free. I have clean from home clothes to get me through the event.
I also made a modest effort to set my shoes with fingers at kitchen tap and sort of rub them a bit to try to get the accumulated dust off, but it may or may not do any good. They aren't actively muddy or anything, just dusty.
Been wearing flip flops a bit round flat mainly just to avoid dirtying the fresh pair of socks as much as I otherwise would, since I want to present as well as I can tomorrow and I got changed a bit ahead of schedule because of the clothes washing opportunity.
2215 going to send this now, I can always start a new entry if I really want to write more tonight. I feel vaguely bad this is so long but I don't suppose it really matters.
2221 had brief proof read kind of skim and fixed the odd mistake but this is all pretty rough and ready of course.
I think I've also got this vague idea that I'm going to feel really kind of pressured in Santa Ana, which I need to fight against, is that I've just got visions of either not being able to do stuff or like having to get up at seven in the morning to go on some trip to the lake or the volcano and it's it's fine right it should be fine but it just all feels a little bit strenuous or empty but anyway it's fine I think the thing you just take today as it comes get over there hopefully get settled in at the hostel have something to eat maybe have a few beers maybe chat with someone maybe not absolutely fine don't worry about what I'm going to do tomorrow specifically it should all be fine I think it's about an hour or two on the bus it depends whether you get the fast ones or the slow ones but it really ought to be fine I don't really know when the bus goes but I'm vaguely intending to get up nine-ish pack slowly and then perhaps head out 10 maybe walk over to the bus terminal but we'll see what happens
I do feel a bit bad about this very waffly, crappy voice typing blog, but I think the main thing, as I've said before, is to get stuff down and capture what's happening and what I'm thinking, without worrying too much about it, even if it's not going to be as nice to read in the future. I maybe should make a bit more of an effort at points to type stuff up using the on-screen keyboard, or circumstances for getting that bluetooth keyboard out, but this is better than nothing, and I think what with being in a dorm when I'm there, I maybe do a bit of typing on the on-screen keyboard, or maybe get the keyboard out, because there might be some common area I'll want to sit in. Anyway, we'll see what happens. While it's easy to make excuses, it does feel like the last few days I haven't actually been hanging around at the hotel very much, so I haven't had that much chance to really write things up calmly and without wanting to go to bed or something. But I mean, it's probably going to continue like that, with any luck it almost will, because it's nice if I'm busy and doing stuff, but maybe there'll just be a natural point where I'll be sitting around for an hour or two and it's quite nice to actually write. Just to be clear, there's no chair in the room so it probably wouldn't be great using the Bluetooth keyboard here. I'm sure I could probably have sat somewhere out in the lobby or something and done it there. I mean it would feel a tiny bit weird but the primary reason I haven't even thought about that is just that I've been generally out or going out or whatever.
Tue 0936 OK, so didn't get a chance to write this up yesterday. On the whole things going surprisingly well with some ups and downs.
I only got up about 15 mins ago but had been semi awake in dorm (which incidentally I only realises this morning is huge considering it has two bunk beds in). I am feeling some self generated pressure/guilt to do stuff/about being lazy but TBH I am probably not going to force myself and also to some extent despite the bigger ticket stuff here (the volcano, Coatepeque lake, both of which probably involve getting out earlier than I have) there are actually loads of free or cheap swimming options here and given the guilt/desire I have to try to swim albeit tempered by general open air pool sun exposure concerns, I am probably going to go for a slog up the other hill during the day and then try to swim 3-4pmish and that will be a reasonably "productive" day of touristing. I can then maybe see about eg the volcano tomorrow and if not I am almost certainly coming back here soon after the event this weekend for ruta de las Flores etc.
So yesterday I walked over to the bus terminal (occidente) about 45-50 mins, it was warm but not insane and it's exercise and also makes me more familiar with the city and the terminal (and I am fairly likely to be passing through both on and off). Almost hidden by a load of small restaurant type stalls out front which tbh were tempting (but also very hot with all the stoves) but I wandered through. It wasn't super clear where/how/which buses to santa ana might have been fast/aircon, there was one enquiry desk but it had a specific company name on so I wasn't sure about asking them. Long story short I nearly went to ask the driver of one fancyish coach but the door shut as I was edging down there, and I saw a lot of locals lining up to get on a somewhat beaten up coach (but not an ex-us schoolbus) which said santa Ana so I got on that and paid a dollar.
