tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26519473071828878122024-03-17T22:54:32.935-05:00Walking With El SalvadorRandom thoughts and stories about sharing friendships and experiences in El Salvador (formerly known as Linda's El Salvador Blog) Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.comBlogger539125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-33435205343575695022024-03-02T18:18:00.003-06:002024-03-03T07:32:01.516-06:00On and Off the Beaten Path: A Story of Two Parks<h3 style="text-align: left;"> Part 2: Off the Beaten Path at Ecoparque El Espino</h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4ZBNUa_fr8cLwPEKy2vgzMHgBf-g4YvM0NqlT-vXi86M9HCnXF-m1uM6YWLnEfOZvGoUgBBsdntoZfo6dWMZB0InQ-fvHjFG4V9F7L_XvpfzQ_EkI6Y38dx_0Vy1Xbw21-zQJtGt4-Y8CVWuJ5j1RxQUe48VLmlpW8uVjHmwOQQciST5Gt6-f3CVKOI/s4032/IMG_5205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4ZBNUa_fr8cLwPEKy2vgzMHgBf-g4YvM0NqlT-vXi86M9HCnXF-m1uM6YWLnEfOZvGoUgBBsdntoZfo6dWMZB0InQ-fvHjFG4V9F7L_XvpfzQ_EkI6Y38dx_0Vy1Xbw21-zQJtGt4-Y8CVWuJ5j1RxQUe48VLmlpW8uVjHmwOQQciST5Gt6-f3CVKOI/w300-h400/IMG_5205.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>View looking down from Mirador Aleman </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />Before dawn on a recent morning, my husband and I headed up the San Salvador Volcano to do some hiking and bird-watching. Our destination was Ecoparque El Espino - a place we have heard about for years but a place we had not yet explored. We will definitely make this a recurrent destination to enjoy on our own and with delegations of visitors.</div><div><br />Situated on the southeast side of the San Salvador volcano, Ecoparque El Espino consists of 102 acres of protected land, at an elevation of just under 4000 ft above sea level. Unlike<a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2024/02/on-and-off-beaten-path-story-of-two.html" target="_blank"> Parque El Boquerón (featured in Part 1 of this story),</a> El Espino is not managed by the national park system, nor has it been developed as a tourist site with "fancy" amenities. It is owned and managed by the El Espino Cooperative, which garners income from coffee production and, since 2003, eco-tourism. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCNIDRUS436X-bOsUB0J3baxdtccYn8n3hvAAmzNMBr5nysWJEHvPdIvj5h3_n4U85oSf04bY8P4qb-uk88BXdEw59NW_Zs16tEtmQWBQ5Qz3_gmGFjkxE-UnYgnGnbO03yFoy1hTs5-cb77Bqp44wez19M6oDUDpZUzPROEj_ggwMwDeQbfSI5F1v98/s4032/IMG_5180.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCNIDRUS436X-bOsUB0J3baxdtccYn8n3hvAAmzNMBr5nysWJEHvPdIvj5h3_n4U85oSf04bY8P4qb-uk88BXdEw59NW_Zs16tEtmQWBQ5Qz3_gmGFjkxE-UnYgnGnbO03yFoy1hTs5-cb77Bqp44wez19M6oDUDpZUzPROEj_ggwMwDeQbfSI5F1v98/w400-h300/IMG_5180.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Can't pass up a swinging bridge!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We wandered, carrying mugs of coffee and our phones with bird identification apps because it is much easier to hear the birds than to see them in the dark! Every now and then we'd hear a rustle in the trees and spy a small pile of sacks along the path. Women were already out picking coffee in first light. "<i>Buenos días</i>," we quietly greeted one another so as not to disturb the birds singing dawn songs. It was peaceful and cool. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ecoparque (Ecological Park) El Espino is part of an expansive property formerly known as <i>Finca El Espino</i> - the coffee farm long-held by the wealthy Dueñas family. As part of a 1980 agrarian reform agreement, the land was ceded by Salvadoran President Duarte to the 450 families who historically lived and worked on the land. In 1987, the Supreme Court overturned that agreement and returned the land to the Dueñas family. After the war, in 1993, the Cristiani government purchased 83% of the land back from the Dueñas, and placed it into the hands of the workers cooperative. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ087OSUabFGMolfPcLj4PEqp5XSHIxzi6ZGl-DKiqKmHtNnnnFUwCgnvqLt1684dWYcw80hlMCnkxZ1q805ft48iwaZXd7qx1mNvxmdx0AqscJIfbep1yYGzSO74qrvb8QdSQ5W1CMPcOlIUb3iCfX-zGDND3ilZStEETP3N86aPw5OTkEUj328xaelQ/s4032/IMG_5201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ087OSUabFGMolfPcLj4PEqp5XSHIxzi6ZGl-DKiqKmHtNnnnFUwCgnvqLt1684dWYcw80hlMCnkxZ1q805ft48iwaZXd7qx1mNvxmdx0AqscJIfbep1yYGzSO74qrvb8QdSQ5W1CMPcOlIUb3iCfX-zGDND3ilZStEETP3N86aPw5OTkEUj328xaelQ/w400-h300/IMG_5201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Salvadoran legislature designated a good portion of the former finca as protected land, including <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2021/01/off-beaten-path-bicentennial-park-is.html" target="_blank">Parque Bicentenario</a>, Ecoparque El Espino and a large forest reserve. Over the decades, private and government development of commercial spaces, roads, and sports clubs have caused social conflict, eviction of families and threatened this fragile ecosystem. As a natural reserve, this land annually provides 4.2 billion gallons of water to the San Salvador area and acts as a lung for the region (capturing carbon and producing oxygen).</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, we were not really thinking too much about these aspects of the ecological park during our visit there. We were too busy scrambling up hills, exploring forest paths, listening and watching for wildlife, and checking out amazing views!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8S_QcR8UdUmlvGk9L52GaAIA6OjomT5UFgUKWPwI8cfA2x08snHm3CcOAqqbxsHQ0f25uoovPCztiFWiigi1J8RR6vLpbhG8LryywoXTO4rd3sEz00IZGqOaW73za4kK2pagc73lWzobZ57bZMMad4ruhkNlrBchF-d_rWeDFcIiuS_FSVotCxkyqT4/s4608/DSCN7277.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8S_QcR8UdUmlvGk9L52GaAIA6OjomT5UFgUKWPwI8cfA2x08snHm3CcOAqqbxsHQ0f25uoovPCztiFWiigi1J8RR6vLpbhG8LryywoXTO4rd3sEz00IZGqOaW73za4kK2pagc73lWzobZ57bZMMad4ruhkNlrBchF-d_rWeDFcIiuS_FSVotCxkyqT4/w400-h300/DSCN7277.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the first points of interest we stumbled upon during our hike was a spot called "el infiernillo." This area includes a line of vents which lead directly to active geothermic chambers of the San Salvador volcano. Moisture from the soil leeches into the hot chambers and then emerges as steam from the vents. This is the only site on the San Salvador volcano where this occurs, providing volcanologists with the opportunity to monitor the seismic and volcanic activity with instruments located near the vents.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg8yvmTlVjCNNzEtczgtvvuHOoA4ob1E5cqvVi0ogtKvQY32ckD6w5ILDRRmdAwuWgS_k9BtAsBb2TLCCVl30GiOv70UAjR47L3wUuK7tM-XaTuVcLeXp1c8UMOesBPKMjs-rSx6b26_HqmCVLH46zezDwoJICrd-L5nSoqNZK8XlMwfHqp8v6kiipKo/s4032/PXL_20240214_125518146.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg8yvmTlVjCNNzEtczgtvvuHOoA4ob1E5cqvVi0ogtKvQY32ckD6w5ILDRRmdAwuWgS_k9BtAsBb2TLCCVl30GiOv70UAjR47L3wUuK7tM-XaTuVcLeXp1c8UMOesBPKMjs-rSx6b26_HqmCVLH46zezDwoJICrd-L5nSoqNZK8XlMwfHqp8v6kiipKo/w225-h400/PXL_20240214_125518146.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>I think my exact words were: How did we not know about this? We could feel heat coming through the soil beside us as we hiked along the hillside.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We followed the trail to where a lookout deck was previously located (it looked as if perhaps a lightning strike had caused it to burn). There are places to sit and rest while watching for birds and taking in the view. The trail is a little rustic and hard to find heading down from this point, but we ended up on the main road. The park has trails designed for mountain biking (which you can use for hiking), and several senderos (paths that go up) with stairs, loose soil and rocks. I would describe the trails as fairly easy, but be sure to wear good shoes and carry water. The road provides a good hiking experience for those who don't want to climb. We saw a few folks later in the morning, walking with poles, running, or biking.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8utTpus_K7Y751LKvXNLLqGyuqY9s29rkFjnNo1B1zfq_JxENif_I3DJBcVdUBq6KcoaoOfB6pFBy5kvarHKIHmIwgEZYjCdOolu6R7NAIdyFKjpPDanHAosdDzRqGfMmHprlmjemeiY5RqMz57SKrXiFNn6v0R9V1Bd5J3UlpJPNK2uF3GjxUVqGU9M/s4032/IMG_5185.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8utTpus_K7Y751LKvXNLLqGyuqY9s29rkFjnNo1B1zfq_JxENif_I3DJBcVdUBq6KcoaoOfB6pFBy5kvarHKIHmIwgEZYjCdOolu6R7NAIdyFKjpPDanHAosdDzRqGfMmHprlmjemeiY5RqMz57SKrXiFNn6v0R9V1Bd5J3UlpJPNK2uF3GjxUVqGU9M/w400-h300/IMG_5185.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The charred posts at the base of this photo held a lookout platform. This was a good spot to rest, finish our coffee, and watch for birds.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMma9-M-0iWAdap7kMOjXioNEvIgNU0m9qQ8_QhdNEP0rfjza-sA2Ip3tgQJrlb7fpREPPnu4NmL_XbrYdn8uSeuCoWutt2XpgHFdLjZ9zPMtmPyv97zh2opHOD1mZaOUkuERGeqQ46Swueb_YzgwJjXmzicMHQUlUVbGFJExFD1sxCFSJSNdI6oMawlA/s2268/PXL_20240214_132322694.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2110" data-original-width="2268" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMma9-M-0iWAdap7kMOjXioNEvIgNU0m9qQ8_QhdNEP0rfjza-sA2Ip3tgQJrlb7fpREPPnu4NmL_XbrYdn8uSeuCoWutt2XpgHFdLjZ9zPMtmPyv97zh2opHOD1mZaOUkuERGeqQ46Swueb_YzgwJjXmzicMHQUlUVbGFJExFD1sxCFSJSNdI6oMawlA/w400-h373/PXL_20240214_132322694.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>This black vulture swooped in over our heads with quite the wing sound!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">There are signposts along the road, and it is definitely worth taking the side road to Mirador Aleman, Along the road there are great views, it is not a long walk, and the lookout is just above the road (so not a steep climb).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9ANGndMi4ITDrgvq2LWbpAcMBwYHOlHvaownuLsfFB4AuEO4cQrpypp9G2GM4mqoswN-OVQVmrCGL8vLaBY2jLHtHL3l-WtSYVGMhtjPSAth2DrzCG5A1l5-ob0JlybkfJgRXJcLQ4RVuE4Sp-zURlP-bF19XLr-I0UUcH_E2-LfwgQFHJPKO9o2G84/s3915/PXL_20240214_142250578.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2202" data-original-width="3915" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9ANGndMi4ITDrgvq2LWbpAcMBwYHOlHvaownuLsfFB4AuEO4cQrpypp9G2GM4mqoswN-OVQVmrCGL8vLaBY2jLHtHL3l-WtSYVGMhtjPSAth2DrzCG5A1l5-ob0JlybkfJgRXJcLQ4RVuE4Sp-zURlP-bF19XLr-I0UUcH_E2-LfwgQFHJPKO9o2G84/w400-h225/PXL_20240214_142250578.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Mirador Aleman</i></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBS1Ijx4yPwVVQT92uD6wDOZq6haQBbVm3ztSkSd_UUadUxQvpafyhgEdgOk3Xs1YqDsQGXbsHo4bYXHtp0yu_gCU0y4NhWgFfNOM6ik4TEvpt1pL5O6mccsJm0faeDUoV7MkZzSSDVXnnhTTnvU6bJzcqe521O7fCH1oy-Uyj0I8zgGqM81pQsYSGc0/s4032/IMG_5207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBS1Ijx4yPwVVQT92uD6wDOZq6haQBbVm3ztSkSd_UUadUxQvpafyhgEdgOk3Xs1YqDsQGXbsHo4bYXHtp0yu_gCU0y4NhWgFfNOM6ik4TEvpt1pL5O6mccsJm0faeDUoV7MkZzSSDVXnnhTTnvU6bJzcqe521O7fCH1oy-Uyj0I8zgGqM81pQsYSGc0/w300-h400/IMG_5207.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Look for the lookouts at El Espino Eco Park: small detours off the main road offer some amazing views of Santa Tecla, San Salvador, and the natural wonders of the lower skirt of the San Salvador Volcano.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></h3></div><div>Google maps actually includes labels for several locations within the park, and can also be helpful in orienting yourself on the volcano. When traveling by road to El Boquerón, Ecoparque El Espino and Parque Bicentenario, it is a little difficult to figure out how these locations relate to one another.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifhqj52Bb2LAiKKPDTmzJna2wGZVe8nuI7YXwPLujdS_IltVr9NVHip_Mx2mjXABEYWBHNUDXFJJIN-gVAZg3KRs2DW85TtnvY6OGPlI8Y1BEysoIAslFNld6cIXiAuuUp33IUbCTKW8Ygyer34BSgsTIUm0xEpf9Let772pkxnozdTVsA6PkGi4h_5Q/s394/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-01%20at%208.16.30%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifhqj52Bb2LAiKKPDTmzJna2wGZVe8nuI7YXwPLujdS_IltVr9NVHip_Mx2mjXABEYWBHNUDXFJJIN-gVAZg3KRs2DW85TtnvY6OGPlI8Y1BEysoIAslFNld6cIXiAuuUp33IUbCTKW8Ygyer34BSgsTIUm0xEpf9Let772pkxnozdTVsA6PkGi4h_5Q/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-01%20at%208.16.30%20PM.png" width="281" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqHfHJJjcW2VMTj6kIIgdIEduoiq5DxNaLSnYfokKbE7hVOpVs2YOhC53wNAK7EAA1YR-wOuDT0s7eDgA8_2I9nKG-RBmfCCJNGD23QiJIRAZeV9kSFEBYilqgRIC6Zm6DYeTDkiT3vu87ReJ60whewcS2XvvERWZ-OehCHatFp5hXFJunaKVHUv5NIs/s480/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-01%20at%208.15.04%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqHfHJJjcW2VMTj6kIIgdIEduoiq5DxNaLSnYfokKbE7hVOpVs2YOhC53wNAK7EAA1YR-wOuDT0s7eDgA8_2I9nKG-RBmfCCJNGD23QiJIRAZeV9kSFEBYilqgRIC6Zm6DYeTDkiT3vu87ReJ60whewcS2XvvERWZ-OehCHatFp5hXFJunaKVHUv5NIs/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-01%20at%208.15.04%20PM.png" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ecoparque El Espino has two entrances, one behind the sports complex in Ciudad Merliot and another off of the road up to El Boquerón. We entered from the volcano road, which is the closer access point for hiking the upper trails to the lookouts. This entrance is not well-marked. On the right hand side as you head north, look for a large rock painted red and a wooden sign with an arrow pointing toward "ADICTO Paintball." (If you pass Shack 503 on the right, you missed it.) Drive into the park on the dirt road. Before you get to the small parking lot, an attendant will collect $1.50 per person and $1 for parking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cKa5vds3uSEL381S1FgqqVJ2qQI9azTBIxsqmPkJw9LltfWISR6ZHBn-DxgGKCEiRRgtFAud9d1zgzqGSwgpaAJQnJqsSHsuZVsxNoLUKfbYXsz6Yvda39Y8P8K_it9qBGhLBcctu1WzKT6FkFAiJZ1ZOObhLtCobDbhs4yTcHxFf5nwymwH0NYKRbY/s4017/IMG_5212.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2780" data-original-width="4017" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cKa5vds3uSEL381S1FgqqVJ2qQI9azTBIxsqmPkJw9LltfWISR6ZHBn-DxgGKCEiRRgtFAud9d1zgzqGSwgpaAJQnJqsSHsuZVsxNoLUKfbYXsz6Yvda39Y8P8K_it9qBGhLBcctu1WzKT6FkFAiJZ1ZOObhLtCobDbhs4yTcHxFf5nwymwH0NYKRbY/w400-h276/IMG_5212.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Entrance road to Ecoparque El Espino</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Camping is allowed in the park. A camping van was actually parked in the small lot when we arrived. There are a couple of family cabins with bathrooms which are available to rent for $25 per night. The park has decent restroom buildings located in at least 2 spots along the road. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our most successful bird walk was on Sendero 4, which we took as a shortcut back to the cafe. Although we didn't get many photos of birds, we were able to see them with binoculars and hear some amazing songs! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPh6PEhFBPwlMjHS4VK7CsRlqVrFfZP_gLe36kHQs4Xm4W8t7ZmiWkIkJ8oBdRNrn39emDfkBnn0JNKhQtctUnd3TmBvIB-2fllgjwrZHSUhb3Qr8nEWuhya9P_FNjblEViDMfwOhVkgdubN0EYgeRFRROSh9dcZdkUsKnMiNWbQARNbx7RbH6OrNXKY/s4032/IMG_5211.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPh6PEhFBPwlMjHS4VK7CsRlqVrFfZP_gLe36kHQs4Xm4W8t7ZmiWkIkJ8oBdRNrn39emDfkBnn0JNKhQtctUnd3TmBvIB-2fllgjwrZHSUhb3Qr8nEWuhya9P_FNjblEViDMfwOhVkgdubN0EYgeRFRROSh9dcZdkUsKnMiNWbQARNbx7RbH6OrNXKY/w300-h400/IMG_5211.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The last bit of Sendero 4</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had hoped to eat breakfast at the cafe, but learned that it is closed on Wednesdays and Fridays, so after our morning adventure, we headed to a nearby pupusa and tipicos place. Their curtido was great, as was the chocolate. I asked if I could take a photo for my blog, and of course they said OK. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLx8wiqZNwt4ltvoi-70kJzkeIgffDzkm5o1nTq8g3AZzVSVcKIVRyFxnRXLcEwl76geHdpfL3m9ljYp6fVDiQZQ8N-kov82oaTgow_utgH_T8lnBLgSIauhxBoOG0ZuwYwuBmYzuTwhONIq_NHdVjxfRqgHzpNy0lY426fKqvgzmb6BTeOw390o_EV8/s4032/IMG_5219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLx8wiqZNwt4ltvoi-70kJzkeIgffDzkm5o1nTq8g3AZzVSVcKIVRyFxnRXLcEwl76geHdpfL3m9ljYp6fVDiQZQ8N-kov82oaTgow_utgH_T8lnBLgSIauhxBoOG0ZuwYwuBmYzuTwhONIq_NHdVjxfRqgHzpNy0lY426fKqvgzmb6BTeOw390o_EV8/w400-h300/IMG_5219.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a lovely adventure for a weekday morning, and we were home by 10 AM to start our work day.</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-3861005621513102542024-02-22T17:12:00.002-06:002024-02-22T17:12:36.099-06:00On and Off the Beaten Path: A Story of Two Parks<h3 style="text-align: left;">Part 1: On the Beaten Path at Parque El Boquerón</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MRT42gjb2Q-bP_NWpOgXAgHJ6tRMFmWYnipXo0NA9qu8XO4hBHjUBtpO7q8jmrNGKw-uSpQdP6bYv3WQhS-A8kOPG7SQCSMHV9Le9bCd6K5xlK0q2mPpRkQXvPSzktcgweHefJExXmebLhiupw49rNAalNjuyFP9wH1lOF4-Z6jX6fBYorag-fy5-C0/s3846/PXL_20240110_211642371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2072" data-original-width="3846" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MRT42gjb2Q-bP_NWpOgXAgHJ6tRMFmWYnipXo0NA9qu8XO4hBHjUBtpO7q8jmrNGKw-uSpQdP6bYv3WQhS-A8kOPG7SQCSMHV9Le9bCd6K5xlK0q2mPpRkQXvPSzktcgweHefJExXmebLhiupw49rNAalNjuyFP9wH1lOF4-Z6jX6fBYorag-fy5-C0/w400-h215/PXL_20240110_211642371.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The San Salvador volcano is called the sleeping giant for good reason. It is a geographically broad, primarily stratovolcano made up of layers of built-up lava and tephra (ash, cinders and rock that blasts out as pyroclasts during an eruption and then settles). Stratovolcanoes are usually cone-shaped. More than 40,000 years ago, the immense, conic San Salvador volcano dominated the landscape of El Salvador. A mammoth eruption truncated the volcano, leaving behind an ancient crater in which the Boquerón volcano grew. About 800 years ago, Boquerón erupted and the central cone collapsed, leaving behind a crater lagoon and the profile which we recognize as the San Salvador volcano today.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjhJMwLhhA5mhAWc8-MGpDNJPovegQ1MBL1xIuMuWyE3JoXmUyCp6W3-VzSSQ6mZ9zHchyqRRdkYZs9C3plB_GWOMiwnypvzMe6LRWXN-9CwCcn5lzsbOwtlATM4PeoZqHEFzHRNzgZSt5LmUNjZHpzsiTQMtzBNYWk1OeXyF5mzJ7Y9IqW15Bq0BSIg/s841/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-21%20at%204.38.15%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="841" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjhJMwLhhA5mhAWc8-MGpDNJPovegQ1MBL1xIuMuWyE3JoXmUyCp6W3-VzSSQ6mZ9zHchyqRRdkYZs9C3plB_GWOMiwnypvzMe6LRWXN-9CwCcn5lzsbOwtlATM4PeoZqHEFzHRNzgZSt5LmUNjZHpzsiTQMtzBNYWk1OeXyF5mzJ7Y9IqW15Bq0BSIg/w400-h246/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-21%20at%204.38.15%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Photo taken on the day of writing this story: the San Salvador volcano as seen from southeast of the volcano, with an approximation of volcanologists believe was the ancient profile of the San Salvador volcano about 40,000 years ago.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>In the photo, El Boquerón is situated in the center of the flatter slope, to the west of the current peak. The steeper part of the volcano is called El Picacho and is the tallest part of the San Salvador volcano. On the topographical map, El Picacho is located at the high point of the ridge between the crater of El Boquerón and the city of Mejicanos. That ridge is part of the rim of the crater left behind by the prehistoric eruption. Calle al Volcan is the road that cuts between the Boquerón crater and El Picacho. This road is familiar to anyone who has visited El Boquerón park, dined at a restaurant on the side of the San Salvador volcano or driven over the volcano from Santa Tecla to Quezaltepeque.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT5gUwwX-lgbvY0s3xHdbZKPIKppL9pE96cCjsXzsCTTdeCOlN9QLLia7CxplV198QLObFnJatZ2CTCdobg6K0Wr48re4lE_N6GNfZv5Cj1q0JHCeRcf8DwVG7zFM4zcmAMsMKmHkWze8ZkH-VuI12Z9RstlMHh_mEi4SuSSROZCwL00dgQrOUzPKwEc/s703/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-22%20at%207.42.21%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="703" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT5gUwwX-lgbvY0s3xHdbZKPIKppL9pE96cCjsXzsCTTdeCOlN9QLLia7CxplV198QLObFnJatZ2CTCdobg6K0Wr48re4lE_N6GNfZv5Cj1q0JHCeRcf8DwVG7zFM4zcmAMsMKmHkWze8ZkH-VuI12Z9RstlMHh_mEi4SuSSROZCwL00dgQrOUzPKwEc/w400-h318/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-22%20at%207.42.21%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Google Maps</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The San Salvador volcano is a giant. The volcano is made up of 3 stratovolcano cones (Boquerón, Picacho and Jibali), 14 pyroclastic cones, various fissure vents, lagoons, craters and other geologic features. Most of the recent volcanic activity (since 1200 CE) has taken place on the northern side of the volcano. The last eruption of the San Salvador volcano occurred following 3 strong earthquakes which destroyed much of San Salvador and the surrounding area on June 7, 1917. This <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JATE149SEY" target="_blank">video contains many historic photographs</a> and an excellent explanation (in Spanish) of the series of seismic and volcanic events which took place from June 7th through June 29th, 1917. During that eruption, the lagoon in the crater of El Boquerón boiled and evaporated, and a small cinder cone formed, known as El Boqueroncito. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9JATE149SEY" width="320" youtube-src-id="9JATE149SEY"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div>El Boquerón is often referred to as the Sleeping Giant, and because the mountain is asleep, it has become a lush and beautiful home for all kinds of creatures, including humans. The sides of the volcano host forests and coffee farms, fruit trees and flowers, lands sacred to the indigenous people and commercial development. Located on the rim of the Boquerón crater, Boquerón National Park has been a favorite tourist destination for international and Salvadoran tourists since 2008 (the official opening of the park). A blog story I wrote in 2010 features <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2010/04/day-in-life-of-beautiful-orange-toilet.html" target="_blank">a beautiful orange toilet brush flower</a> and is set in the park. Over the past 15 years, I have visited this park at least once a year, but typically multiple times per year as a regular recreational and therapeutic destination for delegations and Salvadoran friends.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhdpjVTBpTsUAvKQjKeyqkyJItuKeWy61sgX-OEYxT7MTAzIrMS0OUVKRAqn6jgjAVc2lAIzO2QEjd7jXgd71VtqtoekrOPph6-3Gz2rbfsgstHSOLdCNcSOq-6a4D5Ivtl4IcJklmVSNS3eyiV1nRSUzbKcQtOrC3tsSuMe4tGknR-itJoa6P9CAnNI/s3264/IMG_2593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhdpjVTBpTsUAvKQjKeyqkyJItuKeWy61sgX-OEYxT7MTAzIrMS0OUVKRAqn6jgjAVc2lAIzO2QEjd7jXgd71VtqtoekrOPph6-3Gz2rbfsgstHSOLdCNcSOq-6a4D5Ivtl4IcJklmVSNS3eyiV1nRSUzbKcQtOrC3tsSuMe4tGknR-itJoa6P9CAnNI/w400-h300/IMG_2593.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The gardens feature native and non-native cultivars</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5Gc9s-gGdPJciCagNv66RjfdR6SlDImEJ-HbyUX0Imq25gnwVe8OBmW2lLar3Hy07sr7DhuU_PgHXjI97uakt8DFhGfdHyF6oLSrziwDCikcuslRoImaRMaRu988WI3q9HagxFO0htkm5hTbW7g4B8iApE_Y6legAgP3hw9aQT_kYyHi2JmW0qpKNwk/s2750/IMG_0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2750" data-original-width="2442" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5Gc9s-gGdPJciCagNv66RjfdR6SlDImEJ-HbyUX0Imq25gnwVe8OBmW2lLar3Hy07sr7DhuU_PgHXjI97uakt8DFhGfdHyF6oLSrziwDCikcuslRoImaRMaRu988WI3q9HagxFO0htkm5hTbW7g4B8iApE_Y6legAgP3hw9aQT_kYyHi2JmW0qpKNwk/w355-h400/IMG_0675.JPG" width="355" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The old museum featured some hands-on exhibits and told the story of the 1917 eruption which featured video testimony from elders who experienced the earthquakes, ashes and lava flows as children.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFmMijxCHYb2R2X4MT0rzthKd6BLLgUl5i8YsY-EA_AmjiyDEdmV2-CWivk7bkl4JInZ9zqhdjGmVN4mbtbrpLLpIVEjXKlzaK8iXHnPZzMLz4x1Gqk9cOeFs_MEB-eRgprUoi6la84gxFFQ58X5d247gGvf4DvXefZBrS-A8o72lrrdfQS-oHNdjE24/s4032/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFmMijxCHYb2R2X4MT0rzthKd6BLLgUl5i8YsY-EA_AmjiyDEdmV2-CWivk7bkl4JInZ9zqhdjGmVN4mbtbrpLLpIVEjXKlzaK8iXHnPZzMLz4x1Gqk9cOeFs_MEB-eRgprUoi6la84gxFFQ58X5d247gGvf4DvXefZBrS-A8o72lrrdfQS-oHNdjE24/w400-h300/IMG_1079.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Over the years, the pathways were moved and stairs reconstructed to prevent erosion. This was the path at the rim in 2019.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVJsWrrv-NvuNdKas0QyjZGwGPr-ISGVlBy01P65392CNZ7AJ1o-jD0ujkqZOIg3gKjpKCrzFd-o9q9p1aV0oZVS2AqtM3zSnX3PMj5IQLGjZEIKiDNlGyI-AvaaU83L_B9B5wt6YBcwm_oLDy8s6m6PX1O8N-sWfbC8Jyl7CgRf3GXyzkevt0_moocU/s4032/IMG_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVJsWrrv-NvuNdKas0QyjZGwGPr-ISGVlBy01P65392CNZ7AJ1o-jD0ujkqZOIg3gKjpKCrzFd-o9q9p1aV0oZVS2AqtM3zSnX3PMj5IQLGjZEIKiDNlGyI-AvaaU83L_B9B5wt6YBcwm_oLDy8s6m6PX1O8N-sWfbC8Jyl7CgRf3GXyzkevt0_moocU/w400-h300/IMG_1085.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfPmc-JAQg1DwJ8Jzr8Zod0MJc4j9bFkcoiDFX1EMOd8cqJYhfZCZHE8CIB2Cic1S__wvcMiaHiLrLGpl0KYAjamuPk-yFOQJNHVZQ5fOVVYNHz5y-7d_KRVuELqb47IbbKABTzYEnIC91LD-w-DwoisvP-xgqP33I5BNiuWAdPw2GlJxvM3MukPlagI/s3264/IMG_0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfPmc-JAQg1DwJ8Jzr8Zod0MJc4j9bFkcoiDFX1EMOd8cqJYhfZCZHE8CIB2Cic1S__wvcMiaHiLrLGpl0KYAjamuPk-yFOQJNHVZQ5fOVVYNHz5y-7d_KRVuELqb47IbbKABTzYEnIC91LD-w-DwoisvP-xgqP33I5BNiuWAdPw2GlJxvM3MukPlagI/w400-h300/IMG_0683.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The goal for most visitors is to climb up to the rim to peak over the edge and catch a few photos of El Boqueroncito - the pyroclastic cone which formed in the crater after the evaporation of the lagoon.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>In 2023, the government did a major improvement project in the park. There is now controlled parking at the top where you pay to enter and park a vehicle. Due to limited space, a line often forms at the pluma (entry gate). You can let a person out to pay for your group, which allows everyone to exit and start walking while the driver waits in line to park. The museum has been reconfigured with Spanish and English panels that give the history of the volcano. (It is a little boring for young ones or those who don't care to read lengthy descriptions.) There are restrooms near the museum (and also near the new lookout and new coffee shop up at the rim).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwDXgRnxffs8KT4C_MsyuAfsxdPv_AJY2t56GhsmkA0SuTwHQvEUsCyVYERSn-5kDPJm2lKgdLDbJ8X1YNHYsz0YqMWr_lAWqVoiJXvvG3YRdBrKz8AE06u1fLd13u4hsmg43HCnurFkA0cfbBi7DQ2pX2pkF2IRpF998y4Gwd0oJ61RzbkAgfXdTQCs/s4000/20240110_150532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwDXgRnxffs8KT4C_MsyuAfsxdPv_AJY2t56GhsmkA0SuTwHQvEUsCyVYERSn-5kDPJm2lKgdLDbJ8X1YNHYsz0YqMWr_lAWqVoiJXvvG3YRdBrKz8AE06u1fLd13u4hsmg43HCnurFkA0cfbBi7DQ2pX2pkF2IRpF998y4Gwd0oJ61RzbkAgfXdTQCs/w300-h400/20240110_150532.