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The Afro-Salvadorean Diaries 2013
San Salvador, Suchitoto, La Libertad, El Congo and Zacatecoluca
El Salvador
Central America
February 6 – 12, 2013
San Salvador (San Salvador Region) – February 7, 2013 – Central
Suchitoto (Cuscatlin Region) – February 8, 2013 – East
La Libertad (La Libertad Region – Pacific Ocean) – February 9, 2013 – West
El Congo (Santa Ana Region) – February 10, 2013 – North
Zacatecoluca (San Vincente Region) – February 11, 2013 - South

Diary by Hugeaux aka Hugo R. Miller

DEDICATION
This diary is dedicated to all the African – Salvadoreans whose stories must be told and to the ancestry of The African – Indian civilization.

This diary is transcribed from a 48 page hand written manuscript

This transcript is registered with The Library of Congress of The United States Copyright Office, USA. Copyright Hugeaux All Rights Reserved


DAY #1

3:00am (CST)
San Salvador, El Salvador
February 7, 2013, Thursday

Well. I finally arrived at the hotel in San Salvador, El Salvador. It was a 30 minute taxi drive from the airport. I witnessed something here at the El Salvador airport. It was the first time I was charged a tax to enter a country. I could not see much on the dark drive the hotel. But I noticed the mountains. As with all my travels, I do not know what to expect. I am extremely tired with 6 hours of travel and 5 hours of waiting. I am very hungry. I hope there is a grocery store in the area. Good night and May God Bless.

8:00am (CST)
Cemeterio Los Ilustres O’General
San Salvador, El Salvador
February 7, 2013, Thursday

I could not sleep last night. So, I decided to get up early and take a walk around downtown San Salvador. I am writing this entry while sitting in a cemetery (Cemeterio Los Ilustres O’General) on the outskirts of downtown San Salvador. I discovered this place while I was walked amongst the huge outdoor market in downtown San Salvador. As I was walking I was caught by an interesting piece of architecture, as I got closer, it turned out to be a cemetery. So, I decided to take a walk. What an architectural find. The tombstones are above ground and each are architecturally defined that they seem to be competing for God’s attention. The cemetery is flanked by mango trees, full of green fruit. I picked one and ate. The birds are singing and the smell of honeysuckle is filling the air. I can’t help but notice the mountains in the backdrops and the morning steam is covering the tops as if they are smoking. I am basking in the El Salvadorean morning sun. I took my sandals off and enjoyed. Today shall be a long and interesting day. A lot of walking.

9:00am (CST)
Palacio Nationale
San Salvador, El Salvador
February 7, 2013, Thursday

San Salvador is buzzing. It is 9:00am and the streets are bustling. Sounds of Salsa, Reggaeton, Pop etc., are filling the air. I am writing this entry while in downtown, San Salvador in front of Palacio Nationale. I brought 3 pounds of bananas for 25 cents and shall eat on this for breakfast until I find a supermarket. You can feel the pull of the Pacific tropics and the Caribbean tropics. The air is very clean and blue. All kinds of people, selling all kinds of things. I am desperately looking for an Afro-Salvadorean, but no luck yet. I am the only dark skinned person here and I am getting many stares. As the clouds clear to welcome the noon sun, I can see the houses which were hidden in the clouds in the mountains. I am getting to do something that I hardly ever do when I travel. I am really people watching this morning.

12:00pm (CST)
Hotel Villa Florencia
San Salvador, El Salvador
February 7, 2013, Thursday

I did some major walking this morning. I covered a lot of el Centro, San Salvador. I spoke with a lot of people and one interesting which stood out was a manager in a novelty store, who I spoke with about not being able to find tourist memorabilia. He told me that, El Salvador mainly relies on its own people for tourism. I asked him why there was not many tropical memorabilia and he mentioned that after the war, many of the people have come back to visit and this accounts for its tourism. The hotel I am staying in is called Hotel Villa Florencia Centro. It is a gem inside, but not much to see on the outside. It is located at the edge of el Centro, San Salvador. The décor is very old Spanish Colonial with large wood chairs with animal skins for covers. Mayan relics are everywhere, also authentic bowls, art and crafts decorate this hotel, well. You can hear the sounds of the taxis and Reggaeton blasting from the streets. The little sleep that I had last night is starting to catch up with me. I am listening to the desk clerk give me the history about the hotel, which he indicates was a Spanish Colonial House. You get the feel of this by the decorated, polished terra cotta flooring.

2:00pm (CST)
Hotel Villa Florencia
San Salvador, El Salvador
February 7, 2013, Thursday

I have tried to put off comparing my travels to each other, but it has come to the point where similarities are becoming similar. Today’s experiences reminded me of Port au Prince, Haiti, as the people were up with the sun. It reminded me of Johannesburg, with the many vendors hustling their products. It reminded me of Port au Prince, Haiti, as I sit out on my balcony and gaze at the clay top houses while looking out onto this spacious mountain. I took out my binoculars to get a clear view of the mountain. I can see the jungle like trails which seems to run through the mountain, and glisten when the sun shines upon it. I must look quickly as the clouds continue to cover it. The vegetation is thick. I have an idea that I shall be passing through this tomorrow when I go to Suchitoto, El Salvador. It is very breezy and cool here. The mountains looks like they are smoking, as if a volcano is about to erupt, this is very similar to the typography of Haiti. I can see that I am surrounded by many mango trees. Dinner tonight shall be roasted chicken, cheese, yogurt, bread and water. Tomorrow, I shall have dinner off the street vegetable dealers when I return from Suchitoto. I can see the top of the mountain, now, and I otice that there are many radio antennae on top. I have seen many dark skinned people, now, but I have not seen any hint of Africa here. I have not seen a natural hair African people yet. They are dark skinned with straight natural hair.
The tap water, seems to be pure, as there is no hint of Chlorine in it. The Pacific and Caribbean breeze is really serenading me. I can count 10 radio antennae on this side of the mountain.

6:00pm (CST)
Hotel Villa Florencia
San Salvador, El Salvador
February 7, 2013, Thursday

Today was a very good, hot and productive day in Central America. I took some great photographs. I slept on and off today, mainly to make up for last night. Tonight shall be interesting, because outside my window on the streets is an evangelist with a microphone and the sound is echoing between the villa, while the reggae African drums are beating from the night club. All this excitement, and the sun is going down. It got into the 90’s today, but it felt like Florida. Today, I had a chance to photograph a peaceful demonstration. Early this morning I noticed while sitting in Palacio Nationale park, these men in military camouflage fatigues making banner, though I paid it little mind. Later that afternoon on my way back to the hotel, I noticed a police barricade and some marching protestors. Yes, It was the same men I saw in the park, so I photographed them. I believe they were protesting for human rights. Tonight it is suppose to drop into the 60’s. I shall sleep with the windows open, with no screen. May only wish is that the mosquitoes will stay away. Good night and May God Bless.