And it was fine no aircon but windows open. Hardly anyone on it. Stopped a few times but not constantly. Maybe an hour and a half or so for the trip and most of that was probably edging through traffic in the suburbs of both cities. And the warmth was oddly pleasant and cosy not sweaty, a bit like being in bed, and I did also find myself wanting to nod off.
Walked over to hostel and checked in no problem, very friendly guy on reception, got lower bunk, no other guests around. They have some suggested activities here and I decided to go have a look at some of the pools on Organic Maps and walk up to cerro tecano for the view. Hostel hires scooters and is maybe a bit oriented around that, they say this is a 25 min walk but no way is it, to jump ahead I reckon it took me about 50 to walk back *from the bottom of the trail*.
So I spoke to a guy at one pool/sports place, it is usd 3 and there are no lockers and it is open air. However I think I did see this pool from the top of the hill and it looks kind of nice and a bit in a valley and shaded.
I also wandered over to another nearby pool or maybe the same one, it isn't super clear, but similar story though didn't speak to anyone. There is also a completely free pool and I have a vague notion of walking over there today to check it out (but not swim during the day) - it may also be worth paying for the other one as it may be quieter.
I then started (and tbh I was starting to feel a bit down and whining to myself) to look for the route up cerro tecano which looked like - and indeed is - on the far side and rather hard to get to, but I had hoped there was a route up the near side so went over there for a look, and called in at a slightly weird supermarket and got some elotitos con chile and a bottle of water and a small packet of takis fuego (first of the trip) and ate them as I had effectively ruled myself out of eating lunch in town by this point. (This is also one reason I kind if want to maybe not go nuts today on tourism and I may depending how time etc goes not do some of the planned stuff. I haven't gone insane on doing stuff but yesterday was mildly strenuous and a quietish day wouldn't hurt too much.) I got some mildly helpful directions (but not very) from woman on checkout.
Anyway, I guzzled the snack and navigated through the mildly dog-ridden and slightly rural streets (distinctly different feel to the city proper, chickens running round) up to the trail and then went up.
Supermarjets here just give you carrier bags BTW. No charge, no fuss. It is great. Towards the top of the trail the carrier bag I stupidly had in my hand instead of putting it in my daylack got caught on a bush and tore and I was surprisingly gutted at having it ruined.
Anyway, the walk up was quite nice and I had it to myself, though there were other people (locals I think) at the top and I met others coming up as I was going down. The guy at hostel desk had said it was good for sunset and maybe it is (eg those people going up as I came down) but TBH even with my timing I felt I was cutting it fine bearing in mind I was walking the whole way and the somewhat dog-infested nature of the rural streets. View from top was pretty cool. Despite the lock teenish crowd sitting up on the base of the cross and in part because of watching some go up, I went up there myself - the climb is not hard (but I was worrying about coming back down) but I was still pleased with myself for doing it and it did feel just a tiny bit semi-pleasurably dangerous up there, the idea of going over the sharply inclined and irregular edges felt very real and I was super cautious with my phone and zipping it back into my pocket after taking photos etc.
I did try to be a little meditative and appreciate the moment etc when I was up there, especially when not on the town side and below the cross where I had the space to myself.
I was a bit low on water but was just about OK.
So I slogged back to hostel as it was getting dark. I was feeling a bit BNM (and all this in a somewhat irrational way, given how well things has been going socially over last few days and that I had hardly been at hostel long etc, so a bit of fortune telling and general self-inflicted mental shit and assumptions and stuff here). I has a shower and shaved and was heading out for food when a guy at the desk called out to me and it was Cassiano from the meetup. We chatted a bit (me feeling a bit awkward and loserish for no massively clear reason) and I went out for food. And despite the streets all having been rammed with market stalls etc earlier it was a massive transformation at about 7pm at night, the city felt dead.