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Shops and restaurants just outside of the museum entrance are definitely worth checking out, but also are cause for frustration for drivers. (Photo credit: Pam Klink)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Just off of the parking lot on the side opposite of the museum, there is a very steep ramp to a lookout. If it is a clear day, you definitely want to take advantage of the view. You might be able to pick out landmarks in San Salvador, Lake Ilopango, and the San Vicente Volcano. It's a good activity while you wait for your driver to park or while folks use the restrooms.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyKP2qZQ8w5fMgR68Ik1hP3WpoB4fhGuqkr72Pl2qsnQSMwokfglq4whKlBlS5dwU899JMhpkeo6GIYzmjPElZA96kJfpUMFPuv7dHnpHX4L71kceP4xcXYIHFu6gJCRYON1Yn5vbz88lgdNYlrUJmGEvGjZMm8fgkJqaX-vcWSKa5IklKnHE77Yl7v4/s4024/IMG_4549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="4024" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyKP2qZQ8w5fMgR68Ik1hP3WpoB4fhGuqkr72Pl2qsnQSMwokfglq4whKlBlS5dwU899JMhpkeo6GIYzmjPElZA96kJfpUMFPuv7dHnpHX4L71kceP4xcXYIHFu6gJCRYON1Yn5vbz88lgdNYlrUJmGEvGjZMm8fgkJqaX-vcWSKa5IklKnHE77Yl7v4/w400-h236/IMG_4549.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>View from the parking lot lookout</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>After visiting the museum, the first bit of the walk to the crater rim consists of a long concrete ramp, followed by a boardwalk. The park is accessible to those who use wheelchairs up to this point. These structures do take away from the rustic and natural aspect of the park, however, it is lovely for those with mobility challenges to be able to enjoy a part of the forest and garden space.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZv8MASp0QHUtDd_JFlBaCWQpUBNtZHGm-B9rryFI8Nc-TpcqmlcV18Xpz_CkTUvPfsUUQfjGycPVDQUe4yQNYNuPaxoULv_gREL78xNysw_Bg03bYN0i3NFDOP5-usngi6JkpMGBCbqMR3R8C3brmoNUa-i4CaMRycg1svIfgBsHwIHO18rEvuSspN4/s4000/20240110_152531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZv8MASp0QHUtDd_JFlBaCWQpUBNtZHGm-B9rryFI8Nc-TpcqmlcV18Xpz_CkTUvPfsUUQfjGycPVDQUe4yQNYNuPaxoULv_gREL78xNysw_Bg03bYN0i3NFDOP5-usngi6JkpMGBCbqMR3R8C3brmoNUa-i4CaMRycg1svIfgBsHwIHO18rEvuSspN4/w300-h400/20240110_152531.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>(Photo credit: Pam Klink)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The walkways and stairways have been rebuilt. The climb takes about 20 minutes up to a height of 1640 ft. above sea level. It is important to drink water and pause to rest, especially if you are not used to the heat or the elevation. I notice that visitors tend to walk fast to get to the rim, but I suggest taking some time to notice the birds, insects and flowers along the way. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XJQkqrWTbe5NZRRwirrRAJnJkNHh-6pH75er1EuluZBmlhraapWsmGtZ2jq435SYGOLVAJk5AFbSNqthzy97xGJ4RJ2NFvm70LH_Bv2KJOKnB2YvQFh4Jw-SUMVFrDbiK_z2YL70itR9ynRXcjW93nZT3h1MF9S9N5GIDGNkZMGGsYYPtxaD9mQGX2c/s4032/PXL_20240110_212557545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XJQkqrWTbe5NZRRwirrRAJnJkNHh-6pH75er1EuluZBmlhraapWsmGtZ2jq435SYGOLVAJk5AFbSNqthzy97xGJ4RJ2NFvm70LH_Bv2KJOKnB2YvQFh4Jw-SUMVFrDbiK_z2YL70itR9ynRXcjW93nZT3h1MF9S9N5GIDGNkZMGGsYYPtxaD9mQGX2c/w225-h400/PXL_20240110_212557545.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>(Photo credit: Joanna Salinas)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvpHx0rcrQGvigIq1V5Lzib4nQM6_O37-FgeMKikyx2RpLl75zhWNrFdqyAdc1haB4Ws7cotogK5jIRoUIzZios9Quf__O5Hbygw8d5vHUy0O7hrTg2_6cUZ3wmUa6i6-UcaHq7-qI-z80aTSsRQsU1vgu9O__CjI1a3oWYE3jwtWeOnxBZ4PR5RWe8U/w300-h400/20240110_153113.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>(Photo credit: Pam Klink)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />During a visit a few weeks ago, I paused on the stairs to ask the workers what they were doing. The guy in the background told me they were digging an aqueduct so water can flow down into a turtle pond. I remembered there were once a couple of side paths to stone cisterns for gathering rainwater and making wishes. Suddenly the guy in the foreground hit something with his shovel and said to me, "You need to take a photo of this!" He set these rocks on the ledge for me to see. He told me they were very old from a previous explosion of the volcano. He really was so excited to show me these rocks! And he went right back to work.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvpHx0rcrQGvigIq1V5Lzib4nQM6_O37-FgeMKikyx2RpLl75zhWNrFdqyAdc1haB4Ws7cotogK5jIRoUIzZios9Quf__O5Hbygw8d5vHUy0O7hrTg2_6cUZ3wmUa6i6-UcaHq7-qI-z80aTSsRQsU1vgu9O__CjI1a3oWYE3jwtWeOnxBZ4PR5RWe8U/s4000/20240110_153113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i></i></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakNAYcCr658jCIUhBmpCYUvJns6cwgGKarG0rbWvIiEwo5mXL_yDZoYuM7hI96Y79B06zPl-B-33uQQYd0zN0nlflLy0r9GXx_J0mua9b5tU_UbdMAXPKM3yNH0ooSzYmfGR1XOavvvyFYtXpcRCFqN-KL339q2D9dMae_1ZNNtE1NitFBLPGhyphenhyphen4mLc0/s4032/IMG_3883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakNAYcCr658jCIUhBmpCYUvJns6cwgGKarG0rbWvIiEwo5mXL_yDZoYuM7hI96Y79B06zPl-B-33uQQYd0zN0nlflLy0r9GXx_J0mua9b5tU_UbdMAXPKM3yNH0ooSzYmfGR1XOavvvyFYtXpcRCFqN-KL339q2D9dMae_1ZNNtE1NitFBLPGhyphenhyphen4mLc0/w300-h400/IMG_3883.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>The reward for climbing the steps is a pause at this plaza, and then you can climb up to a viewing deck and above that, the crystal lookout. Crystal lookout structures are popping up in different spots throughout El Salvador, and they are very popular! <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyZ1prgu6o61mZsKU7_95YSrhfvTH1xsEE5EjSjVW3kCir9dNqxDDvp57q8333gUejY6-_qPhPHVKj4CzGQjfQq2BQ7fOD4ZHGfh1af52YLsxTmiQ4q1zGjDVQIFjZOQZjgiLfm7YAwaiLZu3C3VDBq6t-vrIGyWuoBQkFK4aGTlvNPaB6zl9Ct-YiMo/s4032/IMG_3891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyZ1prgu6o61mZsKU7_95YSrhfvTH1xsEE5EjSjVW3kCir9dNqxDDvp57q8333gUejY6-_qPhPHVKj4CzGQjfQq2BQ7fOD4ZHGfh1af52YLsxTmiQ4q1zGjDVQIFjZOQZjgiLfm7YAwaiLZu3C3VDBq6t-vrIGyWuoBQkFK4aGTlvNPaB6zl9Ct-YiMo/w300-h400/IMG_3891.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>View down from the stairs up to the crystal lookout</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg0HVbqSJoLOIs3N-7qwDNcFFXTA-dZuVdnbE2qUyqUgel7Q9ZqNkuc5JAxlDwnsd3d7UPWAm1RfAVc35mpg2bpZmfwPz_OiYn3krQIExjRadX1TtRR00Z6wlHZ46iy-I8FrGOKuKAZf2lYtnR1Fyp2GSucS3623dme-YQg1H8ONZbj86GPPuitQ9WcI/s4032/IMG_3890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg0HVbqSJoLOIs3N-7qwDNcFFXTA-dZuVdnbE2qUyqUgel7Q9ZqNkuc5JAxlDwnsd3d7UPWAm1RfAVc35mpg2bpZmfwPz_OiYn3krQIExjRadX1TtRR00Z6wlHZ46iy-I8FrGOKuKAZf2lYtnR1Fyp2GSucS3623dme-YQg1H8ONZbj86GPPuitQ9WcI/w300-h400/IMG_3890.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course the goal is always to catch a glimpse of El Boqueroncito. Along the rim path, there are several good spots for taking photographs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNLH8WKshJ2lEZbwrCv6YIZ7JHGQd5cEPoixk-DHyHDPxZTnOhzrGiPd32wKVXzrK_jm_ycd_KlSM8K5Vi9vaeSO9UfuvkvyS1OKh8l44ZCLroYMAH4CwOAPvXWwsQe1MAab0fzp6Oja-xIcm0Q-pCfNlkr3dQfx7sJSarudeYcXIKO37tAwc1fe_EQA/s4032/IMG_4560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNLH8WKshJ2lEZbwrCv6YIZ7JHGQd5cEPoixk-DHyHDPxZTnOhzrGiPd32wKVXzrK_jm_ycd_KlSM8K5Vi9vaeSO9UfuvkvyS1OKh8l44ZCLroYMAH4CwOAPvXWwsQe1MAab0fzp6Oja-xIcm0Q-pCfNlkr3dQfx7sJSarudeYcXIKO37tAwc1fe_EQA/w300-h400/IMG_4560.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Depending on the time of year, there are flowers to observe both on the ground and in the trees and soaring birds riding the thermal air currents inside the crater. Just before you come to the descending path, you arrive at the lookout plaza (with the big cell antennas) which now has a little coffee shop. It's worth pausing a moment for a cup of coffee or a cold drink. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Parque Nacional de Boquerón is a fun spot to relax if you are in the center of the country and have from 1 to 3 hours of free time. The park opens at 8 AM and closes at 4 PM, but if you have already entered, they will not kick you out until 5 pm. If you go in the morning, you can stop for coffee or lunch on your way back down the volcano. After an afternoon visit, you might like to grab dinner at a spot with a view to watch the sunset and the lights go on in the city. Traffic on Calle al Volcan is horrific on the weekends, so a weekday visit to El Boquerón is the best choice.</div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-16929154868604746892024-02-11T17:19:00.000-06:002024-02-11T17:19:06.668-06:00Lutheran Women Share Realities about Violence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a story about women telling hard truths, women coming together to support each other, women working to improve the lives of women and girls in their communities. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM-UItuKzmk606eG78a-yxxVzWgmZ8Lu2Rb3754lw8qLIK2K3XAAe4H6bKaK1qxNQFtLhV28N22xWIxZYmCKbwQAXMemXItLY6Sw0K0i1zcZXBHCGou-GIzjosFAMbGwpUukCzyDH3z-rSSfyHZe8ccA9u0jCHAsz_dTB-IHa4IDr2a6tKMr24u5rYZs/s3632/IMG_4788.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3632" data-original-width="2669" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM-UItuKzmk606eG78a-yxxVzWgmZ8Lu2Rb3754lw8qLIK2K3XAAe4H6bKaK1qxNQFtLhV28N22xWIxZYmCKbwQAXMemXItLY6Sw0K0i1zcZXBHCGou-GIzjosFAMbGwpUukCzyDH3z-rSSfyHZe8ccA9u0jCHAsz_dTB-IHa4IDr2a6tKMr24u5rYZs/w235-h320/IMG_4788.HEIC" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently, an invitation from the leaders of Gender and Family Ministry of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church was sent out through a communication group of which I am a member. It caught my attention:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Salvadoran Lutheran Church, working with the Office of the Woman of the Lutheran World Federation, has initiated a consultation process about the <a href="https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw.htm" target="_blank">Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women CEDAW</a> ... The purpose of the gathering is to bring together women leaders from their communities for a consultation on community contexts regarding gender policies and all forms of discrimination against women.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS3_ZtWcjNx_3abspliEjJX5MmX7bMDIC4_YsayH1elZGWVysLJk4rree1lLZn3rQUac7939QDYT2Mk_gdNqe90WXaTUHOnIFcfEPMEVLK7XADOSUk8HhzKDYmbasajP3Y6eS4JNGLV1lsMMCk5fZ_AaoBze_w2_x6Xzys4p-S-nwiKCevEmI-WvLClY/s766/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-10%20at%205.01.20%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="766" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS3_ZtWcjNx_3abspliEjJX5MmX7bMDIC4_YsayH1elZGWVysLJk4rree1lLZn3rQUac7939QDYT2Mk_gdNqe90WXaTUHOnIFcfEPMEVLK7XADOSUk8HhzKDYmbasajP3Y6eS4JNGLV1lsMMCk5fZ_AaoBze_w2_x6Xzys4p-S-nwiKCevEmI-WvLClY/w640-h237/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-10%20at%205.01.20%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #351c75;">Pastor Cecilia giving out vacunas contra la violencia during the Missions of Healing (2011 & 2012)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought about Pastor Cecilia giving out "vaccinations against violence" to children and our time together learning about women's empowerment projects in Central America. During the 24 years in which the network of Lutheran Churches from Wisconsin has coordinated with the Salvadoran Lutheran Church in the Missions of Healing and Women's Health Initiatives, we have worked hard to create safe spaces for women and girls to talk about their physical and mental health and well-being. I asked the CEDAW consultation leaders if I could come to the consultation and learn. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next, I did a little homework. After translating the invitation into English, I looked for the <a href="https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/text/econvention.htm" target="_blank">CEDAW online and found the full text.</a> I noticed that the United States is one of just a handful of countries which has NOT ratified this 1979 agreement (no surprise - the US has not ratified most United Nations human rights agreements, including protections for the rights of children). El Salvador signed the CEDAW in August, 1981. As a signatory to the convention, El Salvador is required to submit periodic reports to the UN. This gathering was to be a portion of the work which the Lutheran Church is doing to contribute to that report.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g6iPRZ4uA62cckiadDnL28aGGHpt-QsmrYFvpNFdai10pNYR8HC8flMaY_1owVT2AwHFQ-PC71YRO1G2NqjKqp1qVRI-cLmxJacle3VC2Q6J3FuKVwKFnBGidXUmfpxy4EqQQac5KKJXDfLvHJzNuoST2nTXCojXDs2CVNz0GnyJuKS4YwwjB2B68yM/s1600/424687799_715345027413711_917318033974450846_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g6iPRZ4uA62cckiadDnL28aGGHpt-QsmrYFvpNFdai10pNYR8HC8flMaY_1owVT2AwHFQ-PC71YRO1G2NqjKqp1qVRI-cLmxJacle3VC2Q6J3FuKVwKFnBGidXUmfpxy4EqQQac5KKJXDfLvHJzNuoST2nTXCojXDs2CVNz0GnyJuKS4YwwjB2B68yM/w400-h225/424687799_715345027413711_917318033974450846_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Photo credit: Rafael Menjivar</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The consultation was an all-day event, and the turn-out was impressive! Pastors and lay-leaders from all five micro-regions of the Salvadoran Lutheran church participated, representing different generations, varied economic circumstances, rural and urban settings. Some got up at 2:30 AM to make the long ride into San Salvador. A few men also joined in the conversation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After sharing pupusas, coffee and a devotion, the leaders defined the context for the work of the day. This included some <a href="https://ormusa.org/informe-de-hechosestado-y-situacionde-la-violencia-contralas-mujeres-2022/" target="_blank">government statistics from 2022</a> related to reported acts of violence against women in El Salvador. A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLfHD7zfuHM" target="_blank">video created by El Salvador's Office of the Attorney General</a> was one of two videos which were shared with the group. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NLfHD7zfuHM" width="320" youtube-src-id="NLfHD7zfuHM"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After the general assembly and a coffee break, the women assembled into 5 work groups by micro-region. The task was to discuss 8 questions. Each group designated a note-taker who had the challenge of summarizing the comments and writing them on large paper. I was able to listen in as the groups carefully pondered each question. One thing I noticed was that the note-takers/moderators were young, dynamic, and very skillful at listening to each woman in the group. This caught my attention because sometimes young people are not given the opportunity to shine in a space full of pastors who like to talk.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGexTP7ZHkn_fWFJ1mp6hPmiP205tOpTTDD3hnYmV9WaViStw4HDiTZFI9ukqWDgZdJQ96Ahoi6aD4ivf0Nw6BJ2z0L5660P_VcOvATyVjDiwlfW1OS1QfnmuwNa0cWKdCQyEpZT7vPPVv0NOwr4UgCI08Jj2kEaBzhMpFxj3wa8HgKt9gPAV5IQe3w38/s3925/IMG_4796.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2416" data-original-width="3925" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGexTP7ZHkn_fWFJ1mp6hPmiP205tOpTTDD3hnYmV9WaViStw4HDiTZFI9ukqWDgZdJQ96Ahoi6aD4ivf0Nw6BJ2z0L5660P_VcOvATyVjDiwlfW1OS1QfnmuwNa0cWKdCQyEpZT7vPPVv0NOwr4UgCI08Jj2kEaBzhMpFxj3wa8HgKt9gPAV5IQe3w38/w400-h246/IMG_4796.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The 8 questions under consideration and some responses I noted</b>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>How do you define violence?</b></li><ul><li>The groups reiterated what they had seen in the video, but also spoke about the importance of NOT judging a victim. For example, a victim who has been physically harmed may not believe that a woman who is verbally abused is actually suffering abuse. The groups discussed the importance of believing and supporting victims. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAUN8d__MPQM3fP6zYK-7MZzK5fmy8KSSyD_95prcivOI-ZxA0cCFfceEyDyK9oQgqxWgP3Il4WivvB3fcpT4F-CMudCzk0pZQbmHSBf7YYGmAYzP0IoNc0oMKOoel9nEWWs9jGEo45P9wmtwBxfwogs-09LTzEee4Kf1qzdVKsjqsFepBGiX7iKH5eI/s4032/IMG_4791.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="4032" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAUN8d__MPQM3fP6zYK-7MZzK5fmy8KSSyD_95prcivOI-ZxA0cCFfceEyDyK9oQgqxWgP3Il4WivvB3fcpT4F-CMudCzk0pZQbmHSBf7YYGmAYzP0IoNc0oMKOoel9nEWWs9jGEo45P9wmtwBxfwogs-09LTzEee4Kf1qzdVKsjqsFepBGiX7iKH5eI/w400-h253/IMG_4791.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /></li></ul><li><b>How do you perceive violence against women in your surroundings? Do you know of a specific case? Do you know if there was resolution of the case by the authorities?</b></li><ul><li>Women were aware of violence against women in their communities, particularly inter-familial violence, including sexual assault of girls and women by step-fathers and uncles. Many of them knew of specific cases. They spoke about notification to authorities (by the victims, family members, health workers, or church leaders), but reported that very often the police do not come. They also said that male police officers are on the side of the men in the "brotherhood of machismo" and make deals off to the side. No one reported knowing of a case that had been resolved by the authorities.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4bh7sA56ytuV0wLK7ae2F8IGWgyMoOSH5DLqk9TPSPoMzlOr99ZrLk2WfFSFgynnFB8ISlxtzzWPIbU07d_4oS5aieEbuZYGyBChpoPwtqBS8xKbEdhM8g6zBChjWminion2uWzV9esSvySl4tJimT5mYvbS7gdMT4ptcAV-StwhXbACVkIowW8PTXM/s2048/424753924_715342390747308_7035585948860986699_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4bh7sA56ytuV0wLK7ae2F8IGWgyMoOSH5DLqk9TPSPoMzlOr99ZrLk2WfFSFgynnFB8ISlxtzzWPIbU07d_4oS5aieEbuZYGyBChpoPwtqBS8xKbEdhM8g6zBChjWminion2uWzV9esSvySl4tJimT5mYvbS7gdMT4ptcAV-StwhXbACVkIowW8PTXM/s320/424753924_715342390747308_7035585948860986699_n.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Photo credit: Rafael Menjivar</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></li></ul><li><b>Do you take up the subject of sexuality with your children at home? If so, in what ways? </b></li><ul><li>Particularly in the context of this question, I noted that "sexuality" was interpreted by the women to mean "sex education" - as in how our bodies work, how babies are created, and the respect one should have for their own body and the bodies of others.</li><li>Uniformly among the groups, women said that they have provided sex education at home for two main reasons: 1) The older women said that they had NO education when they were young, and they knew it was very important that their children and grandchildren be well-informed; and 2) The kids all have cell phones and see all kinds of things outside of the view of their parents. The groups voiced the importance of teaching the children correct information before they are exposed to sexually explicit ideas out in the world, to use anatomically correct names for body parts, and to control online access for young children. If the children ask, then it is time to answer their questions with the truth and accurate names for their parts.</li><li>This question produced some funny stories.</li><ul><li>"When I was between about 3 and 5 years old, I asked my mom where babies came from. She told me that the stork would land on the roof and leave the baby. At night, I could not sleep because I was nervous, always looking up at the ceiling and listening on the roof in case a baby would come."</li><li>"In the old days they would just say to the boys, 'You can't go out at night, or the Signuanaba will get you!' Right? They'd really say that. Well, these days the boys all have their cell phones and would laugh and say that is crazy." The mention of the Siguanaba literally had all the older women nodding and laughing, remembering the funny legends that were used to keep teenagers under control "back in the day."<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4C7_fEO2AtszHeAMdLcC3AekxMbCJW7gPv-BIaFp5szz01sfkzK8-LpM2m1_2C65xZxzB5JXObII4ZODthsXSbuCiPFzawWgyk-gEtydMvTa0vhpk1GKuP-WXnQfJUKGCkREpQP-pfQEN-sl-Z5GfrPEirwIx8T6TPwNuUBibTJ-UbS3H3MlbAl753J8/s3264/PXL_20240107_200656992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4C7_fEO2AtszHeAMdLcC3AekxMbCJW7gPv-BIaFp5szz01sfkzK8-LpM2m1_2C65xZxzB5JXObII4ZODthsXSbuCiPFzawWgyk-gEtydMvTa0vhpk1GKuP-WXnQfJUKGCkREpQP-pfQEN-sl-Z5GfrPEirwIx8T6TPwNuUBibTJ-UbS3H3MlbAl753J8/w320-h180/PXL_20240107_200656992.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>The Siguanaba appears at the river, seemingly beautiful, but after she lures men to her side, she turns into a horrible witch. So, my dear men, do not go out wandering at night!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></li></ul></ul><li><b>How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the prevalence of violence against women in your community?</b></li><li><b>Within the context of the pandemic, did the number of cases of violence against girls and women and the number of pregnancies increase? Do you know of a specific case?</b></li><ul><li>During the 9-month lock-down in El Salvador, the women reported an increase in known cases of violence, including sexual violence. The women said being closed up in the house was stressful and the men became frustrated. The conversations about sexual assault by step fathers were numerous. Some pointed out that life in the countryside may have been easier because people could go outside and take a walk in their farms.</li><li>The groups noted a marked increase in pregnancies, including pregnancies of young teens. One HUGE factor was that women could not leave their homes to go get their birth control.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvH66tQZESR1mCs5Ehxs4cLW-paA4BlIf-0x4_9i8FW-fbBGIIAUsEdBFez_MsO0Rdwuep4eHtZPUbnjPs4R4vzMvcCWCaEzZuEPwkWdt_yn283yqOr1mvfQz_c132XmVhf3Z_VUaZMRJ-l4aanQo61uEZXpVoMwglotLKTgndUYZkaV6YnHzTnobAtQ/s2048/424680555_715198630761684_3260590819919321250_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvH66tQZESR1mCs5Ehxs4cLW-paA4BlIf-0x4_9i8FW-fbBGIIAUsEdBFez_MsO0Rdwuep4eHtZPUbnjPs4R4vzMvcCWCaEzZuEPwkWdt_yn283yqOr1mvfQz_c132XmVhf3Z_VUaZMRJ-l4aanQo61uEZXpVoMwglotLKTgndUYZkaV6YnHzTnobAtQ/s320/424680555_715198630761684_3260590819919321250_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Photo credit: Ivonn Jimenez</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></li></ul><li>Is there sex education in your community? If so, who provides it?</li><ul><li>The number one answer for who provides sex education in the city and country alike: <b>the Lutheran Church</b>. Every group mentioned the Missions of Healing, the work of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church health ministry training and events, and the work of local church teaching teams. A few groups also mentioned the local Unidad de Salud (health clinic for those without insurance) and the schools. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3632XEc3zYVwQ6l0hwlnIKkgtyWKtcSE498tf8zC85Oc38qsRXOJNT7H-_aVSHVflYhooEq6ioIV7CAfFiN8QY3DL6T4Xu7PMAgZZjMtfElLMjHcKLJRw3UeWfhbSNkKDOXTvUOjtk0ttzGYGxsDngGnca0IJUk4hgNbL8aefgiOZ5RbQH7yNwWz6nwI/s2466/IMG_4804.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="2466" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3632XEc3zYVwQ6l0hwlnIKkgtyWKtcSE498tf8zC85Oc38qsRXOJNT7H-_aVSHVflYhooEq6ioIV7CAfFiN8QY3DL6T4Xu7PMAgZZjMtfElLMjHcKLJRw3UeWfhbSNkKDOXTvUOjtk0ttzGYGxsDngGnca0IJUk4hgNbL8aefgiOZ5RbQH7yNwWz6nwI/s320/IMG_4804.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /></li></ul><li>Have you participated in a program to prevent violence against women? If so, what was your participation?</li><ul><li>Some of the women had received training through women's entrepreneurship and empowerment groups. One woman in the North mentioned being trained and being invited into local schools to give anti-violence workshops to students.</li></ul><li>What are the work conditions and guarantees of health, education and formal employment that women have in the rural context?</li><ul><li>"Muy mal." (Very bad.) That was the response to this question. Women support themselves by selling things in their little stands or outside of their homes, in addition to completing all the tasks necessary to care for a family and run a home. The women were quite indignant with respect to the way "women's work" in the home or on the farm is not given economic value or respect. Some had examples of women being paid less than men for the same work. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyYZZnDUUaYXhO8lBuiSNq4GBG2lQMSnGVUZVA6e6q7OKCFPF0d_k5ZHQ8o1vFqQ66jeoPagxtjtsrL_Dr90zb8AOyJ5C-GqpHs33PEYYYN-xJrgT2JhE8GxVqL5yU9mjVyhdZa4w1UfpY5dd31NBJ0M5xeZtEnxd2TK_AM4lq_k8R5C_Xd9Vlu-dPWM/s1644/IMG_4807.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1644" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyYZZnDUUaYXhO8lBuiSNq4GBG2lQMSnGVUZVA6e6q7OKCFPF0d_k5ZHQ8o1vFqQ66jeoPagxtjtsrL_Dr90zb8AOyJ5C-GqpHs33PEYYYN-xJrgT2JhE8GxVqL5yU9mjVyhdZa4w1UfpY5dd31NBJ0M5xeZtEnxd2TK_AM4lq_k8R5C_Xd9Vlu-dPWM/s320/IMG_4807.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div></li></ul></ol></div><div style="text-align: left;">The consultation concluded with each group presenting a summary of its responses to the questions. Some of the women needed to leave before this activity, in order to return home before dark or to care for their families. The leaders were very impressed with the broad scope of the information presented. Without sharing statistics or personal detail, the women painted a very accurate picture of the level of violence and abuse which exists in their communities. As the leaders had said at the start of the day, it is one thing to sign and ratify an agreement. It is another thing to keep all of its tenets. El Salvador has some work to do.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you to all the women who took a day to do this important work, and to leaders and educators in the Salvadoran Lutheran Church and international companion churches who have worked to improve the health, safety and wellness of Salvadoran women, families and communities.