|
 A fishing village in its origins, by 1940 the town was already
known as an excellent place for summer holidays because of its
quiet waters and sunny days. Three neighbourhoods made up the
town of Salinas: San Lorenzo, at
the entrance, Salinas, in the middle, and Chipipe, to the
end. However, the town was crowded and lively
only during the summer.
The chilly winters witnessed just a
few fishermen and one or two little stores offering food and
fishing tools. In 1943 Salinas flourished. An enclave for the
US Navy was established in the westernmost tip of Chipipe,
during World War II. The "Base Naval" was a new attraction for
the tourists, especially young women. Each year the city
seethed with more and more tourists but it didn't loose its
seasonal trait while its neighbour La Libertad remained as a
commercial and social enclave. The situation changed around a
decade ago. At that time, many managers and employees whose
jobs were related to the shrimps business and located in the
Peninsula de Santa Elena, began to move to Salinas and settled
there with their families. |