I think I was mildly in need of food (albeit not that hungry and I had eaten that junk) and maybe it was affecting my mental state. I went down one street and a couple of bloody dogs started barking at me (and this is in the centre more or less) and I turned round and that was perhaps a good idea and they sort of tried to get round me a bit. An old woman called "vaya" and showed them off but they kept coming round a bit so I just kept walking back the way i'd come and they did leave me alone but I was a bit pissed off and mildly shaken. Don't expect this in a city at 7pm.
As is always the way, I couldnt find anywhere acceptable to eat because I was desperate - after I saw loads, of course. I nearly went into KFC - well, I did - but I wasn't going to pay USD 6-7 for a basic meal. I finally grabbed a breast and a leg and a huge bottle of Pepsi (50 cents for 355ml or a dollar for 1.25 litre, so I couldn't resist the larger) but had to eat it rather furtively and awkwardly in the street and it was so hot it was a struggle but it did help mental state I think.
This was right by main square so I sat there for a bit finishing my Pepsi and then went back to hostel. I asked if I could buy a beer but they don't sell it but recommended a supermarket two blocks away. Went there - actually the nicest big supermarket I have been in yet - and got three cans of Carta Blanca for 1.40 each and brought them back to hostel. I was a bit awkward and sat to one side of a group chatting (which was perhaps a bit weak given Cassiano was there - he invited me to join then just after) and did get chatting with people. All very amicable really and we ended up going to a surprisingly nice bar (La Berga I think) where I ended up chatting to some other people who had joined us English route. Spoke to Canadian woman and her possibly Dutch travel buddy and they were both very bullish on Nicaragua and also confirmed the existence of the boat (Dutch woman had apparently been exchanging WAs with captain) so while I am maybe not rushing over there ASAP and we will see if el Salvador has too many attractions for me to go, I am quitely likely to still head over there post ruta de las Flores.
Got back about midnight-1 and cleaned teeth and slept broadly fine I think. Not really hungover this morning but I really didn't feel like (as had been a vague plan) getting up 7ish to try to go swim at one of the pools 8ish. It isn't as if I an a morning person in general, despite not being really hungover it isn't as if diet or rest yesterday had been amazing etc. I also vaguely guilty wondered if I should go do the daily walking tour at 930 but TBH I don't massively fancy it and it is definitely not a must do.
So I am sitting here on terrace feeling slightly bnm but most of the people from last night are sitting around (but it is a bit more sub-groupy than last night, slightly, and also most are talking Spanish and while they may be over-confident or I am over-modest, I suspect they are at a somewhat higher level than I am - there is also an Argentinian guy here who I spoke to a bit last night who clearly doesn't rate my Spanish at all, in a way I find a bit at odds with eg my successful discussions at the meetup the other night, so it might not be entirely welcome in language grounds alone if I forced my way in, and except for the bnm feeling I actually want to just ait here and write this and decide what to do and be vaguely chilled, I just wish I felt a bit less bnm about it. Have exchanged brief words with Cassiano and Mifch fwiw.)
It is also vaguely somehow reassuring that these people *are* sitting around in the hostel at this time in the morning and are not all off on activities. Albeit I think most of then have already done the volcano.
There is no water so the bathrooms (ie toilets) can't be used. Sign say this is a city thing not just here so I genuinely don't know if I am going to be unable to have a piss or a shit for ages. I am not desperate just now but this isn't ideal of course. Hostel does coffee (not super cheap but not terrible - 1.5ish) and I was and am vaguely tempted but what has decided me against it is that I dont want to encourage my bowels to start moving when there are no toilets.
I am feeling a mix of pleasantly relaxed and also pressured about wasting time and wishing I had a longer/indefinite trip etc.
Fwiw I have not actually spoken any Spanish with the people at the hostel (except the guy when I checked in), for context on the whether they are too high a level to want to put up with my Spanish etc stuff above.