</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-60059839147563979832024-02-06T23:33:00.000-06:002024-02-06T23:33:08.143-06:00Election Day: Unofficial Observations<p>El Salvador held elections on February 4, 2024, and, in breaking with a tradition of many years, this time I was not a credentialed international election observer. </p><p>During previous elections, I served on a team of national and international observers organized by the Salvadoran Lutheran Church. Although the church did not make an observation plan for 2024, the role of observers from the Salvadoran citizenry, political parties, government agencies and international organizations continues to promote trust and transparency in electoral proceedings. Observers have noted that the election day process in El Salvador has been, for the most part, free and fair over the last many years. </p><p>In the days surrounding the February 4th election, Salvadoran and international media have widely reported on and analyzed the <a href="https://www.elsalvadorperspectives.com/2024/02/scorn-for-supreme-electoral-tribunal.html" target="_blank">presumed election of Nayib Bukele</a> to a second presidential term, the constitutionality of his election, and the <a href="https://www.elsalvadorperspectives.com/2024/02/one-man-single-party-rule-confirmed-by.html" target="_blank">consolidation of power</a> for his political party, Nuevas Ideas. (I use the word "presumed" because official election return data is not yet available due to various failures in the tabulation system set up by the <a href="https://preliminar.tse.gob.sv/resultados/index" target="_blank">Supreme Electoral Tribunal</a>.) </p><p>As a non-credentialed observer this year, I will leave the political and legal analysis of this election to the experts. However, I am happy to share a few unofficial election day observations with this brief election day scrapbook:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4efSKYr4o9eLqJp4LicshlO1xIARZFRP308b3LocLI5obWFs6aXZzDhTse5cAGFz0Wi7SsBjz_T1AQNRWx2JCTNgtIFRkuoqjmWo8KxtAMGkJQor1Et6liCysaTwutUWfH8LL9m8-zucjWdahSQNGee6eGkF4H_mLSR23WjAa23wJxh4Lt6H48EwqGI/s4032/IMG_4855.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4efSKYr4o9eLqJp4LicshlO1xIARZFRP308b3LocLI5obWFs6aXZzDhTse5cAGFz0Wi7SsBjz_T1AQNRWx2JCTNgtIFRkuoqjmWo8KxtAMGkJQor1Et6liCysaTwutUWfH8LL9m8-zucjWdahSQNGee6eGkF4H_mLSR23WjAa23wJxh4Lt6H48EwqGI/w400-h300/IMG_4855.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>In El Salvador, Election Day is Sunday! Most people in work Monday through Saturday, so having elections on Sunday makes it possible for most citizens to vote. Because I was not an official election observer, I was able to attend church and help out in Sunday School. At the end of the day, our pastor sent a photo of himself and his younger brother, both proudly displaying their inked thumbs (showing they had voted). He included this message: "it was a day for official observation, unofficial observation, worship with prayer and thanksgiving, exercising the right to vote, enjoying the civic atmosphere, waiting for election results." He ended with our tag lines: Better together! Love life!<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="819" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv0WFLq8fV5s2xIwz-oSwdfuE-OT2-HSYRhcmzkDk2-oFZq5g7UO6U5kAP-3n2_sh_96kspjHVvuaFVdlakwUphqNtez-4nqqMZDd5Alzdp7kXPO9KA3ZEETNtx4HD0WDoyPPmfDjbD7SdDoRLFZBL2hPI4Hsl3N1yxkpLpOmXNsECK-brtMVVOLCCiE/w640-h277/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-06%20at%205.48.15%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #4c1130;">On our way to church, we (my husband, our pastor and I) stopped at a school in Las Flores. Young people from church carried out a variety of duties at local polling sites, and the pastor gave encouragement to those who were working outside. (Only credentialed observers are allowed inside.) At this site, a couple of our young friends gathered exit poll data from a random sampling of voters. These exit poll numbers allowed Bukele to declare victory early on election night - before most of the votes were actually counted. <br /><br />In the photo above, a family of proud Salvadoran expats tells the pollsters they traveled from the US, carrying their flags, to cast their votes in person in the community of their origin. <br /><br />Our friends described their experience as first-time poll workers: they left their homes at 3:30 AM, walked 30 minutes to this site, worked, voted, and returned home after 1 AM the next morning. (Their cousin who was a vote counter did not return home until 6 AM.) Fortunately at this site the political parties provided some food over the course of the long day; other sites were not so lucky.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy4qz0ZrQ4bhIduo_0xk0WGYUOwWOpP03NP5LMBR9vNUxp_o4stPF_32jSq8sZD5rDxqeB-ff5eNTUR-UA_plJuMQrLm5i7IfJI25YV86Xt6YIeTplP8DftcvAUDn0wHHRclwY62ItONN64mjkSc_gtklOCAiCgfNkaBhDOYPrRliQzeSdPrfwFncVQU/s4032/IMG_4875.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy4qz0ZrQ4bhIduo_0xk0WGYUOwWOpP03NP5LMBR9vNUxp_o4stPF_32jSq8sZD5rDxqeB-ff5eNTUR-UA_plJuMQrLm5i7IfJI25YV86Xt6YIeTplP8DftcvAUDn0wHHRclwY62ItONN64mjkSc_gtklOCAiCgfNkaBhDOYPrRliQzeSdPrfwFncVQU/w400-h300/IMG_4875.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>At midday, Distrito Italia was popping! The boulevard in front of the school (polling site) was filled with voters and their families, which meant good business for all of the entrepreneurs selling street food. We ran into a few folks we have not seen for ages. What a great vibe for a town which has a difficult reputation as the former hub for a notorious gang. <br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFeI1dha02kOUX1FaHgwDNloU0HYDt-s74XFRkw7YkE-ZRFIOlsulR1uO6oRiX148qhWbqC8-g12MIvHA8VRn6LvZZcnNRRPm3-xy52T_oU3D8hzsoHTc1tOovB8saxEezvHflvW2MW0sIoHb4AWJGNSznvdRoZESQeOHdb7hPAGkUowtpRjHDlo3GSI/s3751/IMG_4889.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="3751" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFeI1dha02kOUX1FaHgwDNloU0HYDt-s74XFRkw7YkE-ZRFIOlsulR1uO6oRiX148qhWbqC8-g12MIvHA8VRn6LvZZcnNRRPm3-xy52T_oU3D8hzsoHTc1tOovB8saxEezvHflvW2MW0sIoHb4AWJGNSznvdRoZESQeOHdb7hPAGkUowtpRjHDlo3GSI/w400-h173/IMG_4889.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #4c1130;">Next, we headed to San Salvador and passed through the big new roundabout highway project in Valle de Ángel. Salvadoran election law technically prohibits luring voters to support your party by announcing or doing big projects like this within 30 days of an election. Well, Bukele announced the opening of this big sky bridge the day before the election. As we drove across the newly opened bridge, it was clear that the center lane was skim-coated with some quick blacktop and the sides were still "pretty janky" (my description which my husband dared me to actually write in this observation).</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUfUHPrDoakriIjklolnUhrVlPtVZK-V-hoPgdwN6al00h0LEb9VwXhX3jP_EUr1gSxPVkUs2koFyieF4egTxwfzskbUo4qf4w9PX1LO1MLw4fryEw4hPnswkLlKcToDjgsjhrT-lIRk_lW-xSGMle5A_mknuA2ewaMoylzgyI-foIRmaf1RQpXNNecM/s3697/IMG_4892.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2596" data-original-width="3697" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUfUHPrDoakriIjklolnUhrVlPtVZK-V-hoPgdwN6al00h0LEb9VwXhX3jP_EUr1gSxPVkUs2koFyieF4egTxwfzskbUo4qf4w9PX1LO1MLw4fryEw4hPnswkLlKcToDjgsjhrT-lIRk_lW-xSGMle5A_mknuA2ewaMoylzgyI-foIRmaf1RQpXNNecM/w400-h281/IMG_4892.HEIC" width="400" /></a><br />See? Janky. Is this earthquake-ready? I predict the big sky ramp will be closed immediately after election day and probably won't open again for a few months. Just a hunch. I will report back on this.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoRjC_HTb0SsVbHiVoZbUUOQSH4MHhMHEnjmH5JT3OtweO31RIocbewbb1GQZchCK90zZLsugdOezHVTnYvwb56vbZHjVzR5f-PE3X3EFq59rspaedPnH18dta-yQvO3A9-0q5GDm9l8Bf4OUyteadw3J4CidvRPWz2kA2vYL2BDI-VkqmfPI2W1CCow/s2050/IMG_4927.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2050" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoRjC_HTb0SsVbHiVoZbUUOQSH4MHhMHEnjmH5JT3OtweO31RIocbewbb1GQZchCK90zZLsugdOezHVTnYvwb56vbZHjVzR5f-PE3X3EFq59rspaedPnH18dta-yQvO3A9-0q5GDm9l8Bf4OUyteadw3J4CidvRPWz2kA2vYL2BDI-VkqmfPI2W1CCow/w400-h291/IMG_4927.HEIC" width="400" /></a></i><br /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>This is the pajama corner. The gentleman who sells at this corner has been here for as long as I can remember. He often has a big collection of superhero pajamas hanging on the wall, and people do buy them. About a year ago, it looked like his shelter and goods were removed. I did not see the owner of this business on Election Day, but I noticed he had stocked up on flags for those wishing to express their civic pride and on small flags for any expats who might have come home to vote. I hope he made some sales.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmRVq_j19uDHejPrr1j8E-jrvhCtj8A48N1sqs2qXxgO-uty7qlgpoMsrzITPeWqdSjsrqX_ufF3sG2-0e9PJuvUvaeBKjC13UL3JKBidrCE_txH-vt3RwctijqgCTL4phTiWL0oue6lb4Uz-Hn_6p7cDFH8bn0FD6mj7d2HQn0jgTQlmkvLkUBQScxs/s2694/IMG_4902.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1841" data-original-width="2694" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmRVq_j19uDHejPrr1j8E-jrvhCtj8A48N1sqs2qXxgO-uty7qlgpoMsrzITPeWqdSjsrqX_ufF3sG2-0e9PJuvUvaeBKjC13UL3JKBidrCE_txH-vt3RwctijqgCTL4phTiWL0oue6lb4Uz-Hn_6p7cDFH8bn0FD6mj7d2HQn0jgTQlmkvLkUBQScxs/w400-h274/IMG_4902.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>Traffic. That's my observation. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQM_8soBQUzk_sKVSs5ZKqXH_sqxwsa5KBqtyJgGGV8kTp3HYlwWwiypvWK9dtc-A3KpBZoyUYL1iE-9jBt786nqH4JG4tXjIMbkSFTQwK0vlJHt1z4Defah9yH4UvB3JGXno-FvQSY6zNFrSERPdzWQEQ09Sw6ztH3p6i7F-FxqM9KlhZ8wMkndN1s1E/s3035/IMG_4942.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="3035" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQM_8soBQUzk_sKVSs5ZKqXH_sqxwsa5KBqtyJgGGV8kTp3HYlwWwiypvWK9dtc-A3KpBZoyUYL1iE-9jBt786nqH4JG4tXjIMbkSFTQwK0vlJHt1z4Defah9yH4UvB3JGXno-FvQSY6zNFrSERPdzWQEQ09Sw6ztH3p6i7F-FxqM9KlhZ8wMkndN1s1E/s320/IMG_4942.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>Walking to a neighborhood voting site is better than sitting in voter traffic.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-Bj6Jy7tctT3vyKtEvEkDW85bHW889F4m9mNmJb8ZAJK7S7DDKD0qzItbB7qy1VLgtqlA-VZ4oQ5Uo9gSUB5pbgiFrJuDCruWXc6wKcku5f2d-UKJE81YXbXhAa718EY8exWQGOyXUTFCFMdEe4zihZrDiecbB0MTpRWAkPVP5-XZ4h5ohJJEqTHcXs/s4002/IMG_4952.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2722" data-original-width="4002" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-Bj6Jy7tctT3vyKtEvEkDW85bHW889F4m9mNmJb8ZAJK7S7DDKD0qzItbB7qy1VLgtqlA-VZ4oQ5Uo9gSUB5pbgiFrJuDCruWXc6wKcku5f2d-UKJE81YXbXhAa718EY8exWQGOyXUTFCFMdEe4zihZrDiecbB0MTpRWAkPVP5-XZ4h5ohJJEqTHcXs/w400-h272/IMG_4952.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>I was curious about these election observers at the Albert Einstein University polling site, and then noticed the beautiful sunlight shining through the trees.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HxfjkRSwwpWDI1uiIHHMQFaFsfmF-dihnH1xbq3NdlniJL-ENbCEv3bj03uzBbV9m_0GifMCvPFX2wR1_yBnKKa33pnFjbnxKwlwMmZWYlCSgrKv3KTShjyz9dVD1Fnqx6MWpKrUPAfDMMS3lixFOW7dV834xe5pXFaiNGndbMJht4Z9n86uRXwSeO0/s4032/IMG_4948.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HxfjkRSwwpWDI1uiIHHMQFaFsfmF-dihnH1xbq3NdlniJL-ENbCEv3bj03uzBbV9m_0GifMCvPFX2wR1_yBnKKa33pnFjbnxKwlwMmZWYlCSgrKv3KTShjyz9dVD1Fnqx6MWpKrUPAfDMMS3lixFOW7dV834xe5pXFaiNGndbMJht4Z9n86uRXwSeO0/w400-h300/IMG_4948.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>At the Albert Einstein University site, set up a fair distance from the entrance, I found this somewhat lonely ARENA party information tent. It was the ONLY non-Nuevas Ideas tent I had seen all day. (In past elections, each of the parties had information tents set up outside of the polling sites.) I asked the ARENA representatives if I could take their picture. "Yes, of course," one responded, "and make me famous!" I noticed the pink hats: seen here and on the heads of a few ARENA party folk inside the university campus. While I didn't ask, my guess is that the ARENA faithful were wearing the hats in support of Milagro, the long-time mayor of Antiguo Custcatlan, whose trademark pink can be found all over her social media pages and on walls and signs throughout the city. With Bukele's orchestrated consolidation of municipalities and pending municipal elections, Milagro may soon be out of a job. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIyJ4FeVV4aNQtReh7TKgxLUMZStgCd00QP2dVAAfKHbUnSRCuAyes2ubwx3PNkRhHTqkwkibJPk1JklF0osyv2nEve8YuI7Zqicqtp4EeuusLrraNISPEEADNFs6_qLWYi7qndt4wwIT1n7PWcwGlodj-5O9sUvOBq7kt_r-QShYlJtht9RfYdQFa-8/s4032/IMG_4958.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIyJ4FeVV4aNQtReh7TKgxLUMZStgCd00QP2dVAAfKHbUnSRCuAyes2ubwx3PNkRhHTqkwkibJPk1JklF0osyv2nEve8YuI7Zqicqtp4EeuusLrraNISPEEADNFs6_qLWYi7qndt4wwIT1n7PWcwGlodj-5O9sUvOBq7kt_r-QShYlJtht9RfYdQFa-8/w300-h400/IMG_4958.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEKNQl4CC9Gc5fmYW_yK2kC2gwwds_2S53QNUmZTVBKGrHMs-c_1sKRCZw3eb4_STOdzXjJFPHPfkY5spT_Df0OvqjIEl36lbKYT79EiZTqfS0bok651xupiUHr3O96wxAe32hwmkVxQHfTJz37Pxf8dMlDPD3qqOC0q2bR_6aiL6RTRl25DH6BU3N20/s4032/IMG_4959.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEKNQl4CC9Gc5fmYW_yK2kC2gwwds_2S53QNUmZTVBKGrHMs-c_1sKRCZw3eb4_STOdzXjJFPHPfkY5spT_Df0OvqjIEl36lbKYT79EiZTqfS0bok651xupiUHr3O96wxAe32hwmkVxQHfTJz37Pxf8dMlDPD3qqOC0q2bR_6aiL6RTRl25DH6BU3N20/w300-h400/IMG_4959.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>Unofficial observers have time to take note of a few flowers while walking home from the final observation site of the day. <br /><br />As an unofficial election day observer, I do not need to submit a report to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (though if they want a list of which candidates did not take down their propaganda flags and billboards prior to the election, I did take some unofficial notes).</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-32914779578490008032023-04-07T11:00:00.007-05:002023-04-07T11:00:54.319-05:00It's Wandering Week! Let's take a walk in the center of San Salvador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J4OamJgvuq3GvFaQdvY_gc_yLIYeZS5Z99rvMJr4nesSw9kxfSE04DJYRVPgX0aJ55Ym-PlH2o6KUPbaruv4pg3tarUcPkt3rOD2LavwHsRPJZV3PPAbWzkvxzZKyN_zsXPRxCkjXgm6Coe6ecT2LAwe3vKFCV1rF8zYhYV9UeNh66JNjOZ9ptGi/s3440/IMG_5763.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2796" data-original-width="3440" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J4OamJgvuq3GvFaQdvY_gc_yLIYeZS5Z99rvMJr4nesSw9kxfSE04DJYRVPgX0aJ55Ym-PlH2o6KUPbaruv4pg3tarUcPkt3rOD2LavwHsRPJZV3PPAbWzkvxzZKyN_zsXPRxCkjXgm6Coe6ecT2LAwe3vKFCV1rF8zYhYV9UeNh66JNjOZ9ptGi/w400-h325/IMG_5763.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Metropolitan Cathedral as seen from inside the National Palace (©2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The historic center of San Salvador is an absolutely great place for walking. Grab your hat and a water bottle. Take a bus, take an Uber or take your car. Wander the pedestrian walkways, hang out in the plazas, and take in a few sites along the way. There are cafes, hole-in-the-wall eateries and some great new restaurants where you can grab lunch, coffee or an early supper. Day or night, the city center is a safe place to wander. (As always, use common sense, and remember it is most fun to go with friends). <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24_6x4K34dYuFdKq_ZTiorrTXFsWIJAA2LRVcSUZmNisXP4upnpNL6mYt7nrmwMjKjfG0GPy8lP6CChsaBSDVfAQe5MN0ReBqqbKfmfFAz5rQcsJivrS8CCjzSetI1OrYGR2Lo1te-TinOlU4kpWOzuflBm-GWS73jRLdqhy497AA2drVTwSOy-5j/s3515/IMG_5740.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3515" data-original-width="2914" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24_6x4K34dYuFdKq_ZTiorrTXFsWIJAA2LRVcSUZmNisXP4upnpNL6mYt7nrmwMjKjfG0GPy8lP6CChsaBSDVfAQe5MN0ReBqqbKfmfFAz5rQcsJivrS8CCjzSetI1OrYGR2Lo1te-TinOlU4kpWOzuflBm-GWS73jRLdqhy497AA2drVTwSOy-5j/w331-h400/IMG_5740.HEIC" width="331" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Beautiful artwork can sometimes be found in unlikely locations. When walking, look around at the famous things, and also, keep your eyes open for unexpected beauty. This painting is just outside of the rather rustic parking garage, facing Plaza Morazán. (©2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you have your own vehicle, I recommend parking in the parking garage which is located next to the National Theater, off of Plaza Morazán. Wander around the plaza, and if you are an architecture person, grab a couple of photos of the buildings and streets in the area. The Teatro Nacional de San Salvador is the oldest theater in Central America, constructed between 1911 and 1917 in a French Renaissance style. (Check the <a href="https://www.cultura.gob.sv/teatro-nacional-de-san-salvador/" target="_blank">National Theater website</a> for free concerts and cultural events.)</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WFeK9t2oPXP2nUYHqcPNEzhNLjRnbDIXXB-bAkyZt5aPOoXXpDzxpkLpBl_eWCa1qZKAHfPVN6dGBlzCPQXwY6qcGAXO930GfIXRXF_xVMMIGVDf4VEXMFRkrnd94sptVZmED688G2Bms3Qx9JSQYM5tmpXJPhR9AvId5b1gi39uL3E8Zk-4tsMZ/s2560/IMG_20191122_203020051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WFeK9t2oPXP2nUYHqcPNEzhNLjRnbDIXXB-bAkyZt5aPOoXXpDzxpkLpBl_eWCa1qZKAHfPVN6dGBlzCPQXwY6qcGAXO930GfIXRXF_xVMMIGVDf4VEXMFRkrnd94sptVZmED688G2Bms3Qx9JSQYM5tmpXJPhR9AvId5b1gi39uL3E8Zk-4tsMZ/w400-h225/IMG_20191122_203020051.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Plaza Morazán, from the parking garage, with the National Theater on the left and the cathedral in the background. The exterior paint on the theater has recently been restored to original colors. (©2019)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From Plaza Morazán, follow the pedestrian road along the side of the Metropolitan Cathedral. You will notice a shaded street behind the cathedral where there are shops and restaurants. It can be convenient to return to this walkway around lunch time to grab something to eat. If you are walking with a big group, pop into your chosen eatery in the morning to give them a heads-up so they can prepare. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWjfiBpLQtawVTYwmNQC4uzrfELXRLvXxF7mHjf8-C4-n9VYXxRdLEC1ateOFG2GUN3zypvDXY8SuN3IGqA2fo5vtnVqpimvK6Xlo727yKeF9cekwGh91RRE9DNKjDNL5BCN7nE6OR4CU-WeumtZSTTvf7hmOltypjs4HQxoDRYbMeJINnMHsX5EV/s4608/IMG_20230126_111339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="4608" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWjfiBpLQtawVTYwmNQC4uzrfELXRLvXxF7mHjf8-C4-n9VYXxRdLEC1ateOFG2GUN3zypvDXY8SuN3IGqA2fo5vtnVqpimvK6Xlo727yKeF9cekwGh91RRE9DNKjDNL5BCN7nE6OR4CU-WeumtZSTTvf7hmOltypjs4HQxoDRYbMeJINnMHsX5EV/w400-h184/IMG_20230126_111339.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The pedestrian walkway behind the cathedral is a fun place to hang out, do a little shopping, or grab a bite to eat. (©2023)<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrubtyQalNAtGB0AZSVatu4B-fZEJp-pP9uhmdBoy9S7GspZ7pgroYuALsGbe5r8MxdUJCpVYNRgQrEDV_AHu_hItg9K89yWLm0a7DmrxaQtcYP_tlA3IEkgWBLuEDislyTMOPd7UvBQWCXIiz0UdxokN9I5fnZOnyX32LZscreUS8fHQJJ6YzIEcd/s4032/IMG_5773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrubtyQalNAtGB0AZSVatu4B-fZEJp-pP9uhmdBoy9S7GspZ7pgroYuALsGbe5r8MxdUJCpVYNRgQrEDV_AHu_hItg9K89yWLm0a7DmrxaQtcYP_tlA3IEkgWBLuEDislyTMOPd7UvBQWCXIiz0UdxokN9I5fnZOnyX32LZscreUS8fHQJJ6YzIEcd/w400-h300/IMG_5773.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>We recently enjoyed a great meal at Restaurante <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmh_cjVj7aU" target="_blank">Pipiris Nais</a> located on the main pedestrian street behind the cathedral. The menu includes original dishes best described as Salvadoran-Mexican fusion. (©2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you want to include visits along your walking route, mid-morning is a good time to step inside the cathedral. Use the stairs past the black iron gate to visit the lower level and see the burial crypt of Saint Oscar Romero. (There are restrooms located to the right of the stairway before you head down.) Go up the stairs to access the main level of the cathedral. It's a good idea to do some reading about the spiritual and historic significance of places you may visit during your walk, or, go walking with a local guide.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6HB2CRecu98pmYJ-XIoxvTkRDXdLdsAAVJShlJ-uQ15ODw-ypMp1fDy5Tu7tA-Y9Nf71jvsM9HgOp8sRhhEa3QowXeAzwnrtRRu7aUcNe7bbJw2aQNYrlWMErIuBilp6aruTkxdnaS-CAtv8VTtzvCXCcmfgmNJZaIWxBjJhi7Pu80Um7CK_C0vj/s4032/IMG_4099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6HB2CRecu98pmYJ-XIoxvTkRDXdLdsAAVJShlJ-uQ15ODw-ypMp1fDy5Tu7tA-Y9Nf71jvsM9HgOp8sRhhEa3QowXeAzwnrtRRu7aUcNe7bbJw2aQNYrlWMErIuBilp6aruTkxdnaS-CAtv8VTtzvCXCcmfgmNJZaIWxBjJhi7Pu80Um7CK_C0vj/w300-h400/IMG_4099.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">From the main floor of the Metropolitan Cathedral, you can exit out the front doors and walk to the center of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerardo_Barrios" target="_blank">Plaza Gerardo Barrios</a>. Walk around, sit in the shade, and duck when the pigeons take off. From Plaza Barrios, you can appreciate the facade of the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the new national library currently under construction. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRNtcw3vUa0WtY5UXGMaO433sqiEpqP0z10Iuk_7Azd9qTAQsQqBIm3lmzwUoTIyTphmABk4FxJHUUNDEAR3NciMMVSF-_Tcs92j2yVxp3LaMMfRSXfREyI8BJZvUnylBlrwFH9MgtGyCL9Y44hcT2bH4DakcEG2zy3PPrVstJpLehNNI2ynwRNrs/s4032/IMG_5749.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRNtcw3vUa0WtY5UXGMaO433sqiEpqP0z10Iuk_7Azd9qTAQsQqBIm3lmzwUoTIyTphmABk4FxJHUUNDEAR3NciMMVSF-_Tcs92j2yVxp3LaMMfRSXfREyI8BJZvUnylBlrwFH9MgtGyCL9Y44hcT2bH4DakcEG2zy3PPrVstJpLehNNI2ynwRNrs/w400-h300/IMG_5749.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduXmzMkAJ4R3UGsqFbuBmnMmpU90leuL_lRrCat9mfUFWYr0BJ359T0rUFqZoGNyLmFfUOYHOLbHz9nJWQo-hWo11yaXY8lrjPOo9dbc1jcacWqs9RzEJgqYnJKNFjluBLtK2bPi88Ss9eNsEd9fKPbgvz3EcuNFEBRTcZTnpzgQugl7-4u1EBMJ7/s4032/IMG_5757.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduXmzMkAJ4R3UGsqFbuBmnMmpU90leuL_lRrCat9mfUFWYr0BJ359T0rUFqZoGNyLmFfUOYHOLbHz9nJWQo-hWo11yaXY8lrjPOo9dbc1jcacWqs9RzEJgqYnJKNFjluBLtK2bPi88Ss9eNsEd9fKPbgvz3EcuNFEBRTcZTnpzgQugl7-4u1EBMJ7/w400-h300/IMG_5757.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOf19-NiqNJLxtXGpA6muZmMZ8FTOQQ4JTUgnQ7SxANfOVTS3q6oDFgSFC8y91ZVm-OCoA58Q2bxBcnWLGwT1qxEBK-yaV5ij6b8V7ADXj1L4Nw1H2bT_PXQrpSm_UdgVl1GhvVyVbifv0UzXcNe1TT_B1A3dKLOsJBTm5PrUa1QUZepXkx1ElBOr/s4032/IMG_5754.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOf19-NiqNJLxtXGpA6muZmMZ8FTOQQ4JTUgnQ7SxANfOVTS3q6oDFgSFC8y91ZVm-OCoA58Q2bxBcnWLGwT1qxEBK-yaV5ij6b8V7ADXj1L4Nw1H2bT_PXQrpSm_UdgVl1GhvVyVbifv0UzXcNe1TT_B1A3dKLOsJBTm5PrUa1QUZepXkx1ElBOr/w400-h300/IMG_5754.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">Don't spend too long hanging out in Plaza Barrios, because you want to leave plenty of time for walking just one block east to Plaza Libertad (Freedom Plaza). Plaza Libertad has not always been the safest spot for walking, but today's vibe is one of fun, music and dancing. Wander around the perimeter of the plaza and check out whatever is happening there. On the east side of the square, be sure to make a stop at El Rosario church. If you want to go inside, walk down the street to the right as you face the facade, and look for a marked, gated entrance about halfway down the block.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NmFzAfE65ysna8w-An5trqQ8PMfZA5hMsaWkhZeOX7GMiDx2E2firztpUtbKPf0FmpyLFdjV4J3EzteVG2jkKSa6XDJcLr5tUc-9RPh2wP8Clz1CI1E5C3-oPSxJGOnIJzmmVbpK37WKEyk-0JlNURlV_54Nfo_6TBK0UM9jvh70R9jTCVAaVT-e/s4032/IMG_4096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NmFzAfE65ysna8w-An5trqQ8PMfZA5hMsaWkhZeOX7GMiDx2E2firztpUtbKPf0FmpyLFdjV4J3EzteVG2jkKSa6XDJcLr5tUc-9RPh2wP8Clz1CI1E5C3-oPSxJGOnIJzmmVbpK37WKEyk-0JlNURlV_54Nfo_6TBK0UM9jvh70R9jTCVAaVT-e/w400-h300/IMG_4096.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The walk between Plaza Libertad and Plaza Barrios (©2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi344UJNdzEJzCZwpqD6EuvkUZZ4EXSuYWLr5K9vxOQcdeE8-eTVfC-Vuv8fNE36Zez_h2IFuq22TmeSbuTbUfV8CjaaEdvqIDI76VXbCmTLBP3TC613WN3ZeiF5r0ZpwG9_0IHHG3dNYsoojwdgQb4I_6ttyCWBuks3NG8j417Ob7N-4EZ3MObJ7Rc/s4032/IMG_4094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi344UJNdzEJzCZwpqD6EuvkUZZ4EXSuYWLr5K9vxOQcdeE8-eTVfC-Vuv8fNE36Zez_h2IFuq22TmeSbuTbUfV8CjaaEdvqIDI76VXbCmTLBP3TC613WN3ZeiF5r0ZpwG9_0IHHG3dNYsoojwdgQb4I_6ttyCWBuks3NG8j417Ob7N-4EZ3MObJ7Rc/w400-h300/IMG_4094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>It is totally cool to join in the dancing fun. If musicians have buckets out for tips, be sure to compensate them for their talent and work. (©2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXyTnzds_SxFZcSCv1EfM459TvKKhcSU_rKGrZ5NKN1vUkqplCof7p3BNZUcSU0-arkFlV1cPbVbRxL2PXL70ygt1y8sOLhEQ4kzCmxFSfkEjgWgorLRucj7e3tqKjKkf4i0_KNxBO-DvxQYd72htK9Rz8WftBdGk4eBzmfxTXriokDDm_qAanksU/s3643/IMG_4092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2915" data-original-width="3643" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXyTnzds_SxFZcSCv1EfM459TvKKhcSU_rKGrZ5NKN1vUkqplCof7p3BNZUcSU0-arkFlV1cPbVbRxL2PXL70ygt1y8sOLhEQ4kzCmxFSfkEjgWgorLRucj7e3tqKjKkf4i0_KNxBO-DvxQYd72htK9Rz8WftBdGk4eBzmfxTXriokDDm_qAanksU/w400-h320/IMG_4092.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The statue in Plaza Libertad was erected on the 100th anniversary of the "first cries of freedom" - November 5, 1811, when Central America called for independence from Spain </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aDFJnCKizTd9h8JcLzjqIjAbf6rEZGr6lGO224uim2xDTz4tLKnEQKMHVhk_KUFwdBp2c-RYCU0GGoiKppx8Anrwy8eie40QwqqOLTeCjJUkUgaecA6rO46CuuHMYrLUk3D1zZ6kJHp2Nnu_azfiNc4xmP5k3gCBMAFxXoU7xIFdLAj0aDv_TcpR/s2573/IMG_4083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1929" data-original-width="2573" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aDFJnCKizTd9h8JcLzjqIjAbf6rEZGr6lGO224uim2xDTz4tLKnEQKMHVhk_KUFwdBp2c-RYCU0GGoiKppx8Anrwy8eie40QwqqOLTeCjJUkUgaecA6rO46CuuHMYrLUk3D1zZ6kJHp2Nnu_azfiNc4xmP5k3gCBMAFxXoU7xIFdLAj0aDv_TcpR/w400-h300/IMG_4083.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The Church of the Rosary (El Rosario) is one of my favorite stopping points during a central city walk. The church now charges visitors a small fee in order to enter, to help with the upkeep and restoration efforts. There are signs inside the church which give some information in English. Again, studying ahead of time or visiting with a guide will make a stop at El Rosario much more meaningful.<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">From Plaza Libertad, you can navigate your way back to Plaza Barrios or Plaza Morazán. The vendors who worked from small stands lining the streets in this area have mostly been removed, making it a little easier to spot landmarks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My first memory of walking in the historic center of San Salvador is from December 2001. On one day during that Christmas week in El Salvador, Pastor Santiago led our delegation of families on a tour of historic sites. This included walking from the Metropolitan Cathedral, to Plaza Libertad, to the Mercado Ex-Cuartel. What I remember from that walk: not knowing where I was going, being at the end of the line to make sure we did not lose any of the 8 kids in our group, and navigating our way through some tight crowds by making each kid stick like glue to the person in front of them. We were nervous. We were fine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gpan3DZhJ7hjnLm9SGYdhgQ-jOnFCE16-RPn1qPAvtziljLJcILWoHPDFRywrgjvYL4CkJ4cC1K6pjWsx8aRopttDehZaPzwRY9PjgB_w6IkyK26T0zDikV1FgEON8Pmle4v_pBGmWMyW9cR0urxh5o5DZKR8G8BeZOUCPJ9KAfBlEy7Hdqom-hb/s640/Street%20outside%20cathedral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gpan3DZhJ7hjnLm9SGYdhgQ-jOnFCE16-RPn1qPAvtziljLJcILWoHPDFRywrgjvYL4CkJ4cC1K6pjWsx8aRopttDehZaPzwRY9PjgB_w6IkyK26T0zDikV1FgEON8Pmle4v_pBGmWMyW9cR0urxh5o5DZKR8G8BeZOUCPJ9KAfBlEy7Hdqom-hb/w300-h400/Street%20outside%20cathedral.