Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2311-0126; 1a Av NE, Iglesia de la Recolección, 1½c N; 8am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Fri)
hosts a
range of cultural events - drop in for this month's program.
Teatro Municipal José de la Cruz Mena
(2a Av SO, Parque Central, 1c O, 1c S)
Check the board in front of this attractive 1885 theater
to see what's on during your visit. It's been impressively restored, and for less than US$2
you may be able to catch anything from Salvadorian rock groups to art films to the nation-
al ballet on the very accessible stage. The board often lists other cultural events going on
in the city.
PERFORMING ARTS
Shopping
Enterprising area teens sell poems (US$0.70 each) on the street, often illustrated with
hearts and unicorns, the perfect gift for the nonmaterialist in your life.
Most museums have good selections of postcards and revolutionary memorabilia.
Orientation
León actually has a system of clearly signed and logically numbered
calles
(streets) and
avenidas
(avenues), allowing anyone to pinpoint any address. Unfortunately, no one actu-
ally uses it, preferring the old reliable '2½ blocks east of the Shell station' method instead.
Just for kicks, this is how it works: Av Central and Calle Central Rubén Darío intersect
at the northeast corner of the Parque Central, forming the city's northeast, northwest,
southeast and southwest quadrants. Calles running parallel to Rubén Darío are numbered
NE (Calle 1 NE, Calle 2 NE) north of the cathedral, SE to the south. Av 1 SO (
suroeste;
southwest), one block from Av Central, forms the park's western boundary, paralleling Av
2 SO and so on.
Calle Central Rubén Darío is the city's backbone, and runs east from the cathedral to
striking Iglesia El Calvario, and west almost 1km to Barrio Subtiava, continuing another