1652 back at hostel with a 900ml whole milk which I am drinking cold. It is uht from the taste but still nice. Abortive effort at going swimming, both sihuatehuacan (sp) and nearby sapopa (def sp) close 4pm and 430 respectively and I turned up at sih a few mins before 4. Ffs. Swimming has been vaguely looming all day (I cannot swim too early cos of uv) and then I fucked it up. Could have gone at 3 if I'd only known/remembered, especially as has been fairly cloud today so hopefully less uv. I had no phone with me when I got to pools and couldn't swim as there is afaik no locker so had left it back at hostel so I couldn't check the location of the free and probably 24h pool on calle china to fall back on, I did make a foray up some street with a vague hope of ibtersecting called china but that turned into a dead end and I gave up.
Still no water at hostel which is mildly concerning (we can't use the toilets, we have drinking water). I did on advice of guy at desk trog over to Metrocentro Santa Ana (2km each way) as they were bound to have water and I has a dump there. After that I got a nice but bit pricey usd 1.50 fresh orange juice squeezed in front of me (from green skin oranges, and with sugar added - they asked and I said yes) and served in a plastic bag with ice and a straw and I went to cafe Manhattan for a couple of pupusas.
This morning I walked up the hill at the west side of town which is much closer to hostel (albeit vaguely edgy about whether I'd need toilet) and that was pretty cool. At the top I was trying to see if you could get higher up and was walking down road towards which might have been the observation tower when a guy in apickup offered me a ride in the back and after some confusion (my Spanish was really bad here for whatever reason, maybe he had a strong accent or I was edgy) I got in and from watching map on phone as I bumped (mostly standing after initial sit on tailgate - there was a sort of cage) along I realised we were going past where the lookout might have been and in the end after stopping for him to probably get some snacks (maybe his own home? Far from ckear - some kids came out and maybe money changed hands) where I gobout and thanked him and said I could walk he said he was going in so I got back on we picked up two young boys who I said hi to but was a bit shy with in retrospect but they did talk to me one or twice though I was really struggling with Spanish, maybe due to wondering where the hell id end up, but the map suggested the road looped round down to a sort of highway and it ildid and I got out there and ahook everyone's hand and offer him money for petrol which he declined (not sure if I should've done this but have read about this as hitchhiking etiquette and this felt like it slightly overlapped) I got out and waved goodbye. And I then ended up walking 3km along the main road back into town, but it was kind of a cool experience anyway and probably worth it.
I really don't know what to do tonight or tomorrow. I vaguely feel I ought to do volcano or the crater lake swim but I have an idea the volcano is half closed and getting up for 7am bus or whatever sounds a bit miserable and I could maybe do it another time when it may be fully open. And the crater lake sounds cool but it is another bus job and there is the swimming angle of awkwardness with clothes and storage and stuff and open air swimming with strong uv and tbh it might be as well just to have a swim here early (8am) and then fins something else to do with the rest of the day or putter around a bit.
Honestly it is somehow not that big a deal but at the same time not being able to go to the toilet in the hostel or possibly anywhere nearby is a serious pisser, no pun intended.
1845 went out for walk with Cassiano and a German guy (Lewis?) And we got some 3 for USD1 plus and had them back at hostel. Maybe some sort of Spanish class at 7, free? Probably very basic but wth.
I asked if anywhere nearby has toilets and was told we can use toilets here with some water bottles to fill cistern, so that is a load off (pun not intended but I will go with it).
Also asked and volcano is partially closed due to weather and going next week would likely be better. Also wrt coatepeque lake Cassiano says it is good and showed us cideo, I spike to hostel chap who said (as Lewis had) there is a hostel there and it is not insanely expensive, especially for being on the lake. So while it maybe slightly time wasting, by current feeling is to try to swim tonorrow early 8am putter around rest of day, go back to ss on Thursday then come back here (barring very pressing conference neetups urging me to go elsewhere), perhaps put in two nights and do the volcano, then do ruta de las Flores and probably come back here and make a side trip to the hostel by the lake then - that being less time critical that ruta de las Flores, and I can book in advance, and then I can swim there without stress about getting restaurant to look after my stuff etc etc.
Typing all this with on-screen keyboard as no privacy to dictate and its all quite piecemeal so I don't want to go get the by keyboard.