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Snapped this pic when we got into an open space (©2001)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I suppose with young children, I would still walk the streets in "mama duck mode." It is true that over the last 22 years, there have been times when our Salvadoran friends made it clear that we could not walk from one plaza to another, or hang out in Plaza Libertad. The work that the Salvadoran government has done to make the historic center a safe, touristic destination is mostly good. I do worry about all the vendors who were expelled and wonder if they have found ways and places in which to make their livelihood. I hope as walking and historic tours continue to develop in San Salvador and other urban centers, tourists are mindful and supportive of local entrepreneurs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-13748969126674834252023-04-05T23:36:00.001-05:002023-04-05T23:36:37.890-05:00It's Wandering Week! Let's walk around a lagoon<div style="text-align: left;">El Salvador is a land of volcanoes - a land of volcanoes and of craters and of lagoons. Some lagoons are mostly known by photographs, like the elusive green lagoon which rests inside crater of the Santa Ana Volcano (The lagoon is often hidden in the clouds, disappointing hikers who make the long trek to the summit.) Some lagoons, like the large crater lakes <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2015/02/off-beaten-path-crossing-lake-ilopongo.html" target="_blank">Ilopango</a> and <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/05/vacation-week-coffee-stop-above-lake.html" target="_blank">Coatepeque</a> are very accessible for tourists and locals who want to enjoy some fun on the water or along the shore. Some lagoons are remembered for what they left behind as they evaporated or drained away, like at the base of <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2010/04/day-in-life-of-beautiful-orange-toilet.html" target="_blank">El Boquerón</a> or <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2014/04/off-beaten-path-jardin-botanico-la.html" target="_blank">El Jardín Botánico La Laguna</a> (literally named "The Lagoon Botanical Garden." And, some lagoons, like the one featured in this story, are just the right size and shape to circumnavigate and explore in a walk of an hour or two.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs9XP52_zldifASNRz_lb6GBg2_inCfP6sfp-4fQ_4viCuM5l4QamTDGN2vdh5fcQk7oSwMDjUTk_x1WE9Rlaj6gl5zSmhCUWXzTuO7GHXHC7sVNUtN6sY7efLx86-KYXgaKlFjo7PI0GZ9mwpsavmpt10G0Ryuae6KS0Dr4u3ANfubqqsrm3B7d-/s4032/IMG_6713.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs9XP52_zldifASNRz_lb6GBg2_inCfP6sfp-4fQ_4viCuM5l4QamTDGN2vdh5fcQk7oSwMDjUTk_x1WE9Rlaj6gl5zSmhCUWXzTuO7GHXHC7sVNUtN6sY7efLx86-KYXgaKlFjo7PI0GZ9mwpsavmpt10G0Ryuae6KS0Dr4u3ANfubqqsrm3B7d-/w400-h300/IMG_6713.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One recent, sunny Saturday morning, we drove east from San Salvador to Usulután for a day of fun with some friends. Our activities were centered around the town of Alegría. Following a cobblestone road up from the town, we found our way to a beautiful emerald lagoon - La Laguna de Alegría. The small, sulfuric lake is located in the crater near the summit of the Tecapa Volcano. The volcano is dormant, but the earth below the surface is alive with plenty of geothermal activity. In fact, there is a geothermal power plant located not too far from Alegría in the town of Berlin. Minerals and gases in the water are what produce the greenish color of the lagoon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8kvFjv73Wz-UJFzsUdyPU55_gVPMgx8UGimgxj8KGKd1hepkJk8klyTLopvaHRzskhCi3kPebF0db1OCUTFPapjczARKOBif2YWkwYnrsJlInypc90i2WnqJhRuxUx0VYMhlB0gAkcX9X2MunRqhtlZuz2O0d1azR7qfMyA0Ed0qEayqfJxd5HLC/s4006/IMG_6675.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2780" data-original-width="4006" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8kvFjv73Wz-UJFzsUdyPU55_gVPMgx8UGimgxj8KGKd1hepkJk8klyTLopvaHRzskhCi3kPebF0db1OCUTFPapjczARKOBif2YWkwYnrsJlInypc90i2WnqJhRuxUx0VYMhlB0gAkcX9X2MunRqhtlZuz2O0d1azR7qfMyA0Ed0qEayqfJxd5HLC/w400-h278/IMG_6675.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Entrance to the Laguna de Alegría park - it's a one-way road around the lagoon, and probably involves driving through water during the rainy season.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFgExsJpwTL9lSFLJispitZlwrc0mTdhAen-v9tMmyzt-MnBZ-4xASTVu-fbkwqLCscke2QXD2CEYVeL5diPgCZ5593oCD3YiU39p0k9pkTQmnU3gJHIFXD6jXJscRsSv_PYb194m65V8xRubHjRmK9PfYcxT9-EcBWQ5w8JrBIVFutJC9zzHClsa/s4032/IMG_6677.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFgExsJpwTL9lSFLJispitZlwrc0mTdhAen-v9tMmyzt-MnBZ-4xASTVu-fbkwqLCscke2QXD2CEYVeL5diPgCZ5593oCD3YiU39p0k9pkTQmnU3gJHIFXD6jXJscRsSv_PYb194m65V8xRubHjRmK9PfYcxT9-EcBWQ5w8JrBIVFutJC9zzHClsa/w400-h300/IMG_6677.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Aquatic plants appear red and purple. The dried plants along the shore are a strange texture - it's like walking on crispy purple crackers that turn into gray powder when you crunch them</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We visited this lagoon during the dry season, and with the lower water level, it was possible to walk all the way around the circumference of the lake without getting our feet wet. What a fun place to explore! In some places, the pure, gray clay was slippery - just perfect for giving our hands an impromptu spa treatment. Near the clay deposits, vents caused the water to bubble and boil. In other places, vents allowed sulfur gas to escape from the earth, with its characteristic rotten-egg smell. The gas from the vents was warm and moist.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVNH-vtc8BHKy3_bdt8IeLyKnAUJY1QfNTu5ZuawczrAWBsIPRQEnqr5Bw3oy3lwCuFDTOcPNZhuP0w4Bx3LfgwrbCKJFn8jHDyjl3LeyHGlQbXcmPqk45y59__0who8ciJVIZxde8Bx7otWxJACeeo1HUYA8RGKDfrHdp5Iq0j3el1GqbH4S4wKV/s3993/IMG_6705.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2995" data-original-width="3993" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVNH-vtc8BHKy3_bdt8IeLyKnAUJY1QfNTu5ZuawczrAWBsIPRQEnqr5Bw3oy3lwCuFDTOcPNZhuP0w4Bx3LfgwrbCKJFn8jHDyjl3LeyHGlQbXcmPqk45y59__0who8ciJVIZxde8Bx7otWxJACeeo1HUYA8RGKDfrHdp5Iq0j3el1GqbH4S4wKV/w400-h300/IMG_6705.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The water is colored by clay in this shallow area</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim31EPabkdWdqGFfnf2JDVAeF1PpBa6graO935myZhst9XlZnaGsWR9ms6s0EjgwXtb4NWsMavTlEMtpncY5qmh6LtIpu2w-3_CQXVTiAznHl2fwEGNYjIVLCEDZaJL4i8Rtx6s-yqqF-OElxfq9t5edqSZ_-vQsIxynj-ugS03MjjvN35tjhzL89J/s3612/IMG_6697.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3612" data-original-width="2709" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim31EPabkdWdqGFfnf2JDVAeF1PpBa6graO935myZhst9XlZnaGsWR9ms6s0EjgwXtb4NWsMavTlEMtpncY5qmh6LtIpu2w-3_CQXVTiAznHl2fwEGNYjIVLCEDZaJL4i8Rtx6s-yqqF-OElxfq9t5edqSZ_-vQsIxynj-ugS03MjjvN35tjhzL89J/w300-h400/IMG_6697.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Watch where you walk! Vents are hidden in the rocks and mud.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The interior of the crater is partially forested. Picnic areas dot the shady sections of the pathway around the lake, and families gathered to relax and eat their lunches. A few vendors were set up near the parking area, selling cotton candy and sour mandarin oranges. As we walked, we noticed an architectural feature which likely is a waterfall during the rainy season. There were tennis courts and some other structures which gave the impression that this may have been the site of a spa or resort at one time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP8CLWQTZWfe5xKErOFJkYSlCX_C8wLUGplVGpKfN_YvC5BvNjLKcKUDMjAit3_S-KDYiLTwlwibhysCztP8ZNXM-jyFjKLJfqS2XHyE_tel8UfaQk1lPbAh9arkC0EipOllG6OhkDxrBNy5mmeg6vmq4YKzrtHpg9Rq6NIfxRibCs7h-HfqsqN1y/s4032/IMG_6712.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP8CLWQTZWfe5xKErOFJkYSlCX_C8wLUGplVGpKfN_YvC5BvNjLKcKUDMjAit3_S-KDYiLTwlwibhysCztP8ZNXM-jyFjKLJfqS2XHyE_tel8UfaQk1lPbAh9arkC0EipOllG6OhkDxrBNy5mmeg6vmq4YKzrtHpg9Rq6NIfxRibCs7h-HfqsqN1y/w400-h300/IMG_6712.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The park is small enough, that a delegation could be "set free" to wander and find their own small group picnic spots. The water is not really suitable for swimming, though wading and exploring seemed fine.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the other end of the lagoon, there is a small public school. We really wondered: where do the children live? We couldn't really see any homes close to the lagoon or in the crater. It also seemed like during the rainy season, the school would be at risk for flooding. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0BvZYrc3Yj5i1Yal6p8hUzUFfxoPUAAbqfqapc245cLkX_rsdvJnnd53USbwDNkdyQA6R0prpQQjdAhJ1Ve5ZdV1LU3-ZMokkm9D3rPBxyBvC-GJa_pp0s_NY1bVKet56nGcUZIUw-f8Vw6O8uiQQfH6rr2aeONVlFvJZioAb6TiDLVfyMkmQHOe/s3742/IMG_6718.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="3742" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0BvZYrc3Yj5i1Yal6p8hUzUFfxoPUAAbqfqapc245cLkX_rsdvJnnd53USbwDNkdyQA6R0prpQQjdAhJ1Ve5ZdV1LU3-ZMokkm9D3rPBxyBvC-GJa_pp0s_NY1bVKet56nGcUZIUw-f8Vw6O8uiQQfH6rr2aeONVlFvJZioAb6TiDLVfyMkmQHOe/w400-h264/IMG_6718.HEIC" width="400" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #274e13;">Seems like this school could offer some hands-on experiences studying geology, geo-thermal energy, mineralogy and aquatic life near thermal vents.</i></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and water are definitely needed for this lagoon walk, as is true for just about any crater walk. It would be very fun to have a local guide who could explain more about the natural history of the lagoon, as well as the story of human settlements in this place. I also think it would be fascinating to return during the rainy season to wander (and no doubt wade!) around the lagoon. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wXyvzzHp3lG4AzFcxy9SrTLr3ZZrm3U-Tj3Zs52f8ZMNJyOihY8FQUi-cDKYHYz_9we7t9zwFxzhMkiNQiP9tRAfRHl-GsZm8ha-b5ROlGZOy5WfMVzj3UHnkuddrSB35UITQ8pb-1HvumQOAwYzCpXGvyKVYMbFI_qSh0RrDFUemDT2gRz9m8ph/s3985/IMG_6702.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2989" data-original-width="3985" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wXyvzzHp3lG4AzFcxy9SrTLr3ZZrm3U-Tj3Zs52f8ZMNJyOihY8FQUi-cDKYHYz_9we7t9zwFxzhMkiNQiP9tRAfRHl-GsZm8ha-b5ROlGZOy5WfMVzj3UHnkuddrSB35UITQ8pb-1HvumQOAwYzCpXGvyKVYMbFI_qSh0RrDFUemDT2gRz9m8ph/w400-h300/IMG_6702.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRir8zNJrY_u6L4yNQMUok2k-0VbIXVp2N8yhz9mE0OMUZnKoSTPOgZm76uln-ClOzaQ8I0skUHId--zmG1kJWJQ3Auebl0ePwGcxJICDSnoKmkHxqV3MVz4pFsaUl0px61g1thLKPp8mftw9GSvUH6QXsQthCZo4WbXowayHcrM1WrHhcyPOkvMz/s4608/IMG_20230225_122540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="4608" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRir8zNJrY_u6L4yNQMUok2k-0VbIXVp2N8yhz9mE0OMUZnKoSTPOgZm76uln-ClOzaQ8I0skUHId--zmG1kJWJQ3Auebl0ePwGcxJICDSnoKmkHxqV3MVz4pFsaUl0px61g1thLKPp8mftw9GSvUH6QXsQthCZo4WbXowayHcrM1WrHhcyPOkvMz/w400-h184/IMG_20230225_122540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-20727698081730889872023-04-04T23:06:00.000-05:002023-04-04T23:06:11.877-05:00It's Wandering Week! Let's take a walk in our neighborhood park<div>Finding a place to take a walk in the city can be a little challenging. Sidewalks are rugged, sometimes downright treacherous. Anyone who has gone on a delegation walk with me to a restaurant or the mall knows the rule about calling out hazards so everyone in the walking line is aware of them. No one wants to fall into a random hole, never to be seen again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately, San Salvador has a lot of great public green spaces, including well-known spots like Parque Cuscatlán or <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2021/01/off-beaten-path-bicentennial-park-is.html" target="_blank">Parque Bicentenario</a>. Perhaps lesser known by visitors, but well-used by neighbors are the myriad of small playgrounds, walking paths and picnic spots which are tucked behind walls or nestled into oddly shaped street corners in the neighborhoods.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>One day, a friend of ours mentioned that she goes to a park with her husband to exercise when it is cool, in the early morning. She said it's great because mostly old people go there, and the gate opens at 6 AM. Well, OK, I guess I am sort of old at this point. She said maybe she would see us there sometime, especially since it is really close to where we live. Recommendation and invitation are the best ways to find the hidden treasures in a Salvadoran neighborhood, whether you live there or are visiting.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>So, on an early morning, we went to a well-hidden gem of a neighborhood park. We did run into our friend and her husband there. We walked 12,000 steps and chatted together about which plants are good for natural remedies and what cute things our grandchildren are doing (as old people tend to do). In between walking and talking, I grabbed a few photos. "I will probably write a little story about this place for my blog," I quipped. "It's lovely."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1Vb1QveeAqC4Z79rYVazWLVaoxKVtsQJkLMcZplgRlN83yf6ZhubPzwoLyfpuHCr4BX7LXmlC-G-Q9D2y2pNaLB4VaJyYM66engVmvMVf4UnBgZuPTd7ZGnnva2o_0nU3NFiPxYG3YbcKJAc81lToyP3IKtswD55XcXfCYp9h7ZDcikBqwN7-DTI/s4032/IMG_6906.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1Vb1QveeAqC4Z79rYVazWLVaoxKVtsQJkLMcZplgRlN83yf6ZhubPzwoLyfpuHCr4BX7LXmlC-G-Q9D2y2pNaLB4VaJyYM66engVmvMVf4UnBgZuPTd7ZGnnva2o_0nU3NFiPxYG3YbcKJAc81lToyP3IKtswD55XcXfCYp9h7ZDcikBqwN7-DTI/w400-h300/IMG_6906.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIU0kRwmHvoulVLeVo4Ns_YddZdszRFIKgOISrxzsr3eLsnLUfD6fs6cQJQsJ6D83LTfcgyIyTnUCYOcVV-2puJxujkOB_a8wnhifCuvGCyVW4eg1VCHcyMBcw6HR_YWCEyp6GCHqgaHlj9LSOGJ1hvZdnvyEDiQZRz8A1lyKcSD61XTHBebX8PQsN/s4032/IMG_6904.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ifMVXPIxRp5X5_GsoUUvDv8MGEtMQtcKU1FWH-g9sUHi_xa8oBhcNRid3_JlkUf0t8arCkP0E3pVL3tGIP5X3FOq63WbqpuPFZe24zvkRN52wQ1hvh0JLnot0TxqjXgc62m2BC9RXAdlKZ7wu1_g6jtVODJH51WDxdahTV-3VVp6pmGKB3ng354Q/w400-h300/IMG_6899.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJbeowJMqxsLX1Dcn8tO9QNU04FkiwEzTpQN45L8jl1-wIWUS-yzR7GzeWqT6ViMSXnOHEKmNzHJDMfvd_30E4VZh9uOwKX7UUOUOgHysGsd7YfAb8PAJcMm63ZqGLS8zkDLg8yqDIYRKd2GYesOS6TBwChPeDSwqYfCobW2PZIWgblGBP5Hlc39c/s4032/IMG_6897.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJbeowJMqxsLX1Dcn8tO9QNU04FkiwEzTpQN45L8jl1-wIWUS-yzR7GzeWqT6ViMSXnOHEKmNzHJDMfvd_30E4VZh9uOwKX7UUOUOgHysGsd7YfAb8PAJcMm63ZqGLS8zkDLg8yqDIYRKd2GYesOS6TBwChPeDSwqYfCobW2PZIWgblGBP5Hlc39c/w400-h300/IMG_6897.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Rk6wnqDDSe8PcXTKTRAEh1BloUYC-UkNyzXdz2wWMR9PmWpbkAzLzemYYriwqfss96xQkiRuAZE8tfcKy1E1QGltzyYEnLkIRsodxzwYLx72Pt02-PhnuyxbgCilRFV5h3ZdTJT32WKzwpXd4qFaAbnwf1WofXUZCVW6m8dyUepZKSOguGxD2dxy/s4032/IMG_6896.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Rk6wnqDDSe8PcXTKTRAEh1BloUYC-UkNyzXdz2wWMR9PmWpbkAzLzemYYriwqfss96xQkiRuAZE8tfcKy1E1QGltzyYEnLkIRsodxzwYLx72Pt02-PhnuyxbgCilRFV5h3ZdTJT32WKzwpXd4qFaAbnwf1WofXUZCVW6m8dyUepZKSOguGxD2dxy/w400-h300/IMG_6896.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXIZBlaeYmBfTuN4fQrVLIt5wil6x0oGR6wwheQv49fzlYbqF-Vq_BWETRzf5ihjqZKV8iiuHBqGLQdrc4jAUVcqRs8POf71h3fC0Eo0pWWKUXpfy-CLW-4ZFQxuatb25zvU4ZhZTIiuxQT0Z-F_w9h-fK3tBc3d3eYwGQC_wohSVY9TxzwwfLk0J/s4032/IMG_6895.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXIZBlaeYmBfTuN4fQrVLIt5wil6x0oGR6wwheQv49fzlYbqF-Vq_BWETRzf5ihjqZKV8iiuHBqGLQdrc4jAUVcqRs8POf71h3fC0Eo0pWWKUXpfy-CLW-4ZFQxuatb25zvU4ZhZTIiuxQT0Z-F_w9h-fK3tBc3d3eYwGQC_wohSVY9TxzwwfLk0J/w400-h300/IMG_6895.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Many small parks in San Salvador and other cities are now labeled on Google maps. Some even have their own Facebook pages. If you are visiting an area, it is always a good idea to check with local families or your hotel manager to make sure it is safe to walk to the park and within the park. Confirm the hours during which the park is open and if the park has a monitored gate (this point is particularly important if you are going to walk alone).</div><div><br /></div><div>To learn about another neighborhood park which we enjoy, check out<a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2021/09/lets-go-for-walk.html" target="_blank"> Let's Go for a Walk.</a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-37530593575160779622023-04-03T21:37:00.000-05:002023-04-03T21:37:29.691-05:00It's Wandering Week! Let's take a walk on Cerro Verde<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV5uPad0IwwA1eQDY8hinEflbie1KwEn-UgP5nWES14U9yK043sGg6MD8EHXhL7vL-5V4b4ME2Oz6RJ0-vnu3_bcVLCWg-cLsvwncpsbl1t-ndjh58XhpN2RRA5ZIq_ETSgk9OfKL4TDIdRQIGu6S9HMTJpRyo51vOAsZUvgskhbrXCG0Zywowm5a/s6954/IMG_7504.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2300" data-original-width="6954" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV5uPad0IwwA1eQDY8hinEflbie1KwEn-UgP5nWES14U9yK043sGg6MD8EHXhL7vL-5V4b4ME2Oz6RJ0-vnu3_bcVLCWg-cLsvwncpsbl1t-ndjh58XhpN2RRA5ZIq_ETSgk9OfKL4TDIdRQIGu6S9HMTJpRyo51vOAsZUvgskhbrXCG0Zywowm5a/w640-h213/IMG_7504.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>A lovely walk at the top of Cerro Verde</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Today's wandering walk takes place a bit of a drive west of San Salvador in Parque Nacional Cerro Verde. To be clear, this park is the jumping off point for some serious trekking (with guides) up the Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) Volcano or the Izalco Volcano. Cerro Verde (of the three volcanoes, it is the extinct one) also offers a relatively easy guided trek which takes hikers through old and new growth forest, down into the crater and back up again. But this story is offers a different perspective on the Cerro Verde experience: no hiking poles needed!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVgrZJpxNC2_ICfydO_5ttp_Wydu2F6UmoG6XEBfZdgeQrzPVRHt0tTz74Jwuwv9eRCKyEqDI1TZyi5eV0eaqafnFcZJ4gq4RPGRIwgyUl5wfKWKpHe-YK7UVScGlyWjxerVz9elE5WeLchRzP5xLsEDbCiAF2cwZd61elYojKIvq7jAzeSwV_hL8/s4032/IMG_7465.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVgrZJpxNC2_ICfydO_5ttp_Wydu2F6UmoG6XEBfZdgeQrzPVRHt0tTz74Jwuwv9eRCKyEqDI1TZyi5eV0eaqafnFcZJ4gq4RPGRIwgyUl5wfKWKpHe-YK7UVScGlyWjxerVz9elE5WeLchRzP5xLsEDbCiAF2cwZd61elYojKIvq7jAzeSwV_hL8/s320/IMG_7465.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Our goal: walk, relax, enjoy nature. We drove up to the park on a dry March afternoon, on the date of the new moon, in order to spend the night and do some star gazing in a place far away from city lights. By allowing for plenty of time to wander without the rush of heading out on a formal hike, we learned more about the park as a wonderful location for a leisurely stroll or a picnic, and that it is accessible to walkers of all ages and abilities. The park is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and the entry fee is $1.50 for Salvadorans, and $3.00 for foreigners, with a $1 parking fee.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28TZ4zRoDKOq7IdowY8fFTkzD5JuwfLPjxn9Zt45gTqA63D4QQXfJ_agkiWRAC0N80SambD5Dc6gJf0HOYIOOknDGf1CqbuMss5LlBHhkA2Kiv0lfxNS4NpkYLia-lkS0ewUw8m68A93vQWqYFGcDqkkvwvBBt9cgnUKWAi7YSzlD8QirHH3BM2zB/s4032/IMG_7519.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28TZ4zRoDKOq7IdowY8fFTkzD5JuwfLPjxn9Zt45gTqA63D4QQXfJ_agkiWRAC0N80SambD5Dc6gJf0HOYIOOknDGf1CqbuMss5LlBHhkA2Kiv0lfxNS4NpkYLia-lkS0ewUw8m68A93vQWqYFGcDqkkvwvBBt9cgnUKWAi7YSzlD8QirHH3BM2zB/w400-h300/IMG_7519.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Late afternoon view into the parking lot from a picnic area near the entrance.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCUy5KmjJqtPMtHhOaAvQhb-0-cLb6Sznkgq2_cMnA3J3C2R21w0gx2axnIPtEKQQo43o1W2J6oDQXo9tPBVTh7bptHk7clnF5VUbaBvXW_x9jv_YExcmmxsDx3Ryun2avaA0la3Ug8MlZsGOMKhjFcfdlmdxZNLbr0iflHL7nyBFl_1FWfUgX5co/s3555/IMG_20230321_164633.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="3555" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCUy5KmjJqtPMtHhOaAvQhb-0-cLb6Sznkgq2_cMnA3J3C2R21w0gx2axnIPtEKQQo43o1W2J6oDQXo9tPBVTh7bptHk7clnF5VUbaBvXW_x9jv_YExcmmxsDx3Ryun2avaA0la3Ug8MlZsGOMKhjFcfdlmdxZNLbr0iflHL7nyBFl_1FWfUgX5co/w400-h238/IMG_20230321_164633.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Turn around - here's the view toward the Izalco volcano from that same picnic area.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Groups can camp in tents in areas near the parking lot, or stay in one of the park cabins (family cabins are $55 for 24 hours). We wanted to check out the newly opened Casa 1800 hotel, which is definitely the more bougie choice (yes, I am both campy and bougie). The overnight experience was a bonus, but not required in order to enjoy a day or half-day wandering, picnicking, playing or resting in the park. Spending the night at the park allowed us to explore all the nooks and crannies surrounding the picnic areas without bothering anyone and to hear the music of the birds and rustle of the trees in the quiet of evening and early morning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjPX0zbL-NE0JLJ_tulIYcytYivoWCCW46YzNof1WT7sxbLlEDFVEI30SupW_JXWj6uJxzPNviFeobweSULWJx39ZIZ_-C9wTo7oCf8yForTOodKR9hyYlvv5R8l0pdg0dg1shn5J7O_Pi1udSpW8pF2V6yVqW6sMobiI0Q5l-vqygqC_QP6Sudtb/s4032/IMG_7579.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjPX0zbL-NE0JLJ_tulIYcytYivoWCCW46YzNof1WT7sxbLlEDFVEI30SupW_JXWj6uJxzPNviFeobweSULWJx39ZIZ_-C9wTo7oCf8yForTOodKR9hyYlvv5R8l0pdg0dg1shn5J7O_Pi1udSpW8pF2V6yVqW6sMobiI0Q5l-vqygqC_QP6Sudtb/w400-h300/IMG_7579.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #274e13;">Frequent visitors to Cerro Verde will recognize this view from the patio of the now-renovated hotel and restaurant Casa 1800. The old Hotel de la Montaña opened in 1958, closed in 1997, and suffered great damages in the 2001 earthquakes. For many years, it was possible to wander onto the abandoned hotel property to take photos of the Izalco Volcano from the old patio.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After enjoying a cup of coffee at Casa 1800 (included with our check-in), we wandered around freely until sunset. Although the park closes at 8:00 PM, it was already pretty empty by mid-afternoon (on a weekday). Casa 1800 requires that guests be inside their gated property by 8:00 PM. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSmygTWrx1QHivR63GyoCQfkb9FagD010w6K4C3Ky67F4pRebfXKgxZX0t37rKQF6wdhpz2G5jMjec0Ym6unpVzSBxQxVgP0L_xTJF4P6bBR7q88iYGqwMSvDiEloF2vB9u7KbI4MeF4DCYOzXS0TGCMbaPxXtJikMFX-e4DkG3RUY8XhCcaHx7zg/s4608/DSCN6999.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSmygTWrx1QHivR63GyoCQfkb9FagD010w6K4C3Ky67F4pRebfXKgxZX0t37rKQF6wdhpz2G5jMjec0Ym6unpVzSBxQxVgP0L_xTJF4P6bBR7q88iYGqwMSvDiEloF2vB9u7KbI4MeF4DCYOzXS0TGCMbaPxXtJikMFX-e4DkG3RUY8XhCcaHx7zg/w300-h400/DSCN6999.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The walk of the mysterious flowers - this orchid garden is located just off the main parking lot. Because we went during the dry season, the orchids were not in bloom, but the pathways were shady and green - a pleasant contrast to the dry dust which covers much of El Salvador during the month of March. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCKyp4VrdUNDkSFQ2YeFqF2r33jQXBgz6faJ5RoQB9Oea1ggrhkv9dbumhuWcWuF8wdNKGtPir--BTvDfQpmE7h2okVGWsp9y7LjYhFp7oX2tjE4ImiAEXEGZK5mex7QBUjX0nKc3ocbaq99c2BNnYWH565FQh6qDC-bMIaP0Lb_IOS59ZW4_SfO4/s4032/IMG_7497.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCKyp4VrdUNDkSFQ2YeFqF2r33jQXBgz6faJ5RoQB9Oea1ggrhkv9dbumhuWcWuF8wdNKGtPir--BTvDfQpmE7h2okVGWsp9y7LjYhFp7oX2tjE4ImiAEXEGZK5mex7QBUjX0nKc3ocbaq99c2BNnYWH565FQh6qDC-bMIaP0Lb_IOS59ZW4_SfO4/w400-h300/IMG_7497.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The orchid walk was accompanied by birds singing, fluttering and perching. We were surrounded by bushy crested jays throughout our walk.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQw01z7heZw7D6BJCelIKwBy54B1UBm5ecC7OgcV2cMqOgGKTiy3H4dBqDURXqdYsOkkFvJhAcJ20FaMas_ls4skxQPlS6m_r-6a2n3E-XE8QhfX9bKNpxjzJz-SnM_jGCSVizRY36ii91PPyeFR19IKYTtHv8skmNxhOhjQihHDf3kL1IUGiOvbz/s2419/IMG_7496.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="2419" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQw01z7heZw7D6BJCelIKwBy54B1UBm5ecC7OgcV2cMqOgGKTiy3H4dBqDURXqdYsOkkFvJhAcJ20FaMas_ls4skxQPlS6m_r-6a2n3E-XE8QhfX9bKNpxjzJz-SnM_jGCSVizRY36ii91PPyeFR19IKYTtHv8skmNxhOhjQihHDf3kL1IUGiOvbz/w400-h264/IMG_7496.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYgnN_yRWXYcWhzdNpt_Yd517-8ZDqKN4dLnltf0gNZa_df7ifeKDED4h-RpGyLUncWCLNTM0qkPYln7eiuI-ZuhJFCbTCCZHIvbeD92MmLdTlOxtgh_pKat_dnmu_sT718vs_AfxidceVNDFloVBaTLVVmIjHGxwsOvxWwRz0LTn5gj36PCGc8Pg/s4032/IMG_7509.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYgnN_yRWXYcWhzdNpt_Yd517-8ZDqKN4dLnltf0gNZa_df7ifeKDED4h-RpGyLUncWCLNTM0qkPYln7eiuI-ZuhJFCbTCCZHIvbeD92MmLdTlOxtgh_pKat_dnmu_sT718vs_AfxidceVNDFloVBaTLVVmIjHGxwsOvxWwRz0LTn5gj36PCGc8Pg/w300-h400/IMG_7509.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Tent camping area - next to the orchid trail. We also believe people are allowed to camp in the parking lot.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6isdCIoHycCOlwo7OO7D7cSWBVh-9VmtQS5TUCo_buM4eYdM4hgX8NHubzJrVukVU3lZDdXJsEw5ILLp-ewj_9c7AG9WQvuvljhNMlhn41_5vNEyRoS9nJFtbTsLWebGddhocO1jfzEQ-cceqaQDADv_bwEQ1cPNWKdy82Ovv5ZnX3IPPoLPj2Wh/s4032/IMG_7506.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6isdCIoHycCOlwo7OO7D7cSWBVh-9VmtQS5TUCo_buM4eYdM4hgX8NHubzJrVukVU3lZDdXJsEw5ILLp-ewj_9c7AG9WQvuvljhNMlhn41_5vNEyRoS9nJFtbTsLWebGddhocO1jfzEQ-cceqaQDADv_bwEQ1cPNWKdy82Ovv5ZnX3IPPoLPj2Wh/w400-h300/IMG_7506.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The orchid path has a few exit points onto a small road that runs through the park. There are lots of benches and picnic spots. We found plenty of little side paths to explore.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-gqXWRLytRnydag2_-hhcj-z3uUukXgNg_Jet_o65IsjcbckZCvOsILz81zi2CkW1ZTOJm0lOGYj35BQvC5Ra1qTZYNADycQGGDbCeiojiSxxzxAuDCzHgcLjyLUzr2fCHGo0KNiBK30Ejegfz0H7VVgp8oHPgge8pM8_8eVkzw1XOMzxJOEc6eV/s4608/IMG_20230321_165002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2112" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-gqXWRLytRnydag2_-hhcj-z3uUukXgNg_Jet_o65IsjcbckZCvOsILz81zi2CkW1ZTOJm0lOGYj35BQvC5Ra1qTZYNADycQGGDbCeiojiSxxzxAuDCzHgcLjyLUzr2fCHGo0KNiBK30Ejegfz0H7VVgp8oHPgge8pM8_8eVkzw1XOMzxJOEc6eV/w184-h400/IMG_20230321_165002.jpg" width="184" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>There are a couple of tunnels covered by evergreens which lead from the camping area, cabin area and orchid walk back down to the main parking lot. This is the steep one.