One of the local's and tourist's most popular destination is the lake. Just a an hour away from the city, the lake is one of El Salvador's most impressive views. The lake is located in a gigantic hole and surrounded by land with one piece of land, the "island" in the middle. This is a very popular place for people to have vacation homes because of the myriad of things there are to there like jet ski, go boating, and kayaking. Also, since there are a lot of people who have houses there, it is a well known environment to hang out with family and friends.
Recently, the lake has become a place to host several events because of it's nice view and climate.One big luxury hotel and several fancy restaurants have opened lakeside for people to enjoy the view. Weddings are extremely common at this one hotel Cardedeu at the lake. Also August, specifically the first week of the month when we have vacation, is the week when it is most full. Many parties are hosted here during this week and it is the time where there is the most activity because it is the end of summer.
The lake is most know for it's beautiful change of color. It happened once a couple of years ago that the water in the lake turned an extremely light blue color and no one could explain why it happened. Now from time to time the water will change to this color and it looks beautiful.
Throughout the years a fashion market has been established in El Salvador. Designer names are appearing more frequently, and even a local fashion week has been introduced. The established market for this fashion is not affordable for all, since most of the original boutiques by local designers are pricey and very high fashion, meaning they can be out of the mainstream style. The regular clothes boutiques struggle with the competition of the introduction of international brands like Forever 21 and Zara, but the fancy stores manage to strive.
MIMI Boutique
This is where many of El Salvador's brides purchase their wedding dresses and all of the dresses for their wedding parties. It is the biggest selection of night gowns and different styles of dresses in the country. It started out as a small wedding dress shop led by a woman who brought the dresses from other places to offer more variety, and is now grown to original designs and a variety of normal clothes. Graduation dresses are also a big part of this boutique. The range of styles is for every age, taste, and shape.
Francesca Miranda
This is one of the most high end boutiques in the country. it has recently expanded into a big store with costume designs for night gowns available, but if focuses a lot on high fashion items for every day use. The designer comes from a will known family that has always supported noble causes, and she came up with her own brand one day.
Apart from the natural beauties El Salvador has to offer like the beaches, the mountains, and the sceneries, it also has stuff to do in the city. Over the years the development of new malls and hang out spots has been growing immensely. The demand of the people to have more things to do in the city has been answered for. There are three major places where people will go and hang out and were tourists are recommended to go in El Salvador.
La Gran Via
This open mall was the first one constructed with a modern approach. It has been changing over the years to adapt to the latest tendencies. The mall has an inside and outside part. The outside is filled with small kiosk of snacks and knick knacks. The biggest stores are located on the outside part. There is also a movie theater, the biggest one in the country. Restaurants are also located on the outside for people to enjoy the views. On the inside many more stores are available, both local and international.
Multiplaza
This mall has been recently renovated and is now the most famous and most fancy mall in the country. This holds the most international and well know brands like Carolina Herrera and Forever 21. The most famous part of the mall is the newly added restaurant part. There are two floors full of restaurants with all kinds of food, and they all have a view. The mall does a great job balancing the fancy and the average, making it a destination for all people.
Paseo del Carmen
Paseo del Carmen is an outside strip of street that has many restaurants. This is most visited during the night because of the lighting and because of the live entertainment. A lot of the restaurants are also bars, making it a desirable destinations for young adults. This street has an indie vibe to it, attracting many artists and liberal type people.
Everyone native to El Salvador knows that Salvadorans know how to throw a big party. More then that, any event were there can be an excuse to throw a party there will be one. This is what has been happening with Christmas and New Years for the last several years. Even though we like to celebrate things the fun way, we are also very traditional and these holiday parties always take place after a night spend in family.
The latest tradition for the last 8 years on Christmas day is to have one of the biggest parties of the year to not only celebrate Christmas but to raise money for a good cause. Since it is very common in my country to celebrate Christmas eve more than Christmas day, he party takes place December 25 from 12 am to 6 am usually in a fancy venue. The party is fancy and tasteful and all the profits made from the selling of tickets go to a noble cause. The cause changes each year and precious causes have been University scholarships for kids from public school, construction of houses in impoverished zones, and Christmas gifts for those in need.
This party is called Parrandear Para Dar, which translates to Party to Donate, and ever since it started it has been a hit among Salvadoran's society.
Another big party taking place in El Salvador is the New Years Eve party at the beach. This party takes place on the sand on December 30 to welcome the new year with the your friends, on the sand, watching the sunrise. This party is simply to have fun and enjoy the welcoming of a new year having fun. Although not as fancy as the Christmas party, it is as popular as it if not more.
El Salvador is characterized for it's loud and pompous festivities. Most of these festivities or celebrations are religious based, and most of them celebrate a religious figure. They are know for lasting around a week and for their specific songs and foods pertaining to each celebration. The three biggest celebrations is the "Carnaval de San Miguel," "Dia de La Virgen," and Independence Day.
El Carnaval de San Miguel is a celebration dedicated to the Virgin of Peace. It is celebrated the last week of November all around the country, but specifically in the one of the 14 departments of El Salvador, San Miguel. This carnival is best known for the traditional dances performed to one of the most famous Salvadoran songs named after the festival. People get together and enjoy live music and a myriad of traditional delicacies cooked for the occasion. Many of the fictional characters El Salvador holds dearest come to live in this carnival and children enjoy it the most.
"El Dia de La Virgen" is directly translated to The Day of the Virgin. This is celebrated December 12 to celebrate the Virgin Mary's mother of Jesus' birthday. This celebrations is really important in El Salvador because of its catholic majority. Many churches all around the country host a carnival outside of the church offering food, rides, and prayers to honor Virgin Mary. This celebration is typically more celebrated in small towns where there is larger areas to set up the carnival. This is why the girls born this day are given the second name of Maria.
Independence Day takes place September 15. This holiday is the most similar to other country's independence day. There are different activities to honor this day like air shows and military parades with the national anthem playing in the background. The most famous tradition for this day is the placing of 15 flower crowns on a pedestal to represent the national symbol. It take place first thing in the morning and televised all around the country.