Wed 1759 at cafe Manhattan for dinner. So we had the spanish class at 7ish, with alcoholic refreshnent thrown in, then we went to the Chicken Bus Bar (owned by hostel) and had a free drink and some beers and I got chatting to various people there and ended up going on to a sort of club and then (this apparently being the done thing) at about 2 we got some ubers and went to a gas station (my group went to the wrong one first) getting some beers en route and sat outside.
I didn't actually drink an insane amount given the length of time but I got home about 430 or maybe closer to 5. I was semi-awake and not exactly hungover but tired quite early and I basically stayed in bed til about 2, reading etx.
I was going to go swim at sihuatehuacan but by the time I got out of hostel and over there it was nearly 330 and it shuts at 4 so I decided that was sillly and went over to sopopa but it is shut Wednesday (it would have been open til 430 another day though, so not quite so pushed for time) but I had looked up roughly how to get to the free pool and with a little bit of luck I got there without my phone. It was quite nice actually, busy but so big I had plenty of room to swim. I had worn trunks out under trousers, I left my bag with a stall (I bought some fried yucca from them after, bit oricey at 1.50 but it was nice and I looked on it as quid pro quo for looking after my bag and declining any payment). Xhanged afterwards in a small changing cubicle.
The water was cold on getting in but not bad after. As I had been told, there are fish in there - I think it is sort of a stream which is diverted and the water flows through thete. If you stand still the fish come round and it feels like they are sort of nibbling at your legs, which is odd but quite cool.
I did/do feel a bit guilty about last night but I don't think I was really a particular idiot or anything. I think the swim helped although (probably just because it was tiring and I am never that good etc) I did suddenly get a slight burst of homesickness.
A guy I had been chatting to last night who had said he was coming to my hostel turned up as I went out just before swimming and we greeted each other etc.
1908 back at hostel. Bumped into Lewis on walk back, we had a brief chap. Incidentally I think the guy I was with last night who was slightly spongy but not bad and was sort of leading our Uber group was in reception with Mitch when I went out for dinner and I wasn't quite sure I recognised him and it was a tiny bit awkward but not bad.
I feel very slightly under the weather. I felt it when I was eating the avocado at Manhattan, I don't despise them like I used to but I really don't like them much and I felt bought to eat it as it was fruit/veg and healthy etc. But my stomach feels just the tiniest bit oss.
I think there maybe a pupusa cooking class on now which I didn't really want to do (although it is apparently free) but I an having kind of stupid "maybe unshould have done it, will regret it" type thoughts about it, like it is a huge deal. Or for that matter as though I won't be here again when it is not implausible I will be here for it another time if I really wanted to.
I felt a tiny bit sad to be leaving when walking through main square (red tshirt, and feelng very slightly cold in the fresh brerze - post swimming I also felt a bit cold with long sleeve top on except when I got refreshing warm bursts from the low afternoon sun. I hope I am not coming down with anything, I don't think there is much to this except maybe slightly poor diet etx and maybe some aftereffects from last night. But i was feeling a bit sad to leave as i said, although I'd also sort of half like to put last night behind me a bit, but I am not really leaving, I am really just popping back to san Salvador for a couple of nights as I am almost certainly coming straight back here after to do ruta de las Flores etc as noted earlier.
Guys playing shithead. I don't want to join in (I never remember the rules) and don't feel too bad, actually sort of vaguely comfortable sitting here, and I also half kind of just want to sit here and go to bed early. I do have three beers in the fridge so I just might have one of them later or two or three, bit no rish. I might try to leave them here til I return or maybe leave them for someone else as a freebie or maybe take one or two back to san Salvador.
Thu 1108 on terrace with coffee, then leaving. Just got some advice about rural de las Flores from Douglas.