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hFK9FroJg9eNNy46J9e8SIuvh-a8MDLoRzH2Glx9aLE5yxC5hvWm-Ugonnah04j3H758O0KtIe993Zfv24-EceNG_Xj0QQ3lnbhw1Zw-ZYaRG7Dy-_2tb8MoUWCG9-sjPDsMJOlt3iz0bvRAcb-QWwEn8e3Lr3qKdfH-TPwfP9a6ZP04q1aJGCqr/s3088/IMG_7522.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hFK9FroJg9eNNy46J9e8SIuvh-a8MDLoRzH2Glx9aLE5yxC5hvWm-Ugonnah04j3H758O0KtIe993Zfv24-EceNG_Xj0QQ3lnbhw1Zw-ZYaRG7Dy-_2tb8MoUWCG9-sjPDsMJOlt3iz0bvRAcb-QWwEn8e3Lr3qKdfH-TPwfP9a6ZP04q1aJGCqr/w300-h400/IMG_7522.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLqwmVYx84gCZfuFaG9IaA4SMKCeh5Q5NhjZSqjRjJp-WWGp9kUdbQ5pEIYwVd4s495N8xMEvOPggaJ5XRQG5BWzWbf24viwphsF94HVK7Ba5HbiV41KBBuqGXwEUf0ZqB2Ipbsra79oXS23DudWiGZJ3nbyrcEFtJ707tP2mjXxSWZ-qXoNMKuGM/s4032/IMG_7523.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLqwmVYx84gCZfuFaG9IaA4SMKCeh5Q5NhjZSqjRjJp-WWGp9kUdbQ5pEIYwVd4s495N8xMEvOPggaJ5XRQG5BWzWbf24viwphsF94HVK7Ba5HbiV41KBBuqGXwEUf0ZqB2Ipbsra79oXS23DudWiGZJ3nbyrcEFtJ707tP2mjXxSWZ-qXoNMKuGM/w400-h300/IMG_7523.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>After poking around the orchid side of the park, we headed out the main entrance and crossed the road to the mirador (lookout) to catch the late afternoon sun reflecting on the ocean in the distance.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We crossed back into the park and explored the playground area and picnic areas (which we did not even know existed on that side), following every path available to us. We ended up back on the road with the orchid garden, and wandered around until it was quite dark in the forest. We went to the restaurant for dinner, in time for a view of the sun painting the sky over Izalco.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfipiv-b3AwbBli3CikN9heqiXIOoU7pNpItyB7lVpgTuHMFWjKQN2FiaKIFVrgNF7DAfLmXEyjQxpRC-5sGa7IF9hbL_ftR70WUZejXm_-vTrIyKBuJmyVJ0gS4mLPOJnIw-DjPRy2sZ0DdRhmi2IO1XGbXVIIiL9vGpUnMYv6Fbo4yd4qm42mvqf/s4032/IMG_7548.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfipiv-b3AwbBli3CikN9heqiXIOoU7pNpItyB7lVpgTuHMFWjKQN2FiaKIFVrgNF7DAfLmXEyjQxpRC-5sGa7IF9hbL_ftR70WUZejXm_-vTrIyKBuJmyVJ0gS4mLPOJnIw-DjPRy2sZ0DdRhmi2IO1XGbXVIIiL9vGpUnMYv6Fbo4yd4qm42mvqf/w400-h300/IMG_7548.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>Day-trippers could definitely enjoy sunset and dinner at Casa 1800 before heading back to San Salvador or another destination. We went to our room for a while, waiting until it was good and dark before heading back out to the restaurant patio to do some star gazing. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwf1jV4NPDP7230W4oc3MSUzMq1lSevYqgwhN8yvPdKhtKhqmU1kmN70Sc3u5yPQ3btwgBJDuuKcBAsbyKTP-XiHDpT1Gx55WcqQ69zeweAfL87OIRAi9dnMLhJ8IvSq932YgG9knQwFqOIzu8twwv72-XbSyM-FrsTaBqhPbU1ih-saSk9w5fMt5X/s3223/IMG_7553.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2402" data-original-width="3223" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwf1jV4NPDP7230W4oc3MSUzMq1lSevYqgwhN8yvPdKhtKhqmU1kmN70Sc3u5yPQ3btwgBJDuuKcBAsbyKTP-XiHDpT1Gx55WcqQ69zeweAfL87OIRAi9dnMLhJ8IvSq932YgG9knQwFqOIzu8twwv72-XbSyM-FrsTaBqhPbU1ih-saSk9w5fMt5X/w400-h297/IMG_7553.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>It was so very dark, that the only way to get a meaningful photo was to use a flash.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>At about 10 PM, when all the lights were out at the hotel (literally - there was not a soul in sight nor a light anywhere), we put on our sweatshirts and winter coats and headed out to the balcony with our cell phone flashlights. The stars were beautiful! We were a little surprised that no one else was out and about, but seriously, it was FREEZING. This is the only place we have stayed in El Salvador (so far) that had HEAT in the room. We were grateful for it!</div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning, we got up early and wandered all of the same pathways as we had done the previous afternoon. As the sun came up, the air warmed nicely. For those interested in very clear morning views, arriving at the park at 8 AM, eating a picnic or pupusa breakfast (one little place opened early) and walking around in the cool of the day is a great option before heading to a nearby archeological site, to Lake Coatepeque or even south to the beach.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfjWVv6EpfkccMI_PdBTzTN8hzLsDUzxl7j3HKEozVAacreG3_0zZ5Z0qpagaeyU7AlUOW-qwELmHTVwK28Ig5EfrTB0HF5fN09QhJF6c3z8ETQXVx13CqNV_pG3YzRGKPNe9dSf2mwLpVXBVMQhsB7RmV8Mrww_3lsMVeAF9fKqp9C3t9GWgKpDY/s5660/IMG_7562.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2589" data-original-width="5660" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfjWVv6EpfkccMI_PdBTzTN8hzLsDUzxl7j3HKEozVAacreG3_0zZ5Z0qpagaeyU7AlUOW-qwELmHTVwK28Ig5EfrTB0HF5fN09QhJF6c3z8ETQXVx13CqNV_pG3YzRGKPNe9dSf2mwLpVXBVMQhsB7RmV8Mrww_3lsMVeAF9fKqp9C3t9GWgKpDY/w400-h183/IMG_7562.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>In the early morning, it was easy to see the ocean in the distance. Clouds gradually moved around the Santa Ana volcano (on the right) and into the valley, evaporating into the characteristic haze that hides the sea. With binoculars, we were able to watch lines of ships likely departing from Acajutla.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoonSnFYC1DJVC5VEAsndLE2kf8goOq-E-hekzUmvQFo0sqo4EveAj_XSTcuX-ZAlkUAgmEpsegP8fFUuhwO7rIL36yHsEm2IrDzaV6BK_1O1hawmiYBbaaOzL9hUnzDzspmTL6wC5yP_rUZIelA1QkHO0X6HRnbun6YnFfPlYYJQhpXo6DWoC_Z2/s4026/IMG_7570.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2397" data-original-width="4026" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoonSnFYC1DJVC5VEAsndLE2kf8goOq-E-hekzUmvQFo0sqo4EveAj_XSTcuX-ZAlkUAgmEpsegP8fFUuhwO7rIL36yHsEm2IrDzaV6BK_1O1hawmiYBbaaOzL9hUnzDzspmTL6wC5yP_rUZIelA1QkHO0X6HRnbun6YnFfPlYYJQhpXo6DWoC_Z2/w400-h239/IMG_7570.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The playground trees are sculpted to resemble animals, and you can climb up inside the branches. The entire length of this side of the park has great views of Izalco, the volcanic range, and the agricultural fields which stretch down to the coast.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN8IgKujPQR3fe6jpkxM8l0us0cvXww1etLDMhnqx8K2O3fgqL5yqOhDQRiPtKk5T5oKIGUIBI5P_F2FCYdfPx7FjQc2F22MimNg4zHgLkCmU3ii8qpaMawpa3jVYPjtMNiaHAB0a2EKQqTjqM1uwayda5YEk5xzJATe2RkREvvEqjSf8dRzoS9ed/s4032/IMG_7571.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN8IgKujPQR3fe6jpkxM8l0us0cvXww1etLDMhnqx8K2O3fgqL5yqOhDQRiPtKk5T5oKIGUIBI5P_F2FCYdfPx7FjQc2F22MimNg4zHgLkCmU3ii8qpaMawpa3jVYPjtMNiaHAB0a2EKQqTjqM1uwayda5YEk5xzJATe2RkREvvEqjSf8dRzoS9ed/w400-h300/IMG_7571.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>We noticed some improvements on this side of the park, including new grass below the play equipment, and additional miradors (look-outs) over the Izalco valley</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>We wandered through the playground, past the new Coffee Shop (which sadly is not open in the early morning) to a little stair path we found the previous day. That path leads to dozens of hidden picnic alcoves, neatly tucked beneath the trees along small pathways which branch off of the main way. Especially when the park is not crowded, the picnic path is a great place for listening to and looking for birds. Depending on which way you follow, the picnic path sends you back out to the main parking lot or a little road.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTFL6D0v4xWeqhDzPFiD9vcAPly_3FlsgRxBi8Pk__b5kx0U_JIv72RikQDnLkMJmbAJErlY4tZAMIVlnAYTmc3GUyjlpcibz9dyyAZy1OuvU_vCSmoGYc1iQ7VHJJfVRGeba7yvh6p7zuhveb-yvvuqLHC06IPDq-J363dlcR3cprOZ393tikOwT/s4032/IMG_7557.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTFL6D0v4xWeqhDzPFiD9vcAPly_3FlsgRxBi8Pk__b5kx0U_JIv72RikQDnLkMJmbAJErlY4tZAMIVlnAYTmc3GUyjlpcibz9dyyAZy1OuvU_vCSmoGYc1iQ7VHJJfVRGeba7yvh6p7zuhveb-yvvuqLHC06IPDq-J363dlcR3cprOZ393tikOwT/w300-h400/IMG_7557.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Sun coming up on the road behind the orchid garden. The park sits on the rim of the ancient Cerro Verde Volcano - at the end of this road you find the trail head for the hiking path down into the crater. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCb4WL59YBWnhpB0bzSrxe9uez-q4JgE_g1DJSz8GXUpGuMtgKstELHtouACYhhaqiCYt3T9GVMJIYilc4GDcz8dvNRGN3YQtyg4mySz_0zqBBgfD4K5qXXbOxE7oiuAVeNh0vedFJaoyd6acCK_1ILefGsF75vHz07t10fDKCBEYj9HJX80TXMAbN/s2746/DSCN7000.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="2746" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCb4WL59YBWnhpB0bzSrxe9uez-q4JgE_g1DJSz8GXUpGuMtgKstELHtouACYhhaqiCYt3T9GVMJIYilc4GDcz8dvNRGN3YQtyg4mySz_0zqBBgfD4K5qXXbOxE7oiuAVeNh0vedFJaoyd6acCK_1ILefGsF75vHz07t10fDKCBEYj9HJX80TXMAbN/w400-h248/DSCN7000.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #274e13;">Our bird buddies are back</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwR08cBhV5Czg4cuJLpJUgM18YLhdx7mgCHal3Bav_SW69rS-k-BSocJ2H-K6-OFJWEsF3vzZKPktRLz4WzQGHhiwhq-vUnNDb4zDebvbgyFf1W6vFcnFq5wHBS9zoG6QHIeMAb--yZ_m8qnRQIDBFUtw3g2II0Z3JwgRYK30vPxngF5l5gGrwjiie/s4032/IMG_7561.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwR08cBhV5Czg4cuJLpJUgM18YLhdx7mgCHal3Bav_SW69rS-k-BSocJ2H-K6-OFJWEsF3vzZKPktRLz4WzQGHhiwhq-vUnNDb4zDebvbgyFf1W6vFcnFq5wHBS9zoG6QHIeMAb--yZ_m8qnRQIDBFUtw3g2II0Z3JwgRYK30vPxngF5l5gGrwjiie/w300-h400/IMG_7561.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>So much life on one tree</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>The past few years have brought good improvements to many tourist locations in El Salvador. Parque Cerro Verde has clean restrooms, places to purchase food and water and accessible ramps. Entry to the park is not free, but it is still affordable, and the recent expansion of picnic areas and walking paths have preserved the natural features of the site. It is definitely a great place for taking a walk!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><i>Another story...</i></b></span></div>A few years ago, I wrote a story which includes photos from our climb up the Santa Ana Volcano. It was entitled <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2017/11/come-visit-el-salvador.html" target="_blank">El Salvador: Land of Volcanoes.</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><i>A few more photos of Casa 1800...</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some additional photos from Casa 1800. Although this story is primarily focused on Cerro Verde as a great place for walking and relaxing as a family or with a delegation, we were able to really get to know the park by staying for the night. I would definitely try staying in the cabins in the park with a delegation, which would allow hikers to hike and relaxers to walk or hang out at a picnic table or a coffee shop. The hotel is pricey (although in line with other hotels in the Santa Ana/Cerro Verde area) and pretty fancy. The hotel restaurant is moderately priced, and the food we had was excellent.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NPZjc6bmPuh5JthlLc2CdhMWxv1IkFiwnkIlk6M59wFnGMa_s3iWloAnb2Es1qafIGuTp0oYuocNf05ocwfBnRB3zdNUSGaHfP1SrIjE1-7gfYVBfeqAiZZH3SIMaMl51hmwYRkBTVH6F5c-7RYo_Z72_AVwM4jxcLX4IIjonuLY4Xfc8-ifVydm/s4032/IMG_7470.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NPZjc6bmPuh5JthlLc2CdhMWxv1IkFiwnkIlk6M59wFnGMa_s3iWloAnb2Es1qafIGuTp0oYuocNf05ocwfBnRB3zdNUSGaHfP1SrIjE1-7gfYVBfeqAiZZH3SIMaMl51hmwYRkBTVH6F5c-7RYo_Z72_AVwM4jxcLX4IIjonuLY4Xfc8-ifVydm/s320/IMG_7470.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFF07wOGebrexnVNnuFXFBm0i6xHtQtrCAH-b09M89aqKCr94PdmZ5cMUaVWmwlNcy748VinbzQ3YAVT01sJPJApjtzu2CJeS854P0BP6VquwookdqR7i7k3qJdNNFSDYXHRQO0tEtnb0LUP4wddh3OfvCpR0l6ioz-4j-Bt9juBRN3mN0_z7zXln/s4032/IMG_7471.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFF07wOGebrexnVNnuFXFBm0i6xHtQtrCAH-b09M89aqKCr94PdmZ5cMUaVWmwlNcy748VinbzQ3YAVT01sJPJApjtzu2CJeS854P0BP6VquwookdqR7i7k3qJdNNFSDYXHRQO0tEtnb0LUP4wddh3OfvCpR0l6ioz-4j-Bt9juBRN3mN0_z7zXln/s320/IMG_7471.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The private patio space outside of our room</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5YAiyPdMsFKhtSZMG1LR-SSmfVFHesXyl2kGTe-eVLfmE5lPhEeJ-otFsXUC_rwUL6XakDMxGDdwwD7eXVkTc_G-QADQh4udji_JbKYmgpM3cCg84luWJdRr89ZszExpBvCaHFQ1H9B1nNNM-J_Tm8xaggu4oXbQ8wl1f0ILYof0JmyYMk9xMUAP/s4032/IMG_7479.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5YAiyPdMsFKhtSZMG1LR-SSmfVFHesXyl2kGTe-eVLfmE5lPhEeJ-otFsXUC_rwUL6XakDMxGDdwwD7eXVkTc_G-QADQh4udji_JbKYmgpM3cCg84luWJdRr89ZszExpBvCaHFQ1H9B1nNNM-J_Tm8xaggu4oXbQ8wl1f0ILYof0JmyYMk9xMUAP/s320/IMG_7479.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Torreja with afternoon coffee - this was yummy! Torrejas are a traditional food for Holy Week.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildjX4CUivdyEJLlN6VOfHoAb0hJZt2U3ovc16wgLLdUjvflfBagbY7c0RP9qBleo4AIltc3YQAaDIjyMNAi201L6d171kPHX1Uv2ihq177DSwDYXyoC0x_hLlFxFmUwmhrvrhTXAAxc6sHQm48lfb6DEWisprJy-PW7FyLlx-4KqRoah7MN4QuzXM/s4032/IMG_7482.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildjX4CUivdyEJLlN6VOfHoAb0hJZt2U3ovc16wgLLdUjvflfBagbY7c0RP9qBleo4AIltc3YQAaDIjyMNAi201L6d171kPHX1Uv2ihq177DSwDYXyoC0x_hLlFxFmUwmhrvrhTXAAxc6sHQm48lfb6DEWisprJy-PW7FyLlx-4KqRoah7MN4QuzXM/w320-h240/IMG_7482.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The outdoor walkways are bordered by lovely gardens</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_Cpbs581S_VmhtwQoDQ6XjyyRwayqHuemHPIGrM1K7cUDN-1F5Shzmyxw61WCYyE3hXrq8X9itpqjNnc1eNeoXbycwZFxu66nCW_R53joZPWBPdTH9LMOnZiLBTQtmBQVufq-RpJEbrN_-I0WPIW5IbbOROddPIkJzu9WKEIG4Q7o-D_UYyxFp6Y/s3024/IMG_7527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_Cpbs581S_VmhtwQoDQ6XjyyRwayqHuemHPIGrM1K7cUDN-1F5Shzmyxw61WCYyE3hXrq8X9itpqjNnc1eNeoXbycwZFxu66nCW_R53joZPWBPdTH9LMOnZiLBTQtmBQVufq-RpJEbrN_-I0WPIW5IbbOROddPIkJzu9WKEIG4Q7o-D_UYyxFp6Y/s320/IMG_7527.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSuG6by50Xllw2IGgUB1vW0bE_vu-7dJefHEbIs4CwSu-xza5CcLn-ZnK9bbpnfVMadcQcOa5aqUUcE57Xejr2x_kf5lF7AXJ70sZsjMS2gMShej6yPUmEIna_W8OPAY5Frs0KioSQNBfmAQCUOnTb9KOwE_LyM37FO83zvKOjOpThT3C54aD9o0A/s4032/IMG_7550.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSuG6by50Xllw2IGgUB1vW0bE_vu-7dJefHEbIs4CwSu-xza5CcLn-ZnK9bbpnfVMadcQcOa5aqUUcE57Xejr2x_kf5lF7AXJ70sZsjMS2gMShej6yPUmEIna_W8OPAY5Frs0KioSQNBfmAQCUOnTb9KOwE_LyM37FO83zvKOjOpThT3C54aD9o0A/s320/IMG_7550.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>My dinner - delicious stromboli at sunset</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r6GDzx3nUFysZoGJO1P_4dzahBf4zovtzNomJPuRGTGpMqrGxdwG_MMIBIyE1Y0stbDue4hreAE9HEQAqLVESGgIws5TxtKWy7WMYsklLFWhv2ta4hrW06dwg81Y0_V7kQcRLbrsBM5KKTYrfJvpMbnLjlrD617-Fk0N_JjTcwEsrzdt7ibfsV5q/s4032/IMG_7580.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r6GDzx3nUFysZoGJO1P_4dzahBf4zovtzNomJPuRGTGpMqrGxdwG_MMIBIyE1Y0stbDue4hreAE9HEQAqLVESGgIws5TxtKWy7WMYsklLFWhv2ta4hrW06dwg81Y0_V7kQcRLbrsBM5KKTYrfJvpMbnLjlrD617-Fk0N_JjTcwEsrzdt7ibfsV5q/w300-h400/IMG_7580.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Chia pancakes for breakfast</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRqJrByyA7Kdp6-freAUizLMKs6Lvb_F85K40Nepsur9pLt4dSJxxN51bp2xZ23xr9mLawy8-JAkMyoYIOCIrke4SsV5GMQKK_hSI6wDxwEN4OZ5-osoPs0ItPMRMK6_qb5H0Ry2FdAM6Y7fhld194tB5e_eGVxRV7EQeZGrp8c0CDpVgnIb9wv6c/s4032/IMG_7581.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRqJrByyA7Kdp6-freAUizLMKs6Lvb_F85K40Nepsur9pLt4dSJxxN51bp2xZ23xr9mLawy8-JAkMyoYIOCIrke4SsV5GMQKK_hSI6wDxwEN4OZ5-osoPs0ItPMRMK6_qb5H0Ry2FdAM6Y7fhld194tB5e_eGVxRV7EQeZGrp8c0CDpVgnIb9wv6c/w400-h300/IMG_7581.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The 1950's vibe was preserved in the restaurant. Not much different in structure from when we used to come up here and peek into the windows when the place was abandoned. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-29073096986888586012023-03-25T21:49:00.006-05:002023-03-25T21:59:17.063-05:00We Remember the Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8ib5gpLOfqR80fdCs-6x9j4rleWhHe5puZkgJSjVc9yt23SPf3DSuPf8XTepET92M0R3UXIVh2TzR_tx4enFrXZCMAflOK1YH8uIsPRFs4Psyy_pKyC9L_ltkPHUZ1geSZTDPNF9u2OgSI-ue4IKShn0tsoMZhiT7Ar8gPx-EV_VVQ4dHnnJpurd/s4032/IMG_7750.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8ib5gpLOfqR80fdCs-6x9j4rleWhHe5puZkgJSjVc9yt23SPf3DSuPf8XTepET92M0R3UXIVh2TzR_tx4enFrXZCMAflOK1YH8uIsPRFs4Psyy_pKyC9L_ltkPHUZ1geSZTDPNF9u2OgSI-ue4IKShn0tsoMZhiT7Ar8gPx-EV_VVQ4dHnnJpurd/s320/IMG_7750.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The sun slipped below the San Salvador Volcano, casting bright orange and pink streaks across the purpling sky. Mothers were gathered at the corner, chatting as their little ones zoomed around with red and yellow plastic trucks. Students began arriving home from school, trudging up the hill wearing comfy blue gym pants and white t-shirts and carrying loaded backpacks. Yessenia sat on the curb, minding her pop-up store which she sets up every afternoon in front of the church. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDsmKwVRgVlb88VQy4B9wZRELWAvVPcEPCReCYSbn1t3q-s5BmYb_EI4QEAEwwUg_O5vWTn0m24SHjNOYAn3tSVWOphU8CXaaW5rSGEJrmVQwT7pxiwigW2KK53WBsDGr9cCU1Veq-mD07Gq5VKIDJdvh6d2zE7Wx529x__IswJbaVTiPtz4sk8ty/s4032/IMG_7753.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDsmKwVRgVlb88VQy4B9wZRELWAvVPcEPCReCYSbn1t3q-s5BmYb_EI4QEAEwwUg_O5vWTn0m24SHjNOYAn3tSVWOphU8CXaaW5rSGEJrmVQwT7pxiwigW2KK53WBsDGr9cCU1Veq-mD07Gq5VKIDJdvh6d2zE7Wx529x__IswJbaVTiPtz4sk8ty/s320/IMG_7753.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The church doors and windows were wide open. Cristina cut out and decorated the number 27. People sat around inside and out, chatting and sharing stories. Children worked on homework. We watched a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0smS8uV3mVw&list=PLPCGA7snvTiYT0oWypNftsU402EayjDXL&index=4" target="_blank">video I had posted on YouTube</a> from last year's anniversary celebration and laughed about Marcelino's love of fireworks. The pupusas arrived. We sat in the sanctuary in a big circle of green plastic chairs, licked salsa and curtido from our fingers, and drank hot coffee. More people arrived. Chairs were passed out to the church porch. Karla went to get more pupusas. Children tumbled around on the floor. It was a party.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg115g2eMlN2lbk5Lsvsu9JoRwVWafVEUoNmrZuvCmuaiNBwhLQErgq8VuKjDRQHBbyQAEUuHTcaSEuiORqDbOOUY4YD8OWozyacRqvIHZtH72Ef1VGGj6FeHbUayomQn09jSLIsECtSkM37EHhe6DKF9Z7Q6sL6UYgxZsvTlqNXT6dLMwcEpexMJ2j/s4032/IMG_7759.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg115g2eMlN2lbk5Lsvsu9JoRwVWafVEUoNmrZuvCmuaiNBwhLQErgq8VuKjDRQHBbyQAEUuHTcaSEuiORqDbOOUY4YD8OWozyacRqvIHZtH72Ef1VGGj6FeHbUayomQn09jSLIsECtSkM37EHhe6DKF9Z7Q6sL6UYgxZsvTlqNXT6dLMwcEpexMJ2j/s320/IMG_7759.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxYrQFTBmD9U8o_r7hX7H7tpK54hJ2oN9vQuNpnJxZcHuW_IrpLqmovnEwpuUSUDYXlB_xbOU47a8Zhim9VG152q6s7nmPpo7Lsd3vsZdFA9ngRrXJQHh57GTxJGl_iZHIWQIANK6DfsYo-dFrhOdO8XT1dAC3BC6wwiRHLRn5fCB623T2EmzdrnK/s4032/IMG_7780.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxYrQFTBmD9U8o_r7hX7H7tpK54hJ2oN9vQuNpnJxZcHuW_IrpLqmovnEwpuUSUDYXlB_xbOU47a8Zhim9VG152q6s7nmPpo7Lsd3vsZdFA9ngRrXJQHh57GTxJGl_iZHIWQIANK6DfsYo-dFrhOdO8XT1dAC3BC6wwiRHLRn5fCB623T2EmzdrnK/s320/IMG_7780.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We projected a few videos. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvNxxzP_rQU&list=PLPCGA7snvTiYT0oWypNftsU402EayjDXL&index=12" target="_blank"><i>Vacaciones Navideñas 2001 </i>(Christmas Vacation 2001)</a> caught the crowd's attention and elicited pointing and screeches and giggles. "Look how little I was!" There's this person or that. "That's my mom - I never imagined seeing her again - and in a video." We talked about our memories. "I feel happy but also a little sad in my throat." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivspHeHqYlkQQ3UrwYrhaYrJKuN3By3tbQNki5H58z-pEFwbnIDSWjRLpNbl-Z-Q5HAJ9j6ZOlt_buHxRovXEv864i3zvpV-2JkEPDc1RqwlU-ECDIFFh3gJsnjhfyxGsT1RB6mOeVLA-0b7iXcW4-l2iCH1b8gGaI1nXr5NSGmsZzC9Uv9gpXbaZK/s2099/IMG_7773.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="2099" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivspHeHqYlkQQ3UrwYrhaYrJKuN3By3tbQNki5H58z-pEFwbnIDSWjRLpNbl-Z-Q5HAJ9j6ZOlt_buHxRovXEv864i3zvpV-2JkEPDc1RqwlU-ECDIFFh3gJsnjhfyxGsT1RB6mOeVLA-0b7iXcW4-l2iCH1b8gGaI1nXr5NSGmsZzC9Uv9gpXbaZK/s320/IMG_7773.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">People recalled the early years when visiting delegation members stayed in homes. Some very funny stories were shared about those Los Héroes sleepover visits. Lucy fondly remembered Pastor Greg and his daughter. Her husband passed away not that long ago. He appeared in the 2001 video narrating for a boy rubbing cobs of dried corn. Community members confessed they were very nervous about hosting guests in their homes, recalling that in the early years, their homes were humble, without floors, electricity or water, and they worried about food. Even now, they said, they would still feel a little nervous. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>The three hermanos (literally brothers - the male members of the delegation) stayed with our family: Jim, Pastor David and Beto. Jim went running in the morning with our son, Carlos. My children slept under the table so that the hermanos could have our beds. (Mirian, remembering a visit in August, 2000)</blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It is 2023. Evenings are now peaceful...enough. Families are now confident...enough. Delegations could stay in the community at night. Families could host guests in their homes. The church could host a pajama party on a night such as this: March 23, 2023 - the evening of the community's 27th anniversary. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yessenia stayed open a little later than usual. It was fun to learn about her business. She gets up at 3 AM to go to the fruit market in San Salvador, but the papaya is grown locally.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Children became sleepy, as did many grown-ups. Some families went home to their own beds, because they had to get up at 3 or 4 AM to get to work and to school. About 15 children and adults stayed at the church. The fourth graders needed to complete an El Salvador relief map project which required a great deal of help from the parents, aunties, friends and older helpers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />The church doors and windows remained open all night. A couple of the children fell asleep on mattresses brought from home, covered with fleece blankets. A couple of the kids were intent on building a fort with their blanket (after their moms said they could not use their mattress as a toboggan). Lucy stayed up all night, keeping the anniversary vigil. At one point we thought we heard the <i><a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2014/10/the-squeaky-cart.html" target="_blank">carreta chillona</a></i>, but we know it really was big, black birds that squawk by the river at night. A couple of adults slept for an hour, myself included. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8dt3yYKPZohfeJOPJGrNvhXEdtGERdVS8uU5VI6DZsukpZjOlGIBzMPNc0z1okWroz4LQNr0Q3KUmAYig0JzKONOeyFOHxklxqRnnTKyR3ldRThgBBze9xzDh-4AWyC-ars_l4-O7JQOj2wzR5wiPue9hwiTaz699Wq-5uCDJ2Pn9d6G3rbkeq3a/s3110/IMG_7791.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2154" data-original-width="3110" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8dt3yYKPZohfeJOPJGrNvhXEdtGERdVS8uU5VI6DZsukpZjOlGIBzMPNc0z1okWroz4LQNr0Q3KUmAYig0JzKONOeyFOHxklxqRnnTKyR3ldRThgBBze9xzDh-4AWyC-ars_l4-O7JQOj2wzR5wiPue9hwiTaz699Wq-5uCDJ2Pn9d6G3rbkeq3a/s320/IMG_7791.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Three o'clock brought rooster crows and the sounds of people heading off to work. At 3:30 AM, we heard the first <i>cohetes </i>(rocket made with a long bamboo stick) shoot into the sky from near the soccer field. At 4:00 AM, Pastor Santiago drove up the road to pick up the <i>chuco</i>. Teresita makes this traditional Salvadoran beverage every year in the traditional way, with black corn cooked for hours and left to ferment over night and cooked again with little red beans. Big buckets of chuco were set on the table by the church door, accompanied by fresh ground <i>alguashte </i>(green pumpkin seeds - pepitas) and chile. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At 4:30 AM, Julia was ready with her <i>palo encendido</i> (a tree branch burning on one end) to light the church cohetes. Marcelino is an expert at shooting off these rockets, and one by one, they flew into the sky. Then we gathered in front of the church to sing <i>Las Mañanitas</i> (the traditional Salvadoran birthday song) to the community and give inspirational words.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC4SocOfAqCzu_Cu1DNFfDyHZl0d0M8GROmUOlFLl9PUOIkNOtDH4JZws2BxEgHTVgz9v2vAZdEFnoPqaYrevGNy7sVewZ7IZcHI5Ex_-g2rjj6Gfuiyqc53QqRoEfvD09CzZBhUAda5fv_aRaamGX-I-rCNgM7XGJ7u5VkDXOb1iVtvEVl7RvLlq/s4032/IMG_7804.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC4SocOfAqCzu_Cu1DNFfDyHZl0d0M8GROmUOlFLl9PUOIkNOtDH4JZws2BxEgHTVgz9v2vAZdEFnoPqaYrevGNy7sVewZ7IZcHI5Ex_-g2rjj6Gfuiyqc53QqRoEfvD09CzZBhUAda5fv_aRaamGX-I-rCNgM7XGJ7u5VkDXOb1iVtvEVl7RvLlq/s320/IMG_7804.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gfOvz7UoQWCkF75z4WCyOBgZ0zJg8yz8wR7yqeEWcsWpKJhifSpkRKJWx2ZouhBaNT33Gk6S58nFmwsCcKqt18SjMcrqvqYUUtvSFiKAZoeR2ZQ8H03RCmPU_pmMU1c6mkbd86mneSwaKLeXBY_M2Prkk6guOTBpp2t2ofGsdfoeXPXOTCKNF3Zx/s4032/IMG_7806.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gfOvz7UoQWCkF75z4WCyOBgZ0zJg8yz8wR7yqeEWcsWpKJhifSpkRKJWx2ZouhBaNT33Gk6S58nFmwsCcKqt18SjMcrqvqYUUtvSFiKAZoeR2ZQ8H03RCmPU_pmMU1c6mkbd86mneSwaKLeXBY_M2Prkk6guOTBpp2t2ofGsdfoeXPXOTCKNF3Zx/s320/IMG_7806.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Little by little, the sun brought pink to the sky. We dipped our <i>pan francés</i> (little soft white breads) into the warm chuco, savoring the tangy goodness in the cool morning air. One by one, in the morning light, folks stopped by the church. Some were on their way to work and picked up cups of chuco to go. Others brought plastic mugs, metal pitchers or small pots to fill with chuco to take home to their families. "Happy anniversary!" we said. "Happy anniversary!" they responded.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRPrXe6w1CXnLOhiLpDXniwFA8qOf0SeTvibQEz90mmotI1lA6RlMTzdnLmX64iAD5z4aQZ7MXwu5s7yp7YCunEkAZV2TWXrsAfMDO7R4d6vxFDmapvhK01pIvtHcMNJa1xOAye5Tz4pf7agayYZFzIxRcBROJ_TFgbJE1pEyRRWPk-ZlF4TPKMzy/s4032/IMG_7823.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRPrXe6w1CXnLOhiLpDXniwFA8qOf0SeTvibQEz90mmotI1lA6RlMTzdnLmX64iAD5z4aQZ7MXwu5s7yp7YCunEkAZV2TWXrsAfMDO7R4d6vxFDmapvhK01pIvtHcMNJa1xOAye5Tz4pf7agayYZFzIxRcBROJ_TFgbJE1pEyRRWPk-ZlF4TPKMzy/s320/IMG_7823.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhqBeHCOeP_FAcSoppo8PSHUmrnQFf-eKWpDwhqS8t2gQPExWmOfZVXk_8ug8yy4XKmIjwSzA0nMioBKe7WrcxZZRVeFrt-Ch06-r_TPCWCmHBbH3J6atLzhEQxIgDGMuGLMv6OgmRggnjxXHXg8ksVuL4jmfgVggoFW1nqW12qGq54FgRx51JTb4/s4032/IMG_7827.