El Salvador

Hubby and I began our Central American tour in El Salvador. We climbed a volcano outside the capital city, and had our first (and only, thankfully) brush with armed banditos who boarded our public bus and took money from the passengers. But worse things could happen anywhere, and I’m glad I got to visit. Banditos aside, the vast majority of the people were very friendly and helpful.

During the summer of 2005, after graduating from college, I went to El Salvador with Habitat for Humanity. At this time, I had scarcely been out of the country and had not been anywhere near somewhere like this. Our group was the only non Salvadorenos for many miles. It was my first experience of being somehwere truly foreign and opened my eyes to a life I never knew existed. I lived through the San Francisco earthquake of 1989 and my life went back to normal almost immediately. I didn’t lose my house; no one I know died. These people still didn’t have a home almost ten years after their big earthquake. They were still reeling from the civil war and many had made homes out of cardboard boxes. Although I was there for a good cause, and I know my hard work was appreciated, I think I gained at least as much if not more from them, as they did from me.

What an incredible country full of beautiful people.

The beaches are the best! :) I loved it!

I was not a tourist in El Salvador. I went to work at a children’s home. It was a wonderful experience to do some work that will help the kids. The best part was getting to hang out with them. One girl game me a 40 minute social studies lesson about El Salvador. It was so adorable.

Have to describe it later, no time to share much now. It was GREAT.

I went to this pueblito, if you can even call it that out in the mountains. its called el Valle de San Fernando. I live in the CA valley of San Fernando, but believe me, complete difference! The bus ride is an adventure within itself, so if you ever want to go, sit on the driver’s side. if you sit on the other side, well, its just scary! but its beautiful. the locals sell food picked from the mountains. You dont need a passport to cross the border into Honduras (i think) because there is no border patrol, then again, the border is a river.

its the perfect place to lose weight, for anyone wanting to get out and hike on their vacation.

maybe this summer!

El Salvador was REALLY fun! There were places to see and people to meet. Many of the restaurants were good but the best ones were by the shore. There was wild life EVERYWHERE. It is The Greenest place I have ever gone to. I hope I can go there again soon.

the clothes is cheap