Last night pretty cool. Cooking class started late so I joined in anyway. Made an enchilada (which is not like Mexican ones - its a hard tortilla with bean paste, chopped egg, a local not spicy pixo de gallo variant or curtido on, and maybe something else I forgot) and a couple of pupusas which was pretty cool. We got free vodka and coke/orange during it, class was free (albeit I had seen a $12 figure somewhere) and we went to chicken bus after and started with a free vodka and orange. Played beer pong for first time ever, we lost but I wasn't astonishingly terrible. Then giant Jenga (memories of Liv St) and we stayed on doing karaoke til 2 and then a somewhat smaller group on (we walked) to gasolinera de los mariachis (the one we went to first yesterday, though too late/wrong day for mariachis either day, but yes apparently they perform there) where we (me, Alexey, Stefan(o) and Mirch) met some locals (Jorge, Josue, Elizabeth?) who invited us over and we had a chat and some drinks. Mitch called an Uber about 4 and I'd half have liked to stay but it was actually pretty smart to leave.
Stefan sleeping in bunk above me and he invited me to join the walking tour this morning but I said I was leaving, of course. Nice of him though, and we had a pretty good chat last night (he is 34ish so way younger than me but just a bit older than most people who are early-mid 20s).
1138 clinging on here a bit, oddly reluctant to start the journey, which is really more of a FAFF than anything terrible. Let's go.
1239 bit of a duck rest. Just got on 201 at the stop near mwtrocentro (two dollars) after initially going to terminal occudente and hanging round and not daring to ask anyone and looking on web still, all ok now.
FWIW the pool I went to yesterday was Apanteos, if I didn't say.
As I left hostel Douglas was giving a woman a scooter driving lesson on road outside. I half wonder if I should take steps to learn this sort of thing (eg back home, not here) but there are all sorts of concerns, especially around my paper non-photo driving licence, and while being able to rent a scooter in places like this would be very helpful in some ways it also feels very much like something I should just accept is not for me - the whole driving business with the risk of getting killed, killing someone, getting arrested, causing damage to expensive vehicles, etc, just feels like an absolute nightmare. Somewhat torn.
I never got round to drinking my three beers in fridge last night so have left them there. They may be there when I return and I'd not someone will drink them, they won't go off or be wasted.
Jorge last night recommended something del diablo - maybe pasillo del diablo? - in San Salvador, about Isabelle round trip by uber. Worth noting for next visit there, not this weekend.
Must admit that I am still a bit confused about this de las Flires despite helpful advice from douglass. I am also likely to miss out on viewpoints being in busea not own tranaport but can't be helped. But there are like 7 towns and you don't need to stop in all of them and can do two towns a day sometimes and three days is fine without rushing, but how the hell am I going to have time to see anything? I get the buses are probably fairly short hops if maybe infrequent but if I am supposed to be hiking out to waterfalls or taking tuk tuks out there when does that fit in.? It feels like a nightmare if checking into hostels and rushing off that afternoon to do a hike or something and staying one night and then repeating the process the next day maybe it will make sense when I do it. I guess I do not have to rush but I also don't want to burn weeks doing it. I am just genuinely confused.
I will try to finally post this entry when I get to san Salvador. I plan to not drink today (TBH I have not been particularly excessively drunk even Saturday night, but still, it is cumilatively quite a lot, insofar as I have actually any idea - I haven't been writing each drink down because of the way things work) and I may even see if I can get some bread and ham and gorge on sandwiches tonight. I also hope to be able to wash some clothes, ideally openly or using a washing machine for cheap, but maybe furtively in sink. I do have some clean from home and will likely change from black troysers been wearing si far to grey trousers for the event over the weekend.
1308 exchanging wa with the hostel (I suspect it is a private let in biggish apartment really) - this is frankly a bit of a faff but not end if world, and it is good to have the local sim and WhatsApp in the a06 for this sort of stuff. Guy is being not unpleasant but a tiny bit annoying asking me for arrival time estimates even though I already gave one yesterday. Not a big deal.
Preregistration is open today but I am unlikely to trog over there just to do it, Zona Rosa is miles away and it seems silly to pay like USD 10 round trip in an uber just for this. I will just have to try to be there early tomorrow (an early night tonight would be good anyway) and accept some queuing etc.
Hope to meet people (Perhaps even some with common interests who live in London?) And we will play it by ear but barring very tempting invitations my inclination is to go straight back to Santa Ana and ruta de las Flores etc after event and then maybe go to eg berlin en route to nicaragua after, and there's a fair chance I will catch up with some people i met anyway.