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhqBeHCOeP_FAcSoppo8PSHUmrnQFf-eKWpDwhqS8t2gQPExWmOfZVXk_8ug8yy4XKmIjwSzA0nMioBKe7WrcxZZRVeFrt-Ch06-r_TPCWCmHBbH3J6atLzhEQxIgDGMuGLMv6OgmRggnjxXHXg8ksVuL4jmfgVggoFW1nqW12qGq54FgRx51JTb4/s320/IMG_7827.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yGxzKvDaSm_IhBLHPDkTj3hcqMF9uNgD3sEs8eYGM35lwMvnXHsbfq9R3MlW3VtJmnzapz-pwPRCiUaVmYwg0yvirOjL-A7Is8rCoMkXDcrTewFMe0HUvYdnmOTw2wzWu-rIfK3tMpNi3u__jnr80OOUTKx6JkaQWIlpfm2DVzuwVMjBkDVeI_bL/s4032/IMG_7843.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yGxzKvDaSm_IhBLHPDkTj3hcqMF9uNgD3sEs8eYGM35lwMvnXHsbfq9R3MlW3VtJmnzapz-pwPRCiUaVmYwg0yvirOjL-A7Is8rCoMkXDcrTewFMe0HUvYdnmOTw2wzWu-rIfK3tMpNi3u__jnr80OOUTKx6JkaQWIlpfm2DVzuwVMjBkDVeI_bL/s320/IMG_7843.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The moms and the aunties and the friends went to sleep on the mattresses on the floor beside their children. Someone took a bucket of chuco to the school. A few of us walked down the hill to watch the school children run a little obstacle course and play other games. It was Recreation Day! They would have chuco in addition to a special treat: rice made with milk.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDCwGAdYE7tYf3Pfu2T0pxiaQhK8kGafqmWJmBQHNLWhJMAyZqijbl53zmT6vX5HXwfH9lv6f0CEVtT3KbQDUTXYEP6t2zFJXZ-I7YSx-tTDeN38GIM8dZWKHR6csZhslCu_Nvh7ArCewR3gK5eseDVjn2zw5jlX_STlD3ska0lZPTrtjNT_-IJ5k/s4032/IMG_7857.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDCwGAdYE7tYf3Pfu2T0pxiaQhK8kGafqmWJmBQHNLWhJMAyZqijbl53zmT6vX5HXwfH9lv6f0CEVtT3KbQDUTXYEP6t2zFJXZ-I7YSx-tTDeN38GIM8dZWKHR6csZhslCu_Nvh7ArCewR3gK5eseDVjn2zw5jlX_STlD3ska0lZPTrtjNT_-IJ5k/s320/IMG_7857.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div>It's hard to express the feeling of joy we shared as a church family by spending a night in the church, doors and windows opened and welcoming, laughing and sleeping, without fear or worry. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy anniversary, Los Héroes!<blockquote>"We have suffered much, but together we remember the joy." (Pastor Santiago, March 23, 2023)</blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdVCZ-VdnXG1Pc7yg1MPO7wn0an-9PtPPjqTyeFxjweflPdnTmh-xdIpQBv7fjJMe0IfMawQ9wdLDorcH42tuRXXTkNV7SEFnVEhz1KNFk0MzKqQQAWpkInP1hVsGysaJuU39gVOKNKj1S3JBlC4J-sA6vq1POF22JgAqgmdYQ_hrke8ZuoUzAGf7/s4608/IMG_20230324_074324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="4608" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdVCZ-VdnXG1Pc7yg1MPO7wn0an-9PtPPjqTyeFxjweflPdnTmh-xdIpQBv7fjJMe0IfMawQ9wdLDorcH42tuRXXTkNV7SEFnVEhz1KNFk0MzKqQQAWpkInP1hVsGysaJuU39gVOKNKj1S3JBlC4J-sA6vq1POF22JgAqgmdYQ_hrke8ZuoUzAGf7/s320/IMG_20230324_074324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-24773081392868181442023-03-10T21:51:00.004-06:002023-03-11T08:37:56.669-06:00The Plant that Came from Nowhere and Grows Everywhere<div style="text-align: left;">I am a plant person - a plant person without a garden or a yard or a farm. We have porches. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZFMDEySXaX_bFotS_Lss-bMe-ypn2HvUSGIK5BeF9oNSfCzgCprcUn_SWfXmV4Oi-kQ7uerKhJxDXXfO62T0raWHcH1uKa2GQ36Nqe_8e84C0vPmUkBvgM5O0eZiP5LPWfQfuwPRG_dl8757uImOlhRykE-TX8wkYzYvVCfbaXey04FTMq2AeL1v/s4032/IMG_6990.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZFMDEySXaX_bFotS_Lss-bMe-ypn2HvUSGIK5BeF9oNSfCzgCprcUn_SWfXmV4Oi-kQ7uerKhJxDXXfO62T0raWHcH1uKa2GQ36Nqe_8e84C0vPmUkBvgM5O0eZiP5LPWfQfuwPRG_dl8757uImOlhRykE-TX8wkYzYvVCfbaXey04FTMq2AeL1v/w400-h300/IMG_6990.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Porch Pot (©Linda Muth, 2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />It's pretty amazing to see what will grow on a porch. I like to experiment with what might be considered garbage from things I get at the grocery store. Most Salvadoran produce is not hybrid, so saved seeds will germinate. Herbs are sold with the roots, so it sometimes works to cut off most of the herbs and stick the roots into a pot. I am currently experimenting with some little chunks of ginger that were no longer edible. After a couple of weeks in the soil, the roots are sprouting nice little stalks and leaves.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSusxIfXDh5YxKNz-XMuA8AxVFVBQsjRObG3SwCW1lg5gPgUC3EZj7bDnwP2csdKpkiX-nTXoJN8ndMkK5120bg3QB2_A7ANzUPkZGvZCJfQ8mjZJef0HjcL76GPP6QwlqDF5tcoeAxjdsMH9QZ-6ZmZsC8pkrtgBr0hkuKX9JYbHjVAExUjm7BvZh/s320/IMG_7025.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Ginger sprouting (©Linda Muth, 2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSusxIfXDh5YxKNz-XMuA8AxVFVBQsjRObG3SwCW1lg5gPgUC3EZj7bDnwP2csdKpkiX-nTXoJN8ndMkK5120bg3QB2_A7ANzUPkZGvZCJfQ8mjZJef0HjcL76GPP6QwlqDF5tcoeAxjdsMH9QZ-6ZmZsC8pkrtgBr0hkuKX9JYbHjVAExUjm7BvZh/s4032/IMG_7025.HEIC"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Frequent travel makes porch gardening extra challenging. One option is to grow for a while and then give plants away. One time, I left a bucket of basil, rosemary and other herbs with Pastor Santiago's mom, and it produced abundantly until Santiago cut off too much. (He told me he was grateful for the learning experience.) Once I tried to rig up a porch pot water condensation and wicking irrigation system. That was less than successful. At this point, I basically let my plants fend for themselves (especially during the rainy season), which seems to give them about a 50/50 chance of survival. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsugNhUPHUEdn5J2oQcZ-rg-S3RtFdI1nkEc34pkPZEi_dJdKYNkwW-PPGabPnUd-6CRBTnW3YzTCDGC2uNp02vtl7UBbhMaZzc8gJ28UFq0OHmk9O0iK3hQ083Dq72NG4W0LJpJNQaaaVM9EwvKhuOmaBhjba7w3kILO9nlyTFRpBKKytzAKpgA2/s2048/IMG_6799.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsugNhUPHUEdn5J2oQcZ-rg-S3RtFdI1nkEc34pkPZEi_dJdKYNkwW-PPGabPnUd-6CRBTnW3YzTCDGC2uNp02vtl7UBbhMaZzc8gJ28UFq0OHmk9O0iK3hQ083Dq72NG4W0LJpJNQaaaVM9EwvKhuOmaBhjba7w3kILO9nlyTFRpBKKytzAKpgA2/w294-h400/IMG_6799.JPG" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Herb bucket in a repurposed dishpan (photo credit: Santiago)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is one plant, however, that really is a survivor. At some point, either hidden in the compost or blown in by the wind, a succulent appeared in one of my pots. It seemed like an OK plant, so I let it grow. I left for a while. When I came back, the succulent had friends. As an apparently self-propagating survivor, it seemed pretty perfect for the rugged environment of my porch. We started calling it "The Grow Everywhere Plant."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYM_hFUUKkZ0ElviijYq5ZvUZyGu1u7XUu_bQR5Cliu-hh1QolKraIOQgDfrombBAUvRS5OVzf5JS0pfOamn7Hx8U3yeB4qn-KvUOJmUKJr1P9ur-WZ0AY29hwBmBPPjRE_PCJnoG0VjPk-nVI1ketNZ01RGU0w47Fv3dCGvvo-Z4xJkjcR9nsimX/s2837/IMG_6994.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2837" data-original-width="2119" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYM_hFUUKkZ0ElviijYq5ZvUZyGu1u7XUu_bQR5Cliu-hh1QolKraIOQgDfrombBAUvRS5OVzf5JS0pfOamn7Hx8U3yeB4qn-KvUOJmUKJr1P9ur-WZ0AY29hwBmBPPjRE_PCJnoG0VjPk-nVI1ketNZ01RGU0w47Fv3dCGvvo-Z4xJkjcR9nsimX/w299-h400/IMG_6994.HEIC" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>©Linda Muth, 2023</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Eventually we realized that the Grow Everywhere Plant makes babies on its leaves. The babies fall off, fly off, roll around, get stuck on things, and grow. EVERYWHERE. They grow in the pot saucers. They grow in the ceramic tile grout. They grow in the little tubes that take water off of the porch so we don't have a flood. (We found that out when we had a flood.) They grow ON the metal porch railing until the wind blows them off. This is a very annoying feature of the Grow Everywhere Plant. Now I am very proactive, and I pull the babies off of the leaves before they can escape beyond the pots.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO80L0CwtOkMHpShZcKIiLYTq6JoVrPwvYEQbw5nHO-0kA523Og8Hq6QzN7Ql-MRB9MCZUTUxeZx8f3VRKD6aF_Rx-seju8xBGXPcCkSjlGrAs9AEs-PBNw3t9QzhGBayloAi14MZt9DUXkOaH-PsTfXYZVf0XnETFfCYtdxHk4EVBQGrl1FoVABA/s3576/IMG_6991.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3576" data-original-width="2844" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO80L0CwtOkMHpShZcKIiLYTq6JoVrPwvYEQbw5nHO-0kA523Og8Hq6QzN7Ql-MRB9MCZUTUxeZx8f3VRKD6aF_Rx-seju8xBGXPcCkSjlGrAs9AEs-PBNw3t9QzhGBayloAi14MZt9DUXkOaH-PsTfXYZVf0XnETFfCYtdxHk4EVBQGrl1FoVABA/w318-h400/IMG_6991.HEIC" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Look out below! Time to pull these babies off and toss them into a pot or into the trash (Sorry, babies.) ©Linda Muth, 2023</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After a dry spell two years ago, a few of the Grow Everywhere Plants put out tall shoots. I decided to let them go to see what would happen. The plants with shoots became sort of ugly and I planned to cut them down. Then, just like that, there were flowers at the top. Many of the adolescents plants have pink tinges in the leaves, but the pink flowers were still a surprise. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u1Zi6reFA1ICv_LgcKzi5JPWICxRZZhu2_A484WLWKNU8ReM1obloTVF-kzuvZWQZ3upfXKGjR5vRww2vJ3tX6NSYJawGkKkmq1EPP-ivJi3KTfeXqkbK7t1GV_GqqoISoZ7AuIbTAuf0WbFpwu1CNtJ6vqYjyRdBh4XUQ69a4Iz96Y5rD-yBlew/s2822/IMG_0562.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2822" data-original-width="2156" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u1Zi6reFA1ICv_LgcKzi5JPWICxRZZhu2_A484WLWKNU8ReM1obloTVF-kzuvZWQZ3upfXKGjR5vRww2vJ3tX6NSYJawGkKkmq1EPP-ivJi3KTfeXqkbK7t1GV_GqqoISoZ7AuIbTAuf0WbFpwu1CNtJ6vqYjyRdBh4XUQ69a4Iz96Y5rD-yBlew/w305-h400/IMG_0562.JPG" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Flowers and babies (©Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On a random day at a random street fair, someone gave me a little peanut cactus. I planted it into a porch pot. It survived and has also made flowers and babies. About a year ago, we visited the Sonoran Dessert. The succulents were amazing and beautiful and great inspiration for further development of a succulent porch garden, featuring the Grow Everywhere Plant.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfdN4P2WDZv55YCmrjGJJAAcrXF0EeWDePQzaKT9EkiisJY3rcU0dp9MdUUDInDhLTce1wdiZ2UNPs-cVRPlLG2hhQBOzg0tnRbCWSI2oaWxarOBlGpCx0li0-NX9ABFoTTpqCfLr-s8CeyDjU_jZmujSMaIWGhgxOsjxAtfyOAkpsx-gzsyJ_Fgx/s3533/IMG_6999.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3533" data-original-width="2241" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfdN4P2WDZv55YCmrjGJJAAcrXF0EeWDePQzaKT9EkiisJY3rcU0dp9MdUUDInDhLTce1wdiZ2UNPs-cVRPlLG2hhQBOzg0tnRbCWSI2oaWxarOBlGpCx0li0-NX9ABFoTTpqCfLr-s8CeyDjU_jZmujSMaIWGhgxOsjxAtfyOAkpsx-gzsyJ_Fgx/w203-h320/IMG_6999.HEIC" width="203" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Some of my clay pots are repurposed from our potable water filtration system.<br />Repurposed water bottles help keep the birds from flying into the windows. (©Linda Muth, 2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1IvbvHHNpJuvBbaK3fehjrzZKOVo6MisG4F0ZTrqywsACIT8KrOHR9BVt4e3M3RcEYvMbwkwP9SRQ1nabK8jCqe2FCnD6NjuLBtA-W3xO6vooj9u0Iw9N1aO1iVrQocCsMtka4Y_gHfkVCTTLnpv9WuiPWbsnxeNOt8JCqqA5PJsu1khMmCvzB67/s4032/IMG_6993.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1IvbvHHNpJuvBbaK3fehjrzZKOVo6MisG4F0ZTrqywsACIT8KrOHR9BVt4e3M3RcEYvMbwkwP9SRQ1nabK8jCqe2FCnD6NjuLBtA-W3xO6vooj9u0Iw9N1aO1iVrQocCsMtka4Y_gHfkVCTTLnpv9WuiPWbsnxeNOt8JCqqA5PJsu1khMmCvzB67/w300-h400/IMG_6993.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>That little guy in the middle had a hard time being left alone during a very dry couple of months, but he's a survivor, too. (©Linda Muth, 2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last week, I asked my friend, Sonia, what name she uses for the Grow Everywhere Plants. (I pointed to a batch of them which are growing outside of the church in Los Héroes.) She said, "Well, I don't know its real name, but the name I use is 'Mala Madre' because it just tosses its babies everywhere, and that is a bad mother." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBIRJVAFaWELDur1y27LI1CEDx9NCHJPrl4DoAjPhbs4kHtfo85hiKr4GoNcTRlqyVnUUApuLtITR_8B9bUzGZIG6dLivhJUtoz2LrC8kqAi4-APQNbvVP5h1I2fsbmPQX0fiUT_Lz_m8-a6Nhym-dd9WRyYJoQUKD_DmRJamsQ2xiwjNorad3Kjc/s4032/IMG_6992.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBIRJVAFaWELDur1y27LI1CEDx9NCHJPrl4DoAjPhbs4kHtfo85hiKr4GoNcTRlqyVnUUApuLtITR_8B9bUzGZIG6dLivhJUtoz2LrC8kqAi4-APQNbvVP5h1I2fsbmPQX0fiUT_Lz_m8-a6Nhym-dd9WRyYJoQUKD_DmRJamsQ2xiwjNorad3Kjc/s320/IMG_6992.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Mala Madre making babies (©Linda Muth, 2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I searched for "Mala Madre El Salvador" online and learned that indeed, Sonia's name is the common name for the Grow Everywhere Plant, and Mala Madre is prolific throughout Central America. In the US, people usually call it "Mother of Thousands" or "Mother of Millions." This succulent is one of more than 120 species of Kalanchoe, which originated in Madagascar and parts of southern Africa. Kalanchoe are now present all over the tropical world. Based on my little bit of research, I believe the species I have on my porch is Kalanchoe Laetivirens. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1PPYFYQ41L23qyjVRmIgmECUdHbF3QdVV6s5P8p6zqagKVN1FbVa7cEYDgx6q_cEvpJTnV-vQIyhJ6vQ09hoqs8pBZO5AvAi-VOmcsVktboveoyVPR4tbktd7yrSdQ5umE0ZmmP_JFi1YLOXp6rLntHurA_i7MtGMKTYOFEWrDsId7lq-OwHcg0b/s1626/IMG_1085.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1626" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1PPYFYQ41L23qyjVRmIgmECUdHbF3QdVV6s5P8p6zqagKVN1FbVa7cEYDgx6q_cEvpJTnV-vQIyhJ6vQ09hoqs8pBZO5AvAi-VOmcsVktboveoyVPR4tbktd7yrSdQ5umE0ZmmP_JFi1YLOXp6rLntHurA_i7MtGMKTYOFEWrDsId7lq-OwHcg0b/w400-h294/IMG_1085.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>This Buena Madre made her nest amidst the Mala Madre (©Linda Muth, 2022)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some species of Kalanchoe plants are useful as medicinals, but most seem to be considered toxic to humans and animals. The common Mala Madre that grows in El Salvador can be used as a wound healing agent in the same way that aloe is used. I actually found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE4zb98UmWQ" target="_blank">a video of Mala Madre being grown commercially</a> by a small producer in Loma de Ramos, Guazapa as a preventative for cancer and other chronic diseases. Before using any medicinal plant, it is very important to consult with a plant expert to correctly identify the exact species and to follow the advice of a medical doctor regarding its use.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NE4zb98UmWQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="NE4zb98UmWQ"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm pretty sure I will not chop up a Mala Madre leaf to put into my next salad, but I will continue to have fun watching my succulent garden grow. Last week I yanked out some of the hardened, dry stalks, and repotted some of the adolescent plants. The root systems on Mala Madre are really sturdy. I accidentally broke off a cluster of leaves, so I stuck it into the soil. It has already rooted. I also grafted a little chunk of peanut cactus onto a still viable Mala Madre stalk - another fun little experiment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMqhVrzKVVP8zpIcVkMhQN-eY278oV6QcmHfI_XAgcjO2ICm2cyYiW5tnmJsrwNkjmzsA5e2cxNoXA_l_hGlB8yQsZqTQVJZrmaozExCdCrVcNRa86IW0KWYFm39sIgLKZvAKklA6Z_USPPuHdUmUHAj0fs5TU1ScW3TpJicQR6pnclnIEFxni_yL/s3024/IMG_6889.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMqhVrzKVVP8zpIcVkMhQN-eY278oV6QcmHfI_XAgcjO2ICm2cyYiW5tnmJsrwNkjmzsA5e2cxNoXA_l_hGlB8yQsZqTQVJZrmaozExCdCrVcNRa86IW0KWYFm39sIgLKZvAKklA6Z_USPPuHdUmUHAj0fs5TU1ScW3TpJicQR6pnclnIEFxni_yL/w343-h400/IMG_6889.HEIC" width="343" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Young moms and their kids, well-rooted. (©Linda Muth, 2023)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikse4R5ZA121gqd5JmR9hCCA_Pun2uO1lMSmNU0el2EmQh7CxaxqzUnAr39wJZ0TSHM4ieIiHl4ESgj-7EqPD0y3EBIzYfnvl-IrMwbIzsTLtF1UNiVZRJGUhBGtu6JUjwFc60by523WMCMxKmcnGnepGbwaV_8kySJ9XbNdUoITxQleuQk7xUtW0O/s3196/IMG_7001.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3196" data-original-width="2554" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikse4R5ZA121gqd5JmR9hCCA_Pun2uO1lMSmNU0el2EmQh7CxaxqzUnAr39wJZ0TSHM4ieIiHl4ESgj-7EqPD0y3EBIzYfnvl-IrMwbIzsTLtF1UNiVZRJGUhBGtu6JUjwFc60by523WMCMxKmcnGnepGbwaV_8kySJ9XbNdUoITxQleuQk7xUtW0O/w320-h400/IMG_7001.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Really sophisticated graft using blue painter's tape and a twist-tie.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />You know, in Milwaukee, I also have a Grows Everywhere plant. It is also a succulent. It is edible - rich in Vitamin C. and native to Wisconsin forests. I will let you do the detective work and put your guess into the comments. Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-44263967169641231322023-03-01T10:47:00.003-06:002023-03-01T12:09:54.756-06:00We Got ThisSunday was gym day. We did not go to the gym. The gym came to Los Héroes. And it was beautiful.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXqpammtoM8MJ7unICzdmx-pSA8M8EHPfiE5GTJkp00OXzUN5O6jDfreArk0Q6843NuKMmROn5cY0g1FakfOLseBOjPFBaqx8RivbpqzMx6hE9TSiLRHLgmIZnlSZoSpP-rKHWNHgt_dHqBM_K-qvloXqgiaHJreN30_d2oNoJcARn1S9esU9IP3M/s3168/IMG_6786.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXqpammtoM8MJ7unICzdmx-pSA8M8EHPfiE5GTJkp00OXzUN5O6jDfreArk0Q6843NuKMmROn5cY0g1FakfOLseBOjPFBaqx8RivbpqzMx6hE9TSiLRHLgmIZnlSZoSpP-rKHWNHgt_dHqBM_K-qvloXqgiaHJreN30_d2oNoJcARn1S9esU9IP3M/w381-h400/IMG_6786.HEIC" width="381" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><b>A Back Story</b></div><div>We have a little group at the church called the Comisión de Salud - the Health Commission. We meet on the first Sunday of the month (with the other 3 church ministry commissions). At our first meeting in January, we decided to sponsor one health education workshop or event each month on a Sunday after worship. We discussed using the <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/04/from-pandemic-emerges-new-era-mission.html" target="_blank">Mission of Healing curriculum</a> which was developed last year. Commission members suggested we meet an extra time each month for internal training with the curriculum, particularly to expand the reproductive education team which will assist with <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2021/02/we-have-to-help-girls.html" target="_blank">Days for Girls</a> kit distribution events. We identified potential partnership connections with the Unidad de Salud (local clinic) and organizations which support holistic well-being.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>A Partnership Connection</b></div><div>Just over a year ago, a<a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/02/celebration-at-gym-story-of-dreams-and.html" target="_blank"> community gym</a> opened up in a neighborhood not too far from Los Héroes. Sometimes we just have to marvel at the way connections happen (and I could write a whole other story about this one), but the key point is that the ethic and work of the <a href="https://www.pesasypoder.org/" target="_blank">Pesas y Poder</a> movement align well with the values and goals of the Los Héroes health team. The gym coordinator (Aracely) and her mentor (Noelle) were looking for ways to develop teaching charlas and expand their work beyond the gym walls. With years of experience as participants and leaders in Missions of Healing, the folks in Los Héroes could provide an incubator in which the gym team could develop workshops and get valuable feedback. Most importantly, Los Héroes is a vulnerable community which lives with layers upon layers of trauma, and the supportive, caring, empowering experiences like those provided by Pesas y Poder are desperately needed. The Los Héroes Health Commission made a plan with Noelle and Aracely to host a gym day at the end of February. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>A Plan</b></div><div>The participants in the Los Héroes Health Commission include teen girls, young adults, moms and two grandmas, including me. We created a safe space to brainstorm so everyone contributes and shares in leading. As we were planning for the gym day and talking about perhaps providing a snack, the youngest group member suggested we have water and fruit because those are healthy and if you are exercising, you really shouldn't have anything except water and fruit. She and her mom helped organize that. Members of the commission put the word out in chat groups to remind people to come. Even the pastor climbed on board the PR train, and put out this message:</div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">To get through the 40 day walk of Lent, carrying the cross, we should be strong physically, mentally and spiritually. So don't miss our Gym Worship! Come with your family, children, youth, adults, grandparents. Don't forget your sporty casual clothes. Vamos todos al banquete (a song - Let's all go to the Banquet).</div></div></blockquote><div><div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BowPgw1zWIc7n14EflIwb_WGBREcOf8P9bSudXR1yT5I9bg2qKmN-g1GxYQwe5crXJF45zSugxgIIrvdSMrYonTesNlsyNYVFP45nnyM207fSS-cgzjRFp5z2uwWsGJ04I3YCoOM4i8kFGiBYJ9z9p0KEFsrLA6tpXoLgHCnubXTZcAvLljEjbcw/s300/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-02-22%20at%208.38.10%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BowPgw1zWIc7n14EflIwb_WGBREcOf8P9bSudXR1yT5I9bg2qKmN-g1GxYQwe5crXJF45zSugxgIIrvdSMrYonTesNlsyNYVFP45nnyM207fSS-cgzjRFp5z2uwWsGJ04I3YCoOM4i8kFGiBYJ9z9p0KEFsrLA6tpXoLgHCnubXTZcAvLljEjbcw/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-02-22%20at%208.38.10%20PM.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>A Different Way to Be Church </b></div><div>Sunday! Gym Day! We were a little disappointed that the turnout for gym day was pretty low. (We found out later that a community leader had called for a meeting at the same time, and that's a whole other story.) We were also a little disappointed that the preacher really took his time with the message, which meant Aracely and Noelle had to wait. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28QQ5QSllZe6le8sMoGJVGRjbZBywMQqEhyLT-8xgG9QgSjdGSWJBMB9oA79Mgg4rTLtefSpNYjomoEMfoQLcpmFTH-FRqKOVqh6me6nGNP_RfSHxbCZhOjxB00dLx3t5chvxn0CYCgOCTS2eqBdcv0flg_RGDWBdKxw1jTCducSLgYIuii5bKFAd/s3294/IMG_6767.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="3294" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28QQ5QSllZe6le8sMoGJVGRjbZBywMQqEhyLT-8xgG9QgSjdGSWJBMB9oA79Mgg4rTLtefSpNYjomoEMfoQLcpmFTH-FRqKOVqh6me6nGNP_RfSHxbCZhOjxB00dLx3t5chvxn0CYCgOCTS2eqBdcv0flg_RGDWBdKxw1jTCducSLgYIuii5bKFAd/w400-h296/IMG_6767.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After worship, folks scooted their chairs into a big circle. Aracely introduced herself and Noelle and talked about the work at the gym. She led a little interactive conversation which helped her to know what the community's gym culture is (or isn't) and what "health" or "being healthy" means to people. Aracely was so good at affirming each person's answers. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ewd_kNdqsDmhAtHnkS26vDsmrjQmSrsJu0MHg1B6rKLc1dew5tJXZICooEg-pSr3JkR2U4_LmfcPNnEIjTXWedO1Jkzx9am-tepxSI5ybnw0Pe3XYIa7eFDyGnjlkyjEvBEcde7Y2F1IYKqgqxpXS9KFQf1hIFwFcQXTCd-2jh3kc6arlUlfZoMC/s4032/IMG_6781.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="4032" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ewd_kNdqsDmhAtHnkS26vDsmrjQmSrsJu0MHg1B6rKLc1dew5tJXZICooEg-pSr3JkR2U4_LmfcPNnEIjTXWedO1Jkzx9am-tepxSI5ybnw0Pe3XYIa7eFDyGnjlkyjEvBEcde7Y2F1IYKqgqxpXS9KFQf1hIFwFcQXTCd-2jh3kc6arlUlfZoMC/w400-h293/IMG_6781.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The goal for the day was for Aracely and folks in the community to get to know one another and for community folk to be introduced to lifting weights. Hauling bars and weights into the Sunday School room was a great way to pique curiosity. The group really paid attention to the introductory instructions, and the brave ones volunteered to lift, which encouraged others to try. One by one, almost everyone lifted. The teens and young women started with the light weights, gained confidence, and every one of them lifted the heavier weights too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMun-H4XgqeZxCBvj1ZD1fgG3pV2FtB76HRlJmXlaIFImG2PbC3WaZV8SveRj4qi8IZP2uJ5GozFBPaKlCMwLaPy1J-VffXSvpUdhr4cXULNYGJOX-26Bi0wbL45cFpJAAii72f50eDNTaLy-iNIV5RCDj5Hufmqqg2MLvBQ9mMHlQXLY6BwAm9VOY/s4032/IMG_6806.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMun-H4XgqeZxCBvj1ZD1fgG3pV2FtB76HRlJmXlaIFImG2PbC3WaZV8SveRj4qi8IZP2uJ5GozFBPaKlCMwLaPy1J-VffXSvpUdhr4cXULNYGJOX-26Bi0wbL45cFpJAAii72f50eDNTaLy-iNIV5RCDj5Hufmqqg2MLvBQ9mMHlQXLY6BwAm9VOY/w400-h300/IMG_6806.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There are a few girls who participated who have serious health problems. Some of the women have suffered great losses due to violence. A few suffered recent traumatic events. Aracely and Noelle don't know any of their stories. It didn't matter. Inclusion, Respect, Encouragement: that mattered. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtEDEkq4XBSkvpJW4i8upyVN9OAr1VH7RCE8Gh96kVSoGwCwkwyKgKKtAlbp1C7dnVFEGcxZzyxnFxOVIPoEqDGqVTlH3eMhydn8dufYth5HsLW632GNCcVdkRks4iOJ9cIX_9Vkj74UMT37d30VDjTRC_3NkOIYIhHWtySjWSPvN3ZKrL151Lr90/s3061/IMG_6787.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3061" data-original-width="2964" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtEDEkq4XBSkvpJW4i8upyVN9OAr1VH7RCE8Gh96kVSoGwCwkwyKgKKtAlbp1C7dnVFEGcxZzyxnFxOVIPoEqDGqVTlH3eMhydn8dufYth5HsLW632GNCcVdkRks4iOJ9cIX_9Vkj74UMT37d30VDjTRC_3NkOIYIhHWtySjWSPvN3ZKrL151Lr90/w388-h400/IMG_6787.HEIC" width="388" /></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Children were included in the same way as the adults. Aracely is experienced in adaptive teaching and guiding so that even the little lifters knew they were brave, strong and proud of themselves. Their mamas were pretty proud too.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2jzZS3gKIPh3EPDJnMNUotJDvXEYVSS4S503jT-uGLKQhkayEzuuTYzbdouhYa5i6qFeEa88to5bR3gy0Ep2DXYBoxmSdK-iLBRqbILSWOzYa8h-bn1RymkZWNjJkzOHOAlUsonb03VqwDzf2vNpmj_38SJHDsdvZPslT3PNNmSd01pNI-WWmSwA/s3224/IMG_6822.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2247" data-original-width="3224" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2jzZS3gKIPh3EPDJnMNUotJDvXEYVSS4S503jT-uGLKQhkayEzuuTYzbdouhYa5i6qFeEa88to5bR3gy0Ep2DXYBoxmSdK-iLBRqbILSWOzYa8h-bn1RymkZWNjJkzOHOAlUsonb03VqwDzf2vNpmj_38SJHDsdvZPslT3PNNmSd01pNI-WWmSwA/w400-h279/IMG_6822.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6Yta100rKGywRHTAfMvVbquyDc60BdR1d4M6WmrrTvKvzNEQ4jtSqIoJlhdlKlGos0yJvAMDpXe_pc5am5aZ56QQNz4VREnIcEHW_UDcvTOAV2Jr4NdeEMLLCCsbLFwVJTLkFXUbONOuEBuiW1aGBieQo2eqHK48GIgHtG96jhPS5-40uiMvunxq/s4032/IMG_6818.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6Yta100rKGywRHTAfMvVbquyDc60BdR1d4M6WmrrTvKvzNEQ4jtSqIoJlhdlKlGos0yJvAMDpXe_pc5am5aZ56QQNz4VREnIcEHW_UDcvTOAV2Jr4NdeEMLLCCsbLFwVJTLkFXUbONOuEBuiW1aGBieQo2eqHK48GIgHtG96jhPS5-40uiMvunxq/w400-h300/IMG_6818.