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Post by OnlyMark on Sept 12, 2018 13:23:34 GMT 2
Imagine for the next three or four years there is a possibility of living in El Salvador or Guatemala. Specifically the capital cities of San Salvador or Guatemala City.
If you know of these, any preferences that would suit you personally?
Even if you don't know them, gut feeling?
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Post by lumi on Sept 12, 2018 13:50:53 GMT 2
Guatemala sounds like the winner to me but that really is not based on much. I barely know anything about either place but someone I knew years ago went on about El Salvador which makes me think it is more on the tourist path. But I honestly don't have anything useful to contribute (sorry) but am keen to read what others know and suggest.
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 12, 2018 16:14:43 GMT 2
I would have suggested San Salvador, purely out of gut feeling. I don't know either places. But isn't Guatemala slightly more unstable politically/socially?
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Post by OnlyMark on Sept 12, 2018 16:35:57 GMT 2
Lumi, my knowledge of the two is scant but I'd have Guatemala slightly ahead so far.
Annie, I don't think there is much to choose between them. That is a factor but to be honest after being in Egypt during the revolution, it's actually not too persuasive a reason. I like to live in 'interesting times'. But that is just me and with having Mrs M there, I would have to look more closely into it.
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Post by sophie on Sept 12, 2018 17:53:51 GMT 2
I haven’t been in El Salvador but I have been to Guatemala many times and for longer periods of time. I would say Guatemala hands down. There are decent parts of GC. The capital isn’t my favourite part of Guatemala but it is vibrant and definitely the heartbeat of the country. The rest of the country is easy to access for weekends out of town and the airport is right there as well.
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Post by sophie on Sept 12, 2018 17:54:59 GMT 2
And Guatemala is much more stable than El Salvador in many ways.
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Post by OnlyMark on Sept 12, 2018 19:18:59 GMT 2
Volcanically?
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Post by Baz Faz on Sept 12, 2018 20:41:30 GMT 2
I was in El Salvador in 1984 (research for the book Snowline). This was during its civil war. It was dangerous. I was questioned at my hotel by an American who then followed me that day. When I told this to a reporter he advised me to leave at once because I had the CIA on my tail.
The civil war in El Salvador is long over. Unfortunately a lot of young men have come back from the USA and brought gang culture and drugs with them. I believe the capital city has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
I would go for GC.
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 12, 2018 21:18:02 GMT 2
ah... then Guatemala City...
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Post by tzarine on Sept 12, 2018 21:39:11 GMT 2
lots of yanks retire in guatemala these days
el salvador is pretty rough
lots of people fleeing
many of the trump us deportees are salvadorean
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Post by shrjeff on Sept 13, 2018 7:11:49 GMT 2
liked tikal and the mayans... so i'd vote for guatamala, too... easy drives to the yucatan and belize...
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Post by Baz Faz on Sept 13, 2018 10:03:07 GMT 2
We have long considered visiting Guatemala. Bear in mind therefore that you could get a visit so you might prefer to go to El Salvador.
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Post by welle on Nov 30, 2018 20:38:41 GMT 2
I visited Guatemala a few years ago and stayed in Guatemala City for a few days. I had a great time but I stayed with friends who are well to do and had a house in a gated community. Our friends drove us around the first few days and gave us pointers so we ate in great restaurants and stayed safe.
Then we traveled around to Lago Atitlan and Tikal on our own. Overall as a tourist I really liked it. However for example in Guatemala City at the time we were highly advised against riding the public bus as bus drivers were getting killed at an alarming rate and tourists on a bus would make it an immediate target. The pharmacy where I bought a medication had two guards with machine guns in front of it. Many houses had barbed razor wire on their roofs. My friend's house had concrete pillars in front of it even though it's in a gated community so people could not ram a car into it as easily. Safety was definitely something to stay aware of at all times.
Tikal was magical and I'd love to go back.
My feeling about Guatemala City as a place to live is that you could have a nice time there if you have enough money to afford to live in a safe neighborhood, own a car or pay for cabs, etc. The people are nice and the food is great. Weather is awesome. There are lots of tourist destinations around. An expat life there would be ok for a while. However if you have to live on an average local budget things might look different.
I have not been to El Salvador but my gut feeling is that Guatamala City would be my choice.
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Post by OnlyMark on Dec 1, 2018 6:20:01 GMT 2
Thanks Welle, and those above. Still early days yet anyway as to what may happen in a year or so. We'll see.
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