Experimentally bumped llm strength on keyboard up to 4.8 from default 3.4. No idea if this will be a good idea or not but wth.
1836 At Don Taco just by parque cuscatlan trying my first ever horchata. Come out for a walk as bit atuffed after gorging on sandwiches and diet coke at the Accom. I got checked in fine, chap seems nice enough, basically have a double room in a small apartment with probably a local woman who I haven't seen yet - she wasn't there when I checked in (so did snap some photos of the other room). Owner seems nice enough and possibly as a subtle quid pro quo for me not making a fuss about him turning up very slightly late has said that as I have few clothes (fwiw 1 trousers, 3 tops, 3 sets is) he will wash them for free. (He also said I could hand wash if I wanted earlier and there are hooks, so may depending on busyness also do this over next few days.
Went out to try to find a supermarket and bought milk, coke, kolachampana (sp), bread, ham, water. And had a shower and sorted clothes for washing and was in room eating and drinking coke and reading and cone out as I felt a bit bloated and the room while OK has no window and I thought getting out might be nice.
Ok, the horchata is actually really nice. The taste is vaguely chocolatey and I half wonder if I have actually had this or something similar before. Usd 2 but not too bad.
I was stupidly reading on phone on bus over and it gave me a slight headachey sickness and perhaps contributed to a modest feeling of health worry and homesickness.
FWIW it is pleasantly cool out now, verging on just slightly cold as the wind gets up. In general the weather so far has been pretty good - hot at times but not iirc ever absolutely "omfg I am dying" kind of heat and/or sweatiness etc, and there is usually some intermittent breeze or prospect of shade. I have often had fans on at night but not always and I don't think theybare strictly necessary, but probably nice. Just sleeping with a sheet as is almost certainly standard - no one has offered me a blanket or had one on the bed yet.
1849 vaguely tempted to get a coffee but probably won't. I've had plenty of caffeine with the coke zero I guess. Need to shave and not sure if I should do it in morning or tonight or both.
I only really popped out for a quick walk and to get a bit of air and to help feel I hadn't absolutely "wasted" the day (though tbh having a fridge full of cold drinks and gorging on sandwiches and just reading in my room was kind of cool of course).
Yeah, let's stop milking the dregs of this horchata as the ice melts and walks slowly back. I paid when I got it bit I almost certainly should have just gone to the caja to pay now as I am leaving, small lesson learned I guess.
2137 ok been lying on bed and not quite falling asleep but sort of. I had half hoped to get write some more general stuff on here tonight but it is fine, if a lazy evening is what I sort of wanted then that's ok. I am a tiny bit edgy about getting up and getting to event tomorrow but just have to make an effort and I think I am going to go clean teeth etc and move towards bed now.
2159 done teeth, there is no sink in the bathroom so I had to do them at the kitchen sink which is weird, and may make shaving awkward tomorrow (I may have to abuse things a bit by using a cup from kitchen to shave in my room at the mirror there) but not shaving tonight.
I ought to try to send this now. May not get much time to write stiff up over the event but we will see how it goes. The meetup I went to my first full day here has an after event one day (not sure which) but it feels moderately likely there will be something I can do the other night. Not seen woman or couple yet, whoever is in other room. As of right now the owner hasn't taken the bag of clothes I left by the washing machine but not making a fuss especially as he is doing it free. I have clean from home clothes to get me through the event.
I also made a modest effort to set my shoes with fingers at kitchen tap and sort of rub them a bit to try to get the accumulated dust off, but it may or may not do any good. They aren't actively muddy or anything, just dusty.
Been wearing flip flops a bit round flat mainly just to avoid dirtying the fresh pair of socks as much as I otherwise would, since I want to present as well as I can tomorrow and I got changed a bit ahead of schedule because of the clothes washing opportunity.
2215 going to send this now, I can always start a new entry if I really want to write more tonight. I feel vaguely bad this is so long but I don't suppose it really matters.
2221 had brief proof read kind of skim and fixed the odd mistake but this is all pretty rough and ready of course.
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