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6n65XeU6zXrI2DVABlMC_Sw25ZvCD-pIGdZ79drlKPDFnTu_AJ9KbUykR4ByEoRDEKZK17nCGwgtKLJFo3TwHy3sg8AShK4Il3CMWxXDDunzyVKenMxBgkWt_u4bLYVFeLpSIP-oAm7c2mjT5d2Bmc_15nrcy0ZW-sIax62jY31UfYVR57HiI6IH/s2302/IMG_6816.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="2302" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6n65XeU6zXrI2DVABlMC_Sw25ZvCD-pIGdZ79drlKPDFnTu_AJ9KbUykR4ByEoRDEKZK17nCGwgtKLJFo3TwHy3sg8AShK4Il3CMWxXDDunzyVKenMxBgkWt_u4bLYVFeLpSIP-oAm7c2mjT5d2Bmc_15nrcy0ZW-sIax62jY31UfYVR57HiI6IH/w400-h326/IMG_6816.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQYDMDwcrTjsa23pZ__MXFWoeUYFOuQlG-goQimAImsUc_rIdYCI3IFSFwNlPpRul8qqJ3UO4yS1bNDK_Ut7XqMQsCdouyRs6QXtQlcOnQR88EiXjM0Kf9viQ-FTKHASLlXYTbOr2pQxDGyfrbfzZwmcIScDUIYNJJwg8KJQ1eI9QR5QrWDEPAuh8/s4032/IMG_6831.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQYDMDwcrTjsa23pZ__MXFWoeUYFOuQlG-goQimAImsUc_rIdYCI3IFSFwNlPpRul8qqJ3UO4yS1bNDK_Ut7XqMQsCdouyRs6QXtQlcOnQR88EiXjM0Kf9viQ-FTKHASLlXYTbOr2pQxDGyfrbfzZwmcIScDUIYNJJwg8KJQ1eI9QR5QrWDEPAuh8/w400-h300/IMG_6831.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i>This is Rosita. She is quiet, shy and has not always been physically strong.<br />This was a big achievement for her.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div>After the lifting had gone on for a while, Julia went to the bar. Julia gave permission to tell a little bit of her story and to share photos of her. Julia is an historic pillar in the church and community. Julia has a number of serious chronic health issues which worsened several years ago when her son was murdered. She can't really walk on her own because she has episodes (like fainting) where she just falls down. Earlier Sunday morning, Julia stepped out of church for a moment. She had an episode, and because Aracely and Noelle were outside waiting during that long sermon, they were there to catch Julia. They spent quite a while together.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwq5dRypilI0TkkWCxnugGGyqhqDLpQYJP5siDxmJNTQRQJNHNYpkBNW0VD0c25y4XDfV2-aeJHHvbqhAVzdhQC1HFF7e9yJyGPDi6Z0hflLJIwPYTHM1RqTd-Fzw4BxnsJqxFsyfxr59zgJgU88c1mDO_X_BjIW78rGQqyOJuOxwUHkwGgTxSb-dM/s3043/IMG_6840.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3043" data-original-width="2929" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwq5dRypilI0TkkWCxnugGGyqhqDLpQYJP5siDxmJNTQRQJNHNYpkBNW0VD0c25y4XDfV2-aeJHHvbqhAVzdhQC1HFF7e9yJyGPDi6Z0hflLJIwPYTHM1RqTd-Fzw4BxnsJqxFsyfxr59zgJgU88c1mDO_X_BjIW78rGQqyOJuOxwUHkwGgTxSb-dM/w385-h400/IMG_6840.HEIC" width="385" /></a></div><br /><div>When Julia came to the bar to lift - a surprising and brave act - Aracely was ready. At first, Julia's grandson stood behind her out of concern. Julia lifted. She was OK. Julia wanted to try again. Her grandson was worried, but Aracely encouraged him step aside, saying, "I cradled her once already today, so we've got this." </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p_1VDcEytqL2tGr95d4fM8YLvhqWrBw8ybhtzny27xccw_ozSHrUzjvJAu-Sn8qnNFFKZIF_BeMkY28msjHMWRhFU5OyNo7816GsmriRrVCbCBJcKwovfM_wnSlk3RC50qZwVnSM-DgHJEuPez1x3NzlF53YmJ6shBt7ji62dzCdeulyqzarmcXt/s4032/IMG_6844.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p_1VDcEytqL2tGr95d4fM8YLvhqWrBw8ybhtzny27xccw_ozSHrUzjvJAu-Sn8qnNFFKZIF_BeMkY28msjHMWRhFU5OyNo7816GsmriRrVCbCBJcKwovfM_wnSlk3RC50qZwVnSM-DgHJEuPez1x3NzlF53YmJ6shBt7ji62dzCdeulyqzarmcXt/w300-h400/IMG_6844.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On her own, face determined, Julia lifted the weights. She lowered them to the floor and gave a victory shout, "¡¡Yo gané!! (I won!)" The entire room froze, turned their heads, and burst out with exuberant applause for Julia. She was so proud, and every person there was so proud of her. I watched Aracely gracefully place Julias shoes so Julia could slip them back on, and then Aracely guided Julia to a chair. </div><div><br /></div><div>We got this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiYprqjaJNCVE8kyBCe97f3L7AQHb9Do6ol5xc5diqbaPrANB7krSR-xHNaXp0NDKXL09oKJAuisdAy-d6xePkLb9v7MCi3OLz7uAS1w_UXKnAn_y8sMXZNJEEr7WGW0kGNC2UGMUj7RrWX-X4oSjSWGB1F9lS3SqlGlpgR5n7c917KJ2nneCXAcL/s3024/IMG_6849.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2942" data-original-width="3024" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiYprqjaJNCVE8kyBCe97f3L7AQHb9Do6ol5xc5diqbaPrANB7krSR-xHNaXp0NDKXL09oKJAuisdAy-d6xePkLb9v7MCi3OLz7uAS1w_UXKnAn_y8sMXZNJEEr7WGW0kGNC2UGMUj7RrWX-X4oSjSWGB1F9lS3SqlGlpgR5n7c917KJ2nneCXAcL/w400-h389/IMG_6849.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Whether inspired by Julia or Rosita or the vibe of the room, a very shy little Byron finally made his lift. I caught a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye, and was lucky to catch a photo of him lifting and catching Julia and Rosita seated nearby, giving him some positive energy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnkfdWAdTMLXOug_reh1EtaR-z2Ubxer4oXUeM8vvGouv47Z6ze5vHGgFaZp9v2B2T3TtI-c7oVKjszTPFUaMvQI3OHjOaqOcXOlxoG7SFjY1Bwr71dRV6q3jTY6BSCatBWl9PS20-VAtfXv9-DDhvVUVc2sGKlNEHarZzhcSizacbn9JTLt3_9FY/s2235/IMG_6853.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="2235" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnkfdWAdTMLXOug_reh1EtaR-z2Ubxer4oXUeM8vvGouv47Z6ze5vHGgFaZp9v2B2T3TtI-c7oVKjszTPFUaMvQI3OHjOaqOcXOlxoG7SFjY1Bwr71dRV6q3jTY6BSCatBWl9PS20-VAtfXv9-DDhvVUVc2sGKlNEHarZzhcSizacbn9JTLt3_9FY/w400-h280/IMG_6853.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>What is the impact of one Sunday gym day? for individuals? for the community? What could the impacts of an ongoing partnership with the gym be?</div><div><br /></div><div>In Los Héroes, we talk about the Mission of Healing all the time. Healing is a mission of the church. On Sunday, Gym Day, the people who needed to be there, were there. The moments of waiting served a purpose. There was healing, visible in faces, heard in little shouts of victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>The development of sustainable local partnerships like this emerging relationship between Los Héroes and Pesas y Poder is powerful and beautiful. And fun. This is a Mission of Healing: lifting spirits and lifting weights. It's hard work, but together, we got this.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Just a little note about the phrase, we got this. In our Milwaukee congregation, we use the phrases "God's got this" and "We got this" all the time as we engage in the hard work of ministry in a vulnerable community. So, while grammatically not exactly correct, culturally, this phrase is packed with meaning. </i></div></div></div></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-23411147992579855862023-02-17T23:20:00.001-06:002023-02-18T07:16:35.982-06:00Little Bits of MiraclesA long time ago, a Sunday School student gave me a little notebook for Christmas. I brought it to El Salvador in the early years and jotted down some notes and stories. Most of the writings in this notebook have neither dates nor years, which has made organizing my journals and photographs from that era an archeological experience. A few days ago, I came across this little story, which I did not even know I had written down:<br /><blockquote>We visited Pastor Matías' church, Milagro de Dios - Miracle of God. They lost everything in a recent robbery, but greeted us warmly with snacks and singing. <br /><br />Vonda gave away her guitar. I love her. <br /><br />We took up a little collection ($150) which will pay for a new motor for the mill, to replace the stolen one. The Abuela of the Senior Citizen group stuck the money in her bra. She said it is the bank. She is the church treasurer.</blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">I read this and my first thought was: I do love Vonda. I<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> can still picture the moment Vonda turned to me and said, "I'm going to give him my guitar."</span></span><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTniXCT477te-CDZLeaI4EQio1dRc7WExTypBbStDLgI4YTTSxkRkUbaUzU9pdjECj53AwnQi6slNHL5eiyhYRtK4Xki913HTD9CIpocZY3JW2WxTWTGURgm4gmbnqcUsLlI5QLH4GvY3-UFN14gzzxxuv-LGtKtFiS9TI_gki4DXj9stH8P5Xe5RG/s1536/455600-R1-17.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1536" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTniXCT477te-CDZLeaI4EQio1dRc7WExTypBbStDLgI4YTTSxkRkUbaUzU9pdjECj53AwnQi6slNHL5eiyhYRtK4Xki913HTD9CIpocZY3JW2WxTWTGURgm4gmbnqcUsLlI5QLH4GvY3-UFN14gzzxxuv-LGtKtFiS9TI_gki4DXj9stH8P5Xe5RG/w400-h270/455600-R1-17.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>Mission of Healing 2004 - Visit at Milagro de Dios (© Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pastor Matías has music in his bones. It's a miracle he can sing. He lost a lung during the war. A couple of years before this story took place, doctors found spots on Pastor Matias' remaining lung. He traveled to Milwaukee to receive medical care. Vonda accompanied him to an appointment when the doctors discovered his lung was completely healed. The doctors told the pastor he had received a miracle. I remember we looked at those images of his lung over and over, just struck with awe. </span></span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Vonda and I were in El Salvador in 2004 with a Mission of Healing delegation, Pastor Matías invited us to come to his church, Miracle of God, to share a moment of gratitude together. Despite the loss of his guitar, and all the other equipment in the church just the night before, Pastor Matías and his team rolled out a radical welcome. When it was time to sing, Vonda handed over her guitar.</span></span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaJhT-S2r6ZFNPbcmB9ZNCDx4pXQJPWIKsZXiikbMAYoqCVrZOoLTX0GLal4xyo-ldP1QgIeTYmhaR1gdtZ0ak_hudMngi4mP32ewiQJ5QjdABjzM4JFOqgOnDquOb3VctJb0UfLrz0xfRzYTLRkzJA_-A8ppB0ckJx0GQtRbwjsaW-I_F4tfFdi-/s1282/Delegation%20099.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="1282" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaJhT-S2r6ZFNPbcmB9ZNCDx4pXQJPWIKsZXiikbMAYoqCVrZOoLTX0GLal4xyo-ldP1QgIeTYmhaR1gdtZ0ak_hudMngi4mP32ewiQJ5QjdABjzM4JFOqgOnDquOb3VctJb0UfLrz0xfRzYTLRkzJA_-A8ppB0ckJx0GQtRbwjsaW-I_F4tfFdi-/w400-h303/Delegation%20099.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After singing, and talking, and more singing, and snacks, we took the offering we had collected from our group and gave it to Pastor Matías. He handed it to the grandma. She stuffed the money into her bra, gave herself a little squeeze, and delivered the line "this is the bank" with deadpan seriousness. Pastor Matías was just as serious, saying "she's the treasurer." Then the treasurer just burst out laughing clutching her chest and sort of running to "protect" the money and we all just cracked up. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Like lots of other small and special memories, pieces of this story have become part of our oral tradition. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember when we visited Pastor Matías? Remember the grandma whose bra was the bank? Remember when Vonda gave away her guitar? </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">These bits of notebook memories and delegation moments that stick in our hearts are part of the miracle story that God writes when we are together in friendship, love and faith. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It has been almost 22 years since Pastor Matías received a miracle. Breathing is not always easy for him, but when he has breath, Pastor Matías sings, and he tells anyone who will listen, that he received a miracle in Milwaukee. When we are together, expect miracles.</span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs1i8zqTtNd0CZHnibX6Hpo1B3bqZCA_DlEzaaWrb34lNSwwQqqfxVxf4rXRv44bu7FSb1V9x9idieDGb3pz6oQ-HbGIXYR3F5UulgIaO57HFSpNqOk9FZtY3ZNKMvXZhlqdpC1KiP7O9tFYRcKrXLFwHD2Vs_WtVZduMLr25iNqcJCEtYG0NCoBT/s2736/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2736" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs1i8zqTtNd0CZHnibX6Hpo1B3bqZCA_DlEzaaWrb34lNSwwQqqfxVxf4rXRv44bu7FSb1V9x9idieDGb3pz6oQ-HbGIXYR3F5UulgIaO57HFSpNqOk9FZtY3ZNKMvXZhlqdpC1KiP7O9tFYRcKrXLFwHD2Vs_WtVZduMLr25iNqcJCEtYG0NCoBT/w400-h266/010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><i>Photo shared by Pastor Matías</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrKMATO1tD_CuefsPE166u3nnN8jbtVYcIDniSFlFJ2k0LK1oZXFwPJ2Txi1PbZhARJkhrKt9t4yFrCoKG8I405Yp9kVQ9J7zEnzs31yEktD4pGjDF3pUZ7rTot9Ou6ESU10gnq7IqMR978PteLfnZudJ6GBbMWotg3B8AtczUsADmuJe3l3ouS73/s3024/IMG_7352.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2436" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrKMATO1tD_CuefsPE166u3nnN8jbtVYcIDniSFlFJ2k0LK1oZXFwPJ2Txi1PbZhARJkhrKt9t4yFrCoKG8I405Yp9kVQ9J7zEnzs31yEktD4pGjDF3pUZ7rTot9Ou6ESU10gnq7IqMR978PteLfnZudJ6GBbMWotg3B8AtczUsADmuJe3l3ouS73/w323-h400/IMG_7352.JPG" width="323" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><i>Mission of Healing 2022 - Linda & Pastor Matías (©2022 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-24872523052514629912023-02-11T17:12:00.002-06:002023-02-11T17:14:43.695-06:00Little Fingerprints<div style="text-align: left;">The other day, someone asked me what I love about El Salvador. I thought for a moment, then answered with a story...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the end of January, my father-in-law and two of my brothers-in-law came to visit. For 25 years they have heard stories about El Salvador, and they were curious to see things for themselves and understand why we spend so much time here. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We planned a short trip, complete with a history day, a volcano day, a coast day and a day with our church community. My father-in-law, Papá Roberto (as we call him here), is an elder. He'll be 90 this year. For us, this produced a little bit of stress because El Salvador isn't exactly known for it's smooth sidewalks and accessible locations. And, there is always the chance of tummy trouble. We chose our destinations carefully and hired a trusted driver so my husband and I could more fully enjoy the longer excursions. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunday was our church community day. The Los Héroes hills are a little steep for doing a walking-tour, so the church leaders asked if we would like to share a pupusa breakfast with them before worship. It was lovely, complete with hot chocolate. Papá Roberto and my husband's brothers don't speak Spanish, but they did a great job asking questions and conversing with us as interpreters. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKYfIWSGlc6Kv2T7BsaECYeLhDHCcBHxH7hVOAJJ4aXbLsqzO2LZ1gxwO7M8dt7siJsm-r8lYKHyTVMhAtxjAPmDRmdZ3wNm-R8g5yRsZCfrjAKO69LpKlMT1c2nEnvoosJ3LGb4598wuuXZqQy0Ix05PaJvl4uY_wYUiCiDV5Pgnec_9EYxYPZTH/s3103/IMG_6049.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="3103" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKYfIWSGlc6Kv2T7BsaECYeLhDHCcBHxH7hVOAJJ4aXbLsqzO2LZ1gxwO7M8dt7siJsm-r8lYKHyTVMhAtxjAPmDRmdZ3wNm-R8g5yRsZCfrjAKO69LpKlMT1c2nEnvoosJ3LGb4598wuuXZqQy0Ix05PaJvl4uY_wYUiCiDV5Pgnec_9EYxYPZTH/w400-h138/IMG_6049.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After breakfast, it was time for worship. Lutheran worship in El Salvador flows very much like Catholic mass which Papá faithfully attends, and with interpretation, the guys could follow along just fine. After worship, the Sunday School children sang a couple of songs and presented the guys with a banner. The teachers explained that the tree in the center is a beautiful fruit tree, and the fruits are little because the children made them with their little fingerprints. All of the children's names are on the banner. Then the church committee gave each brother and Papá a cross. There was a feeling of great respect for Papá Roberto, who came such a long way, with great effort. The outpouring of love and welcome was just beautiful.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Before leaving the community, we spent a little time in the home of the family which hosted me on my first visit in Los Héroes 23 years ago. I sat with Julia, who wasn't feeling too well. Julia's husband, son and grandson had a good conversation with the men. I'm not sure what they talked about, but there were plenty of smiles.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Papá Roberto and the brothers safely returned home to the US. A few days later, we gathered online for our weekly family zoom call. Dad and the brothers were all on the call, along with a niece. When we asked what stood out about the visit in El Salvador, all 3 guys talked about the time in Los Héroes. The pupusas, the conversations, the banner, the crosses, the visit with Julia and Marcelino. They were touched. My brother-in-law even mentioned the little fingerprints. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's what I love about El Salvador. The warmth, the welcome, the love that touches our hearts with little fingerprints.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNSx8WcGK26SH9Kx1XASp5VlY0opkz2ikeF-20uOQNaxy8Hn8yIpJToTjMvowRGvb6lvXxKc7kuqeYH4vXdKP2o2iHPRMkAi0oZ8hrVwc-hBQSvpZAyYEVjw6UV-XZ_vmWfz7YLUSkRoyvTOEV4pP_tpvz9Jwob8CSteAkA7W9-wIX71CakQLl-rR/s845/IMG_6056.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="845" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNSx8WcGK26SH9Kx1XASp5VlY0opkz2ikeF-20uOQNaxy8Hn8yIpJToTjMvowRGvb6lvXxKc7kuqeYH4vXdKP2o2iHPRMkAi0oZ8hrVwc-hBQSvpZAyYEVjw6UV-XZ_vmWfz7YLUSkRoyvTOEV4pP_tpvz9Jwob8CSteAkA7W9-wIX71CakQLl-rR/w400-h360/IMG_6056.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-55016039267607523032023-02-04T21:33:00.001-06:002023-02-04T21:33:22.858-06:00On and Off the Beaten Path: Suchitoto<div style="text-align: left;">Today we are not winding down the hill below Suchitoto to catch a boat on the shore of <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2023/01/off-beaten-path-birding-on-lake.html" target="_blank">Lago Suchitlán</a>. Today we are not going to hear a <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2015/08/cuentos-del-abuelo-tales-from.html" target="_blank">grandfather's story</a> while bumping along on the road between Aguilares and Suchitoto. I realized today that Suchitoto appears as a character in several of my stories, but never as the main character. So today, it's time to actually go to Suchitoto.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIn6a_Ryr4Dyt7Sdfiw4mTzm4Y42bYH94ybfRfK7Mk7qnkHkRNSgSsy3SkU1r-xej9wnwccq_fl0lTSaj_tzWwurImGm8w4Q_SpvKNTSYcxvXb3ls-ZoTNDqNp7j2N6Vd063hk7f4uQPwZD3ZaKdAumRiyGhEIhcmHHvyAiypfcoKe_vrhut0SSL5/s4032/IMG_5414.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIn6a_Ryr4Dyt7Sdfiw4mTzm4Y42bYH94ybfRfK7Mk7qnkHkRNSgSsy3SkU1r-xej9wnwccq_fl0lTSaj_tzWwurImGm8w4Q_SpvKNTSYcxvXb3ls-ZoTNDqNp7j2N6Vd063hk7f4uQPwZD3ZaKdAumRiyGhEIhcmHHvyAiypfcoKe_vrhut0SSL5/w400-h300/IMG_5414.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Central Plaza in Suchitoto (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The city of Suchitoto is situated between the Guazapa volcano and the Lempa River valley, on the western edge of the Department of Custcatlán. The name "Suchitoto" originates from a Nahuat word meaning "bird-flower." Archeologists believe the town was established as a Pipil (indigenous) settlement in the mid-11th century CE. Near to the city (and within the Suchitoto municipality), Spanish colonizers established what is known as the second "Villa de San Salvador" (the capital of San Salvador) in 1528 CE. Although the town is nestled among hills about 1000 feet above sea level, it is quite warm and not often breezy. It is believed that due to this slightly unfavorable climate, the Spanish moved the capital, San Salvador, to its current location. (Pro-Tip: When in Suchitoto, carry water and wear a hat.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnn8CGMoRhXpLUDvh8U5xhKxnFdJr2cuFcBNP6kepeGVarzFakFyAIcpWxYyv7fdLi1QSVBwDiT3Tzaudi79AcEiOZwwqF9Y0Kz4R0mdQ-NhRX8fgfDUQD59gLk6ue2_6VuPtbA04iM1EIJunWcmJ_CATUKa7B4pWC_ZW98owRlImimF8-vrQ3Jef/s3748/IMG_5416.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2453" data-original-width="3748" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnn8CGMoRhXpLUDvh8U5xhKxnFdJr2cuFcBNP6kepeGVarzFakFyAIcpWxYyv7fdLi1QSVBwDiT3Tzaudi79AcEiOZwwqF9Y0Kz4R0mdQ-NhRX8fgfDUQD59gLk6ue2_6VuPtbA04iM1EIJunWcmJ_CATUKa7B4pWC_ZW98owRlImimF8-vrQ3Jef/w400-h261/IMG_5416.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Turn a corner, and find a little shop popping with color. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today, the city of Suchitoto is known as a fine example of a town with historic, colonial architectural features. Visitors can wander along the cobblestone streets near the center of town and appreciate the traditional homes with clay roof tiles, carved wood shutters and doors, and balconies. Guided tours are available, or you can wander in any direction from the newly refurbished central square. The plaza is constructed in typical colonial fashion, bordered by Santa Lucía Catholic Church, restaurants, shops, open market stalls and boutique hotels.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2NZJ8-Bo2GcUrB_KvrfPAdtlG9sS_dPHWk0UhhdeI-HHcI_F5LuRblg_4nwcXt87c0ntUQ9RBAjFnJYyASMHS1FoY0wTsqzL0r-tDCifsfzM2qXkA4yXbVL5tecuEMyvbgq_LF1zUb2oB3jE6cT62H9Vgpk0oxKqT2pn_fC32d1yLEkxuNqnmNCo/s4032/IMG_5439.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2NZJ8-Bo2GcUrB_KvrfPAdtlG9sS_dPHWk0UhhdeI-HHcI_F5LuRblg_4nwcXt87c0ntUQ9RBAjFnJYyASMHS1FoY0wTsqzL0r-tDCifsfzM2qXkA4yXbVL5tecuEMyvbgq_LF1zUb2oB3jE6cT62H9Vgpk0oxKqT2pn_fC32d1yLEkxuNqnmNCo/w400-h300/IMG_5439.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Santa Lucía Church (©2023 Linda Muth)<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddIJx8rJSLeAejy6CwbjmHJ2ylbs9TlUu_URUbcJ1gRIFu36T9lk2Wkys-bIIKoSTrRsIIX3LcfQedVwKoORReLshkt11wUOscMdBEawgAjLcHJqjJnnqYLtz1ZTxieMCcKCDW2m6IOKIqB2IpsrTTtz1jlotD2m71sUpei-k22oTZa7Nwas1ILR1/s4032/IMG_5614.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddIJx8rJSLeAejy6CwbjmHJ2ylbs9TlUu_URUbcJ1gRIFu36T9lk2Wkys-bIIKoSTrRsIIX3LcfQedVwKoORReLshkt11wUOscMdBEawgAjLcHJqjJnnqYLtz1ZTxieMCcKCDW2m6IOKIqB2IpsrTTtz1jlotD2m71sUpei-k22oTZa7Nwas1ILR1/w320-h240/IMG_5614.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>A small hotel located just off of the main square with comfortable rooms, great breakfast and lovely staff. <br />(©2023 Linda Muth)<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Suchitoto definitely has an artistic vibe, in part due to the historic legacy of local filmmaker Alejandro Cotto (1928-2015). His home full of memories, curated by Cotto himself, is open to the public as a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/museoalejandrocotto/?locale=es_LA" target="_blank">museum</a> featuring beautiful gardens, a view of Lake Suchitlán, and large rooms with antique furniture, paintings and memorabilia from classical film stars. The city has hosted an international festival of art and culture for more than 30 years - an event inaugurated by Cotto as a positive endeavor following the war.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GGoxKCrRdEIgqEVBE1ikstmNF1t_Uq0-jt6kZEVvXnuS4KRQ0sFP9gvkhuRpj5T-im5fxKW6v39sLW7_H4XViyDQGbsO-M3oVJlRwDYQHzfFtZU2mGOzX5u1r5_bYAB77qDGPHzyxaY318d0B6iGgxPckGXTAJDzDe9_U8YOZ-i4ADoERSI4OlSA/s4032/IMG_5415.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GGoxKCrRdEIgqEVBE1ikstmNF1t_Uq0-jt6kZEVvXnuS4KRQ0sFP9gvkhuRpj5T-im5fxKW6v39sLW7_H4XViyDQGbsO-M3oVJlRwDYQHzfFtZU2mGOzX5u1r5_bYAB77qDGPHzyxaY318d0B6iGgxPckGXTAJDzDe9_U8YOZ-i4ADoERSI4OlSA/w400-h300/IMG_5415.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Walk along and something beautiful might just catch your eye. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9Y2qxbOo_ct91kDECS7GxAmKIgRYQj3h1ebcE2yvrwKV0qJkJYgAKmhvhU1Jwtd32OA3IQdtfEcfwPLYoqKbsbUtdIwsk9tmFj016qoCUIpEGh3f3-ukGT7GuQBhPEM9FbqR72ZaUMXcWxCEhLkGvHVa_imuG3iaEOy5u4t3AdBoxwKk0rZdxa85/w400-h300/IMG_5418.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Off the beaten path (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnwLfNgMwXcg3fBeIu-2txnvsolYGKlkhRB58hU0FKt6YMKG4oYze9_O-PZjLHNrInTCR2ddlIt164woYF2SprM8QhwW732VLFVMBOIpCpxqoemqu6WXEmUNfo880Rjj-JsGILCDS09XOpDHJzGM4rkLPJj5oMUSLAmu_NqRAMStRNZ0l0LEtL5FG/s4032/IMG_5417.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnwLfNgMwXcg3fBeIu-2txnvsolYGKlkhRB58hU0FKt6YMKG4oYze9_O-PZjLHNrInTCR2ddlIt164woYF2SprM8QhwW732VLFVMBOIpCpxqoemqu6WXEmUNfo880Rjj-JsGILCDS09XOpDHJzGM4rkLPJj5oMUSLAmu_NqRAMStRNZ0l0LEtL5FG/w300-h400/IMG_5417.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Bars and restaurants are hopping at night, especially on weekends and holidays. With a little daylight you can appreciate their artistic features. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>During the Salvadoran Civil War (1980-1992), the people of Suchitoto suffered greatly. The region around Guazapa and Suchitoto was a stronghold for the FMLN, and many families still carry experiences of trauma which they suffered as combatants or citizen victims of the conflict. The population of the municipality decreased by two thirds during the war, as people fled. With an intentional focus on the arts as providing pathways to building peace and healing, Suchitoto has grown in population and wellness. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbBVSqQOF5V1bTUIbYZcZW3MocFq2G4pLRzFr0aliuTHI8txzikRgRvn7zqWHYytxuBp3kvFOuxOa2Ho5uDPvcn3ONSlE83Ffv9GiIHLHffI00E5o8Q_c-Pf0u8p0LdHwBm_TYNjyEoDZBQ3EC6PoaOIztgPAzBv5y7QcHEwv4J0_29OQAsBymkRo/s3024/IMG_5422.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2215" data-original-width="3024" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbBVSqQOF5V1bTUIbYZcZW3MocFq2G4pLRzFr0aliuTHI8txzikRgRvn7zqWHYytxuBp3kvFOuxOa2Ho5uDPvcn3ONSlE83Ffv9GiIHLHffI00E5o8Q_c-Pf0u8p0LdHwBm_TYNjyEoDZBQ3EC6PoaOIztgPAzBv5y7QcHEwv4J0_29OQAsBymkRo/w400-h293/IMG_5422.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Throughout Suchitoto, we noticed this stencil which was painted on the facade of many homes and businesses. It reads: In this house we want a life free from violence against women. This campaign (from 2018) is part of a coordinated effort of national and municipal women's organizations which have worked for equality and safety for women for 20 years. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeWytrj_NGS6daZhX4CmVBkDicL1OpGqdggPIZU4-oh74PYpr5KkTcw7SfJ2EEK0jejI8ElaerMMlBljNfr_0CWA1STETh_5R9BcRpDp99oMUipx2p9CoJU8yCust38DThqY2JNqvm-JWdXhXOUUYRgMMl5JIo8g0fcc4zDLfVaTK9GJiMqNtfJ-F/s960/485258_10151371977842935_2034921404_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeWytrj_NGS6daZhX4CmVBkDicL1OpGqdggPIZU4-oh74PYpr5KkTcw7SfJ2EEK0jejI8ElaerMMlBljNfr_0CWA1STETh_5R9BcRpDp99oMUipx2p9CoJU8yCust38DThqY2JNqvm-JWdXhXOUUYRgMMl5JIo8g0fcc4zDLfVaTK9GJiMqNtfJ-F/w400-h300/485258_10151371977842935_2034921404_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>During an early visit to Suchitoto, a pastor friend from the area shared some stories with our group about the war. A local restaurant/museum displays artifacts, including munitions, from the conflict. For the pastor, it was helpful to talk about his experiences. For some, this could be a difficult place to visit.