Sears Archives - Iron Roamer

Starbucks

I was surprised to learn that San Salvador had a Starbucks! Because I got to San Salvador way too early to check into my hotel, I went to Starbucks to relax for a while and do some work.

While I was there, I was approached by MT Ruiz who said he had been reading my blog! He is an avid motorcyclist from Honduras who was now working in El Salvador. So nice to meet fellow motorcyclist. It made my day to meet him 🙂

Camera Charger

You may notice in this post that there aren’t many pictures. Well, while I was in Antigua I noticed the camera charger for my Canon point and shoot was missing. In El Tunco I went through all my belongings looking for it. It wasn’t there 🙁 The last place I remember it was in Lanquin, Guatemala, when I was charging the battery. I must have left it there. That is the second time on this trip I have done that.

When I got to San Salvador the battery had finally gone dead. Since this was a major city I figured it wouldn’t be too much of a problem to find a charger. They are all over the place back home. I had one whole day in San Salvador to look for one. Np problem!?

The next day after checking into my hotel in San Salvador I started my search.

I went to Sears, two Radio Shacks, Simans, RAF photo, Sanborns, Office Depot and 3 electronic stores. None had ANY camera chargers!! The clerk at Office Depot said I would have a hard time finding one here. I can’t be the only one to ever have lost their charger.

I checked on line to see if I could get one sent to me. The online stores in El Salvador get them from the US. It would cost me $100 US to buy one and take 2 weeks to get here. Well, that wasn’t going to happen. I could buy a new camera for that price.

So without a charger my Canon point and shoot is basically worthless. This created a problem for me. I like the point and shoot because it is easy to use and it fits in my front pocket.

Luckily, I do have a Sony 6000 with me as well as a GoPro and my Samsung phone. The problem with the Sony is that it is big and I store it in my backpack. I really don’t like to have it around my neck as I just feel too conspicuous. The other thing is that I am not as comfortable using it. Lots of settings ha ha.

Oh well, at least I have a camera. It would take me a few days to get in the habit of using it. Soooooo not many pictures of San Salvador. I should have used my phone but wasn’t really thinking.

On the bright side, I did manage to find another Starbucks during my search for a charger. I took comfort there for a while before heading back to my hotel.

For the rest of the evening I drowned my sorrows in a couple of beer at a local Sports Bar.

I did get the feature photo though at Starbucks ha ha

And I got one of my hotel room.

I will make it up to you and me.

The first few days in La Paz were about finding a routine, where to eat, what to do, how to be comfortable and relax, and where to go, so I can better relax.

Finding a Place to Eat

One thing I like to do when I stay in one place for a while is to find one restaurant to frequent. I do this because I have found it is a great way to meet people as a solo traveler. Staff and regulars at the restaurant come to know you and engage in conversations and soon become sort of friends. The criteria as I looked was one where the prices were reasonable, they served good food, they showed sports on TV, and there was internet. Tripadvisor is the first place I look.

The number 1 restaurant in La Paz according to Tripadvisor is Tailhunter.

Tailhunter

I have been here now 5 times. The place is great!! The owners, Jonathan and Jilly are awesome hosts. They constantly walk around and joke with hosts and help where ever they can. It really is like you are guests in their home.

The food is a mixture of pub, Mexican and Hawaiian with unique flavors thrown in. The quality is first rate. They immediately serve you with chips and salsa. The salsa varies each time.

I have become partial to their Chicken Terriyaki Rice Bowl.

Last night there was a birthday in the restaurant and Jilly served a huge cake to the table and cut pieces for everyone in the restaurant.

And of course the restaurant is a awesome sports bar. Saturday there was a big crowd watching the Washington Huskies kill the Oregon Ducks. I spent all day Sunday there watching football.

Morning Coffee Spots

I have tried a few coffee places.

I think I am settling on CinnaRolls. 🙂

Sunglasses

Calamities happen 🙂 The second day here I sat on my sunglasses and badly twisted the right arm and connection. I knew when I placed them on the bed it was not a could place to put them. I tried to focus on the solution and not how stupid I was.

I asked a glasses wearing person at Tailhunter where to go to fix them. They suggested Sears.

Sears

The next day I was at Sears when it opened at 11 am.

The clerk at the eyeglass centre did not look to interested. All I could understand was “No” and “solder!” She just handed them back to me.

I remembered passing a small hole in the wall optical place on the way to Sears.

Diana’s Optical

As I walked into Diana’s Optical, a place the size of a closet, I saw two older women behind a counter.

I handed them my glasses. They spent a long time looking at them and how the arms worked. The glasses I have are some new fandangled frame that is not suppose to break and you can bend them anyway you want. Yeah right. Anyways … they are not normal.

I started to become nervous and couldn’t look as they eventually pulled out some tools and did some experimentation. At least they were helpful though.

After a long while they fixed them!! And for only 50 pesos.

Just goes to show you that going to a North Amereican place like Sears isn’t always the best. Sometimes those hole in the wall places give better service and are able to accomplish a lot more.

Routine

My routine for the days now is:
1) sleep until I wake up
2) go for coffee where I answer emails and work on blogs
3) go back to my air conditioned room during the heat of the day to study Spanish and do odds and ends
4) at sunset walk the malecon and go for dinner at Tailhunter
5) enjoy a nice walk back home – this is when everyone is out.

Here are some photos from my first few days in La Paz.