October 28, 2010

Got out of bed about 8:30 AM and prepareed for breakfast (included in the $60 room charge).  Nice little spread of fruits, breads, scrambled eggs and juices, with coffee and tea.  Spoke to the front desk clerk and they arranged for someone to look at the safe right away.  It was determined the batteries needed replacing, which solved the problem.

Selling oranges on street outside our hotel

Sidewalk eatery across from our hotel

We arranged for a taxi to take us to Plaza de San Francisco.  Until this point we had been spoiled as most of the people we spoke to knew English and we spoke a limited amount of Spanish.  This driver was the first of many that did not "habla ingles".  Luckily I had written down our destination.  Another amazing taxi ride, this time in heavy traffic.  Honking horns, running lights, dodging foot traffic, etc!  We arrived near the Presidential Palace and departed for our walking tour of the area.  There was a small demonstration by a group of nurses and many people moving around as well as military and police, some with riot shields, sawed off shotguns, and automatic assault rifles.

Small group of nurses demonstrating accross from Presidential Palace in Plaza de La Independencia

Gala asking a police officer if she would take our picture in Plaza de La Independenceia

Street dancers in Plaza Independencia

In the Plaza Independencia

Looking out onto Plaza San Francisco during lunch



Young women selling shawls, ponchos, and table runners



A nutshell containing nuts used for intricate carvings

Jewelry Gala was interested in

Across from the Plaza San Francisco

We reached the Plaza de San Francisco after showing a nearby shop keeper the written name of our destination and stopped for lunch at the Tianguez Cafe.  Prawn ceviche for me; a prawn dish with rice and beans accompanied with fried plantain cakes for Gala, and dos cerveza, por favor!  My meal was served with popcorn and chifles (plantain chips) and fried kernels of corn.  Both meals were very tasty (we share the experience).

Shops across from Plaza Independencia

Inside entrance of Presidential Place

Guards around the Palace

Then off to shop and another special taxi ride back to hotel for Gala's siesta as I checked out the cafe and tested the cerveza.  We decided to walk around the area and examine the neighborhood before dinner.  Thought about a drink at the nearby JW Marriott and headed that way.  After work traffic jammed the streets.  Sidewalks were paved bricks and broken concrete so we had our challenges getting around.  Decided against the Marriott and cruised in another direction.  Many restaurants and pubs to choose from but we keep going, circling around the area and near our hotel.

Cafe in our hotel

Outdoor fountain under construction at our hotel

Ate at the restaurant in the hotel.  Sea Bass with almond sauce and steamed vegetables for Gala.  Shrimp in garlic, white wine and olive oil, served with rice and tomatoes for me.  Both were very good and a glass of white wine apiece made it all the better.