El Salvador Part 2: Welcome to Fancy Prison

They’re almost home, but first, another stop in El Salvador...

Where they stayed: A place of true Quality – Quality Hotel, aka fancy prison.  Once they actually made it to El Salvador (again), Avianca gave them a welcomed reception: first, they let the travellers skip ahead of a very long line of angry people looking to…surprise, surprise, rebook missed connecting flights, and whisked them off on an airport transportation cart (you know, those golf carts like things that drives old or infirm people around the airport) down the long hallway that is the San Salvador airport all the way to the immigration line up. They then gave them a voucher for transportation to and from a very swanky hotel near the airport which featured the following security features: 1) a very strong gate with barbed wire, 2) security guards patrolling the gate with large guns, and 3) off-duty US Marine officers “staycationing” in the hotel.  Avianca also gave them a complimentary phone calls home so they got to call and thank the Boudreau parents for negotiating the stay.

What they ate and drank:  Buffet food, yum!  Alice and Ash got their pina coladas and JD, Lara and Britt tried El Salvadorian beer, meaning that they officially have travelled to El Salvador.  JD wanted to try a different beer, until the woman beside him at the bar informed him that “That beer is for girls”.  So he went with a manly beer instead.

What they did: Swam in a soupy warm pool with a view of palm trees and sexy US army men.  Lara and Alice did their ice bucket challenge (SO challenging, in the 40 degree heat), made even more amusing when they were hooted at by a table of army men for not using a big enough bucket of ice.  Later on that night, after enjoying yet another hot shower, they put on their best (aka cleanest) outfits and ate one final meal together, complete with a fancy prison selfie to close off the night.  They had the best sleep of their life after many days of Incan sleep deprivation and made it to their connecting flight the next day, in time for Lara and JD to get to work.  

Lessons learned:  The standard of ‘go to the airport at least 2 hours before a flight’ only applies if you aren’t flying with Avianca.  If you’re flying with Avianca, go to the airport 40 minutes before your flight, because that’s when the Avianca staff will have decided it’s time for them to start serving customers.  El Salvador isn’t so bad when you’re with good friends, have good food and security, and never leave the hotel (much to the disappointment of Alice, who wanted to see the city and visit the zoo).

It’s hard to put into words what an amazing adventure they had in Peru but the group tried their best.

Until next time…stay tuned!