<br />(©Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://capsuchitoto.org/en/about/" target="_blank">The Art Center for Peace</a> was established in 2005 on the site of a Dominican convent and school which had fallen into great disrepair. Visitors can support the work of the center through donations, staying at the hostal, and grabbing a coffee at the cafe. The museum exhibits invite visitors to dig into the deeper history and connections in the region. (Your experience at the center will depend on the themes and activities developed in a given year, on the stories your accompanying local friends or guides share with you, and on what historical archives and videos you study.)</div><div><br /></div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5S-nVI2rfmf_jZ0xzTzuuZr2RHiITMX0yamJ5UNVviROuz8n5WDUviDF-Ncz8BjtxCLkiXubeGc_gEPK0jSA_i3y9_m74DKGbSCA7tmMzH4sNU1tOlKBiYTqFuaCr4KjbMQF0fefCmsfxjYw5rKCdaBIAHPDNGsjbmFhkFjiTus6KZ3O9sYHAtw8/s960/579621_10151371979237935_1712224296_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5S-nVI2rfmf_jZ0xzTzuuZr2RHiITMX0yamJ5UNVviROuz8n5WDUviDF-Ncz8BjtxCLkiXubeGc_gEPK0jSA_i3y9_m74DKGbSCA7tmMzH4sNU1tOlKBiYTqFuaCr4KjbMQF0fefCmsfxjYw5rKCdaBIAHPDNGsjbmFhkFjiTus6KZ3O9sYHAtw8/w300-h400/579621_10151371979237935_1712224296_n.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>The Peace Center prior to restoration (©2013 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOBrd_tODljv5_0FcYL8yxfGfxh6wjO6lcaVugdyFQFdzbgrKNMae0E1eAotRxwsBbuaJDJb_czFaJ8As54Pf_V21sgeWPv8RZggkzy8gDp2_fntDzEYHjD481Vqwx0aV5WPfilPnEbPafn1EVVjncxH_y2iFkA4y0oWsdPXiyPhJEkfHovk45F_Z/s960/529752_10151371978962935_1533998027_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOBrd_tODljv5_0FcYL8yxfGfxh6wjO6lcaVugdyFQFdzbgrKNMae0E1eAotRxwsBbuaJDJb_czFaJ8As54Pf_V21sgeWPv8RZggkzy8gDp2_fntDzEYHjD481Vqwx0aV5WPfilPnEbPafn1EVVjncxH_y2iFkA4y0oWsdPXiyPhJEkfHovk45F_Z/w400-h300/529752_10151371978962935_1533998027_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>The Peace Center (©2013 Linda Muth) Although I have been to the center more recently,<br />I only have photos from an earlier visit.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Probably the most photographed treasure in Suchitoto is<a href="https://gacetasuchitoto.com/2017/08/20/un-poco-de-historia-iglesia-santa-lucia/" target="_blank"> the parish church</a>, dedicated to the Roman saint and martyr, Santa Lucía (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy" target="_blank">Saint Lucy</a>). The first church on the site is thought to have been made of thatch. It burned down in the late 17th century and was replaced with a clay and stucco structure. Construction of the current building began in 1853 (after Salvadoran independence and therefore post-colonial). Its style has baroque and rococo elements. The church was closed (at least to tourists) for a number of years in order to make structural repairs following the strong earthquakes of 2001.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVL6s4T-n2jDFa8jXRpa86YtMHTlN-E2loT25ijLdSa1lO0585oDnj2qTQHYChFadJlHp3BH0yQucNfQiYhRyJ4dOTu8sFKL9pgcZp0ncqT6f41TpRtKOd93KoHVeGCVjPEJsVp9p25w2mktff7H5CWM8nCeXWEVlU4DLa48NjsDhcsJRoh3oRONza/s960/16292_10151371940932935_1538829875_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVL6s4T-n2jDFa8jXRpa86YtMHTlN-E2loT25ijLdSa1lO0585oDnj2qTQHYChFadJlHp3BH0yQucNfQiYhRyJ4dOTu8sFKL9pgcZp0ncqT6f41TpRtKOd93KoHVeGCVjPEJsVp9p25w2mktff7H5CWM8nCeXWEVlU4DLa48NjsDhcsJRoh3oRONza/w400-h300/16292_10151371940932935_1538829875_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Photo of Santa Lucía Church prior to completion of restoration of the plaza. (©2013 Linda Muth)<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBiiMf2MJvSJObIbwKE_H7xbPbTKgqxStM2XEimqP5Zqzfzvlgx1kGjOS6Wc_dazNIfnanXWNCSZ5aTxNiZD4SJAt-ng7ptAENX9HVkzZ2YzmH5i-3WzO4PGa-CRYie2ca2zlWYg3ZO7yliTCPKI__vWW7Gv9pYAEM6J6HFZAWlYRumWJKc9eKHwg/w400-h300/600465_10151371943197935_340537181_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Interior of Santa Lucía Church (©2013 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho63x4K4JQRDoIdN-A2a01qbOql945Rf4Yw1HBnUtgvcjB8PObu7koz_leZy2rPoh6XdNFguxms7VsYmdmJoRylpQNydvIibJFRqyyPHetCy4JVg9PbnYWccMnf-pi_6GdBZ4PVw5yhtG2QBZuSZJWb1ZPmEhhTnI3vcce3jaFWznjP2cZZvOkfd8h/s2096/IMG_20190208_170720498%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2096" data-original-width="1334" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho63x4K4JQRDoIdN-A2a01qbOql945Rf4Yw1HBnUtgvcjB8PObu7koz_leZy2rPoh6XdNFguxms7VsYmdmJoRylpQNydvIibJFRqyyPHetCy4JVg9PbnYWccMnf-pi_6GdBZ4PVw5yhtG2QBZuSZJWb1ZPmEhhTnI3vcce3jaFWznjP2cZZvOkfd8h/w255-h400/IMG_20190208_170720498%20(1).jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Interior of Santa Lucía Church (©2019 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXZTQd2PXWYHu9Axc6AS4j1Rc_gStxZQfy7sOigJVpDJx2i6q0-UrM0kJvZ2afivIL0Z3iWr_xGlgFdT16kvgRFQcGrgf54RWR6U1qAY4vFmq6nELNLqcdx5ryovBIp9hpZWpfSQfb5XYi-VptUgoHjTFd1EpTA0UcxARF49-64pE8-zaOp4qqHT3/s960/579539_10151371943452935_742158979_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXZTQd2PXWYHu9Axc6AS4j1Rc_gStxZQfy7sOigJVpDJx2i6q0-UrM0kJvZ2afivIL0Z3iWr_xGlgFdT16kvgRFQcGrgf54RWR6U1qAY4vFmq6nELNLqcdx5ryovBIp9hpZWpfSQfb5XYi-VptUgoHjTFd1EpTA0UcxARF49-64pE8-zaOp4qqHT3/w400-h300/579539_10151371943452935_742158979_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Detail in Santa Lucía Church (photo likely taken by Deb Adams)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The local government, community organizations and citizens in Suchitoto do a good job promoting tourism through print publications and online platforms. Local businesses encourage patrons to write reviews. Local guides and the Tourist Police are available to help. It's pretty easy to check out local restaurants online, which is how we found Casa 1800 for a sunset dinner.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7FvD0h5yLKoT5l5wvDuYeipIrDkzX3RxJTuFr6oHW2x8UMiu9ILBW57tWJzY36d2i5Mjh_gtwnMpDm3L4PZDId8Rq4cj_8jqIJoR66tIlZp9ohKzIcI-wNLFLxv3JbDAG8K_YJ2zNtzGi3pqADumIhcNo8xyhCNGTilAxt5y4CqOu4niLRc9l-5u/s4032/IMG_5420.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7FvD0h5yLKoT5l5wvDuYeipIrDkzX3RxJTuFr6oHW2x8UMiu9ILBW57tWJzY36d2i5Mjh_gtwnMpDm3L4PZDId8Rq4cj_8jqIJoR66tIlZp9ohKzIcI-wNLFLxv3JbDAG8K_YJ2zNtzGi3pqADumIhcNo8xyhCNGTilAxt5y4CqOu4niLRc9l-5u/w300-h400/IMG_5420.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Casa 1800 is an easy walk from the central plaza. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5Xxa-mMd3utQKddsiFGzyXzwolE0cpc5GbMa_0tjXf9pmZtk1d74t6y6qkYOjAf7Y3pOvviliKR72eGlRh8SmrzKG4xVy9LFCuq0O_clkDfdvVhsNpw8a6CH1wp_nrHChsa_mcyikCtcNNY7zljPyPKEOW1ULEiA0W0esqawtIYvyZ6s9coJUNWI/s4032/IMG_5436%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5Xxa-mMd3utQKddsiFGzyXzwolE0cpc5GbMa_0tjXf9pmZtk1d74t6y6qkYOjAf7Y3pOvviliKR72eGlRh8SmrzKG4xVy9LFCuq0O_clkDfdvVhsNpw8a6CH1wp_nrHChsa_mcyikCtcNNY7zljPyPKEOW1ULEiA0W0esqawtIYvyZ6s9coJUNWI/w300-h400/IMG_5436%20Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>The interior space of Casa 1800 included guest rooms, courtyards and large spaces for outdoor dining. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf2Xvkn54qkm-G5rOBnlzjefUjORh5MNJaWjU_FinhdluUqxgD_WECEdClQbRWOWb2ZDZ3kJkh7RmrfpGUypOJV0J3XvNiRO0CoSzkb1fI5Jctx2hNsRwSmZtfaUMWd8CDNwBKTp3JjEiQyhrLJoJwOGfz5WoQ3BJNMdALlRyNhikuRNV2RL_9HdS/s4022/IMG_5433.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2684" data-original-width="4022" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf2Xvkn54qkm-G5rOBnlzjefUjORh5MNJaWjU_FinhdluUqxgD_WECEdClQbRWOWb2ZDZ3kJkh7RmrfpGUypOJV0J3XvNiRO0CoSzkb1fI5Jctx2hNsRwSmZtfaUMWd8CDNwBKTp3JjEiQyhrLJoJwOGfz5WoQ3BJNMdALlRyNhikuRNV2RL_9HdS/w400-h268/IMG_5433.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Dinner with a view at Casa 1800 (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcS1fE505pMSK6yr1GqUH9GYSAL4CGcYYVrRRpbF2ieosmybQ4j4Be3gC1JlZY0MBD-yWhaI0yFp8-4oz3UxyZPXFRFV-XcdQ3coIFe-uggjQ1vlhlM4BYwvJhM58EKcsCJ9hULwV9VI-wUY9hwElS-MIyzPAbMQkt8tBdArEVRLzphd5kiZfz1tu/s3593/IMG_5435%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1830" data-original-width="3593" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcS1fE505pMSK6yr1GqUH9GYSAL4CGcYYVrRRpbF2ieosmybQ4j4Be3gC1JlZY0MBD-yWhaI0yFp8-4oz3UxyZPXFRFV-XcdQ3coIFe-uggjQ1vlhlM4BYwvJhM58EKcsCJ9hULwV9VI-wUY9hwElS-MIyzPAbMQkt8tBdArEVRLzphd5kiZfz1tu/w400-h204/IMG_5435%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Done with dinner but not the view! (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Just in case you wish to visit Suchitoto during festival times, here are a few important dates to consider:</div><div><span> + Celebration of the anniversary of the city: July 15</span><br /></div><div><span><span> + </span></span>Corn festival and Balloon festival during the August 6th vacation week</div><div><span> + </span>Parade of Torches and Disguises in September</div><div><span> + </span>Independence Day parades and the school band festival (September 15)</div><div><span> + </span>Santa Lucía patron saint festivals December 6-13</div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6oj5F7On_h526kzADGCLDw08IE1j_EPRwHPwoUkyrCHpyMICfQ3ly_BD_pedHvTututjXRHg7TKY0JCyC81dAggkSWy7ZKEKpWHeuqWnZivszUNkLNuKZQEIshdlAO0BpYiQLwarv4Cay0TGpGJT_bhzA30ZGxUqOZXixVaMus4I2GV_ROvkOz8i/s3648/IMG_4202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6oj5F7On_h526kzADGCLDw08IE1j_EPRwHPwoUkyrCHpyMICfQ3ly_BD_pedHvTututjXRHg7TKY0JCyC81dAggkSWy7ZKEKpWHeuqWnZivszUNkLNuKZQEIshdlAO0BpYiQLwarv4Cay0TGpGJT_bhzA30ZGxUqOZXixVaMus4I2GV_ROvkOz8i/w400-h300/IMG_4202.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Buenas noches, Suchitoto (©2019 Deb Adams)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-2002411043618860562023-01-19T20:15:00.001-06:002023-01-19T20:58:56.998-06:00Off the Beaten Path: Birding on Lake Suchitlán<div style="text-align: left;">For Christmas this year, my husband gave me an experience: a bird tour with guide <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/elsalvadorbirds" target="_blank">Julio Acosta</a>. I've been following Julio's social media posts (found on various platforms as El Salvador Birds - Julio Acosta) for a while, in an effort to learn more about the birds we hear and see as we go about daily life in El Salvador.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We decided to do a boat tour of Lago Suchitlán. Over the past 23 years, our Mission of Healing itineraries periodically included a boat ride on the lake as a way to relax after expending lots of energy teaching and providing care for families. Although a few local pastors and boat drivers shared stories along the way, we never learned much about the multitude of bird species we encountered and enthusiastically tried to photograph. A tour with a professional guide, in a boat, on a lovely lake, at sunrise seemed like a most excellent opportunity to learn.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8KoKn_cdkvVxVly9jtErSKqjJKh-My4jjB9a97d_rzXQDf3iqxEJovyihNRRaP7tkYobz-tCutndjjSrngSPy4KJ_GdZAKK4LI2-UChuGOOOKetNJhotu_Yt_veW19wXULFsvwlMn8uKGTlZEt9FWxfN202nh0CiTSZ6R0NU_PfzsWFP9pmMGs5u/s4032/IMG_5423.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8KoKn_cdkvVxVly9jtErSKqjJKh-My4jjB9a97d_rzXQDf3iqxEJovyihNRRaP7tkYobz-tCutndjjSrngSPy4KJ_GdZAKK4LI2-UChuGOOOKetNJhotu_Yt_veW19wXULFsvwlMn8uKGTlZEt9FWxfN202nh0CiTSZ6R0NU_PfzsWFP9pmMGs5u/w400-h300/IMG_5423.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Lago Suchitlán at sunset from Suchitoto (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Embalse Cerrón Grande (Cerrón Grande Reservoir) is the largest fresh water lake in El Salvador. A local, renowned filmmaker <a href="https://www.cinematropical.com/cinema-tropical/pioneering-salvadorian-filmmaker-alejandro-cotto-dies" target="_blank">Alejandro Cotto</a> gave the reservoir its common name, Lago Suchitlán - a Nahuatl name which means "place of flowers." The artificial lake was filled as the result of the construction of the Cerrón Grande hydroelectric dam (1974-1976), which spans the width of the Río Lempa (Lempa River) about 48 miles north of San Salvador. The inflow to the lake comes from the Lempa and Acelhuate rivers. The lake is terribly contaminated with insecticides, cyanide, heavy metals, fecal material and toxic algae. Every time there is a heavy rain, <a href="https://elfaro.net/en/202210/ef_photo/26441/Fishing-for-Garbage-in-El-Salvador's-Cerr%C3%B3n-Grande-Reservoir.htm" target="_blank">tons of solid waste and garbage flow into the lake</a>, much of it from San Salvador via the Río Acelhuate. In 2005, the lake and the surrounding lands were designated as protected wetlands. The Salvadoran government Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has made some efforts, along with conservation groups, to clean the lake and eliminate sources of contamination. It is an overwhelming task.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The costruction of the dam created both the largest source of electric energy production in El Salvador (which is clean energy) and a reservoir for fresh water (despite the pollution). Fish do thrive in the lake and it is a site for fish farming. Most of the land surrounding the lake is owned by the government, but people can access the lake for fishing and are allowed to graze their cattle. Of course, the process of removing families from homes, farms and villages which surrounded the banks of the Lempa River was fraught with inequity and sadness. Julio told us that the government paid families for their land according to the price listed on the original deed. Naturally, property which was purchased for a small price in 1910 had increased greatly in value by 1974. In addition, valuable archeological sites pertaining to the Lenca culture were inundated and lost forever. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTx_gKVlR0LqM4AjxZZe6HLhQV_5IPUUVsjEMzudUgDAjHwGJkOCc-QzpYNzOSFWFXYyqKa8JvasZNu_bk-ZjQdYCU9ZqemwOoa-K2sLMRu_HgKGE3RLAV3F_rOoXWD_GnbKqRGejHl04bv1X15Uo_IeWIzhtH-A1oumpaj4GNKb51TTmEsYN_Xax/s4461/DSCN6945.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2691" data-original-width="4461" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTx_gKVlR0LqM4AjxZZe6HLhQV_5IPUUVsjEMzudUgDAjHwGJkOCc-QzpYNzOSFWFXYyqKa8JvasZNu_bk-ZjQdYCU9ZqemwOoa-K2sLMRu_HgKGE3RLAV3F_rOoXWD_GnbKqRGejHl04bv1X15Uo_IeWIzhtH-A1oumpaj4GNKb51TTmEsYN_Xax/w400-h241/DSCN6945.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Local fisherman sharing the little fish which were stuck in the net with his faithful entourage of white pelicans (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in the day, Julio told us, families on the opposite side of the river from Suchitoto would travel over and around the surrounding hills, down to the narrow part of the river. There, a raft would carry them across the river, and they would have to travel up and down and around to get to the town. The creation of the lake actually lengthened the travel time to get from one side to the other. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjVFbQtFjbc" target="_blank">There is a small ferry which people and cars</a> can take across the lake - cutting the travel time in half. Because this is a mountainous and hilly region, the depth of the lake varies greatly. Its deepest spots are between 80 and 100 meters deep. Along the northwest shore, land which is under water during the rainy season becomes a fertile plain, and local farmers plant corn and other grain crops.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIxEQvnwN8spvsAU4KLBwS81vq3UAKiHjaWp3_MO2a-kA7CgrA_141Ky7WNjkxkeuRQdCaC1o-8wGYyo566GcalKokr9AxdeHP6ocA4BBKVJQ8yYAPbxB7C_SIMy5qIfAF99jpvjcoVGfbxbGEfFYt4S48m0k9kenUJ7oM7qwCBUqijzRaPuoG09F/s1280/aa7db84c-dc6b-4919-9456-301ed161f7d1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIxEQvnwN8spvsAU4KLBwS81vq3UAKiHjaWp3_MO2a-kA7CgrA_141Ky7WNjkxkeuRQdCaC1o-8wGYyo566GcalKokr9AxdeHP6ocA4BBKVJQ8yYAPbxB7C_SIMy5qIfAF99jpvjcoVGfbxbGEfFYt4S48m0k9kenUJ7oM7qwCBUqijzRaPuoG09F/w400-h225/aa7db84c-dc6b-4919-9456-301ed161f7d1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Our guide, Julio, sent us this map depicting our route. By the end of our tour, Julio said we had traveled about 60 km.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We spent the night before our tour in Suchitoto, so we could be at Puerto San Juan (the boat landing a short drive downhill from the center of town) by 5:30am. We met up with Julio and the boat driver and then headed out onto the water in the darkness before sunrise. My previous experiences on the lake had been afternoon rides, when the sun was hot and the lake was sometimes choppy. In contrast, the pre-dawn air was refreshingly cool, and the water was smooth like the sky. The sun provided quite a backdrop for most of our nearly 5 hour excursion.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6lAI4tqnBi9vpMZNkhufyvl0HhfBcLvBr1A-rO24QoZRRlimv5fYUCZ7L3FQ4i3a7O0tyomQN55hvQAt5f6Zvh2xlcj40jQB5jrMYUKkdzLyP9iJ1hCcjzZ9msHBgfPPwauCF0cLWWUopQ064BtJziI0NpDejjGObwimgRRU4NJMlxU1CgcGybyH/s4032/IMG_5442.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6lAI4tqnBi9vpMZNkhufyvl0HhfBcLvBr1A-rO24QoZRRlimv5fYUCZ7L3FQ4i3a7O0tyomQN55hvQAt5f6Zvh2xlcj40jQB5jrMYUKkdzLyP9iJ1hCcjzZ9msHBgfPPwauCF0cLWWUopQ064BtJziI0NpDejjGObwimgRRU4NJMlxU1CgcGybyH/w400-h300/IMG_5442.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>First light (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ytX7bxtpIRh3wm0PvmO_Ibtt-PJ0y9-Lb1C0y6F9gYOkFXEa_DjMGcU1r_AeF7Mh3QcmK7vxwQfYaGCY5AlsH_3OxX44O5GudT3fjtqMN-Yx_xN_k0_16TcPE3jdXz7fOcEACd8J_UpS7Oo-rCg70IL5ryqUVN0g4ps-wOqvwGqH63vXJ8x8Nlhz/s4032/IMG_5449.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ytX7bxtpIRh3wm0PvmO_Ibtt-PJ0y9-Lb1C0y6F9gYOkFXEa_DjMGcU1r_AeF7Mh3QcmK7vxwQfYaGCY5AlsH_3OxX44O5GudT3fjtqMN-Yx_xN_k0_16TcPE3jdXz7fOcEACd8J_UpS7Oo-rCg70IL5ryqUVN0g4ps-wOqvwGqH63vXJ8x8Nlhz/w400-h300/IMG_5449.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>A little further into our journey - with a few waves from the early morning fishing boats (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our first avian conversation was about the Neotropic Cormorant. The population of this black waterfowl has grown to a point where it has become a nuisance. Locals and culinary experts have experimented with recipes to determine if this pesky bird, whose voracious appetite threatens the fish population and whose guano destroys forest trees, could be eaten. Alas, not even the finest chef from the Intercontinental Hotel was able to make this bird edible. People are able to hunt it for sport, only in this region to try to control its population and preserve a balance in the ecosystem. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAPR-nSVg80lMqZyRwXZ7GHwFJkc5CDh3WamMUDvxR0X9TIOa36TU8qdtTFiy4wNH4zW-w8NfNs3EdfecUpsuatf8VPS2VKy3QnquElsPx3qe8h1e7f3mrcHkxhhjWo-rQnv4P2uFLr-gtzKZSCi0vHwi3oTdd_Ph0GUreCqVaw2pHXyEsfDGmukw/s4032/IMG_5454.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAPR-nSVg80lMqZyRwXZ7GHwFJkc5CDh3WamMUDvxR0X9TIOa36TU8qdtTFiy4wNH4zW-w8NfNs3EdfecUpsuatf8VPS2VKy3QnquElsPx3qe8h1e7f3mrcHkxhhjWo-rQnv4P2uFLr-gtzKZSCi0vHwi3oTdd_Ph0GUreCqVaw2pHXyEsfDGmukw/w400-h300/IMG_5454.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>This tree illustrates the impact of the Neotropical Cormorants which roost here, and despite the seemingly bright light, the sun had not yet risen. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As the light increased, the cormorants began to flock (or at least we could see them). They fly in a V-formation like geese. Unlike ducks and many other species of waterfowl, they do not have oily skin. After a few dives they need to perch and spread their wings to dry their feathers. Throughout the entire morning, the cormorants flew, dove, swam, and perched wherever we were. Many of the birds at Lago Suchitlán are migratory and spend the winter months in warm El Salvador and the summer months in North America. As the landscape gets drier over January through February, the lake reduces in size and the bird populations are more densely concentrated. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAbzHO0skuHOf-2KeH-qJxodQrtRxn2Y-pWc0AO0N5oQeph8QUua_hVcT0wqlqpXLtv8OhOpOb81nmAGLW_bQsoyKpBYOsA-EJ_oipyLAS420aPM6RXxWbN-WnMB38nWmjl_YaFR_nGOAV0YC-V5mxzg0x7sGxfctH-Gyed3M99IDuzADlNguxwvs/s3550/IMG_5464.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2102" data-original-width="3550" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAbzHO0skuHOf-2KeH-qJxodQrtRxn2Y-pWc0AO0N5oQeph8QUua_hVcT0wqlqpXLtv8OhOpOb81nmAGLW_bQsoyKpBYOsA-EJ_oipyLAS420aPM6RXxWbN-WnMB38nWmjl_YaFR_nGOAV0YC-V5mxzg0x7sGxfctH-Gyed3M99IDuzADlNguxwvs/w400-h236/IMG_5464.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>I know we came for the birds, but this sunrise! (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS7BzQB6yZJDNL93i-RqYYALs46Jst7gSoTx4kEqGFkLtAeilC9H4zZnS_DUlGnJ4aNNB_Joic9V4_Y11w1L4Nyy6bwLU7ifmQAhMLH6uVKTXUht-vTdLrj_T72t7ebx2tdxgY9HOI8IFMwWc9JqOIodqm8pS2_ecSyo7-rSbhR24-2TyiaES9tV5/s4008/IMG_5469.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3006" data-original-width="4008" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS7BzQB6yZJDNL93i-RqYYALs46Jst7gSoTx4kEqGFkLtAeilC9H4zZnS_DUlGnJ4aNNB_Joic9V4_Y11w1L4Nyy6bwLU7ifmQAhMLH6uVKTXUht-vTdLrj_T72t7ebx2tdxgY9HOI8IFMwWc9JqOIodqm8pS2_ecSyo7-rSbhR24-2TyiaES9tV5/w400-h300/IMG_5469.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>©2023 Linda Muth</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Once we had enough light, we sped along, chatting about the different species we might see and lifting our magnifying devices to our eyes frequently to scan the shoreline or try to identify a bird in flight. Taking photos was part of the fun, and certainly the images will help us to remember some of the things we saw, the bird facts we learned and the stories we shared. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLmznlubBOhyzZkZWKx_RQ3J6kez3ZQyE18wQr4kO8hPGE6y64TVbCJbdk6wHCRe4KL8n9tB52UztDjc_-qnRsKOQHDnL0NvSmdw5g2GVrNiMPsICriPFHrGNNT8YxZNOpkf1TUG6Oh3fbPxs4TiUSajuOfwUswPVuf0_abNmZfQ2Br00lMuTyp0F/s3963/IMG_5538.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2105" data-original-width="3963" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLmznlubBOhyzZkZWKx_RQ3J6kez3ZQyE18wQr4kO8hPGE6y64TVbCJbdk6wHCRe4KL8n9tB52UztDjc_-qnRsKOQHDnL0NvSmdw5g2GVrNiMPsICriPFHrGNNT8YxZNOpkf1TUG6Oh3fbPxs4TiUSajuOfwUswPVuf0_abNmZfQ2Br00lMuTyp0F/w400-h213/IMG_5538.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Birds in flight - I think these are American White Pelicans. (©2023 Linda Muth)<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oqsJcpa4ciPN4AhmAK33fmCpOHZFmkU7h72kIU9BNwU1UAUxXdjGMukHvKuzVSSdDXpxvZHD0WBduKUG3BavibWN58UA_6aTKehpP4mAfeWJ8UhptBiPQKt2Te3trztBeklKIFMol-zUztgckU6Mdi66QZTvF1x2Z-Q8_3WTrG0e8bolYpBUJp_8/s4032/IMG_5477.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2397" data-original-width="4032" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oqsJcpa4ciPN4AhmAK33fmCpOHZFmkU7h72kIU9BNwU1UAUxXdjGMukHvKuzVSSdDXpxvZHD0WBduKUG3BavibWN58UA_6aTKehpP4mAfeWJ8UhptBiPQKt2Te3trztBeklKIFMol-zUztgckU6Mdi66QZTvF1x2Z-Q8_3WTrG0e8bolYpBUJp_8/w400-h238/IMG_5477.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>There are actually multiple species of birds in this photo, including Snowy Egrets. If you really want to get high quality bird photos, you need a camera with a quality zoom lens. We recorded our experience with an older iPhone and basic point and shoot with 10X magnification. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgol8uHLTHU2rY7uTOij5hw8iqh-GZ7kKrISoC4ea8GcfHmWHQBHd7cWhp8Uq_XzArmOhV1EK5UIm_96rg4XkLjdyl6BP7us4qf9-uT0huuRFTtFodNz1zvrg9ipLccTZ5JWPWE8qCKmcqED26GujVbez32UEIs6SwusXnu0CprRbKDruvhEW6HN3/s3920/IMG_5480.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2326" data-original-width="3920" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgol8uHLTHU2rY7uTOij5hw8iqh-GZ7kKrISoC4ea8GcfHmWHQBHd7cWhp8Uq_XzArmOhV1EK5UIm_96rg4XkLjdyl6BP7us4qf9-uT0huuRFTtFodNz1zvrg9ipLccTZ5JWPWE8qCKmcqED26GujVbez32UEIs6SwusXnu0CprRbKDruvhEW6HN3/w400-h238/IMG_5480.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The sun, humidity, particulates in the air and water depth provided great variations in nature's color palette. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8sphnIlHRLMa2_pOSVsgVR32zSSPie4l9VbzbuIb7xPxfsMQn-GWGISMvM7zirE_YP7BAxX0FfxNlW9Qr1uXTDcmNz57Xq2DGMWhUyRdgAB34GXUd547F53NcqW-miqj89E7CC-zGv5-k7Y25daWZnFxftnen8ezA_0uD37kQPbcfBi6BIkITcUD/s3080/DSCN6905.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2011" data-original-width="3080" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8sphnIlHRLMa2_pOSVsgVR32zSSPie4l9VbzbuIb7xPxfsMQn-GWGISMvM7zirE_YP7BAxX0FfxNlW9Qr1uXTDcmNz57Xq2DGMWhUyRdgAB34GXUd547F53NcqW-miqj89E7CC-zGv5-k7Y25daWZnFxftnen8ezA_0uD37kQPbcfBi6BIkITcUD/w400-h261/DSCN6905.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The floats for fishnets (which run across long stretches of the lake, particularly in the shallow water and require the boat to trim the motor) provide good perching points for bird buddies like this Great Blue Heron and the Neotropic Cormorant. (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_HXsPgG-KW5iLb8v85Ds8ZM4qTz7wMVpk6YacJyTrUr6HtuNhUQrTt-RsCMAlNl8kCOdC-t4RqkkA-GJt_2QbyEtrQswGvon9hXBq7FzLrZ4Bps6FNwMpV4CL1aVGuz_sM4dSmq7os4aPWWKOOCA2KetCcNVguDRuYNrxv76Iq3Y6q42sjwVi2HX/s3566/DSCN6919.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2165" data-original-width="3566" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_HXsPgG-KW5iLb8v85Ds8ZM4qTz7wMVpk6YacJyTrUr6HtuNhUQrTt-RsCMAlNl8kCOdC-t4RqkkA-GJt_2QbyEtrQswGvon9hXBq7FzLrZ4Bps6FNwMpV4CL1aVGuz_sM4dSmq7os4aPWWKOOCA2KetCcNVguDRuYNrxv76Iq3Y6q42sjwVi2HX/w400-h243/DSCN6919.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Ducks! This group was mostly Fulvous Whistling Ducks, but we also spotted Blue-winged Teal and Northern Pintail and American Coot (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BV1DG2UMclbUdb-_3kwU0QhWgwHcMpKov3q0qoDquMtd1LaQxKnkl_577tpILGng_dnM4f2qeCdaeTWLtNrXxNSy3MzXJLty4YMUCj-P04xWNK5ToOmqRf-pj139IluzPCt3FNaoqLJdKG_ZSjaOpvQ1wyrtPZITTVg4y6glVd-SlTJq1XqfTWpC/s2099/DSCN6932%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="2099" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BV1DG2UMclbUdb-_3kwU0QhWgwHcMpKov3q0qoDquMtd1LaQxKnkl_577tpILGng_dnM4f2qeCdaeTWLtNrXxNSy3MzXJLty4YMUCj-P04xWNK5ToOmqRf-pj139IluzPCt3FNaoqLJdKG_ZSjaOpvQ1wyrtPZITTVg4y6glVd-SlTJq1XqfTWpC/w400-h216/DSCN6932%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Great Blue Heron and cormorant friends. We spotted many great blues, but also Little Blue Heron and Tricolored Heron (and have blurry photographic proof!) (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONKasPWHHCI8_r8Q5qaYprwaT6Hw2G1ECp9GspKzaywgX-c_dkMWMXVWxti84HmeUAGoMNG2a_Kvf714fSCn3jH-xgIgmpRGZ2Md0Zw5CA1hH_C73XyOtqY1l1sTdopYj6WQyKDdtD1p7PO_u8WExHESylX7O6qdHPmZ2FuyPhJzqemWWmgVyAfsH/s4157/DSCN6939.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1973" data-original-width="4157" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONKasPWHHCI8_r8Q5qaYprwaT6Hw2G1ECp9GspKzaywgX-c_dkMWMXVWxti84HmeUAGoMNG2a_Kvf714fSCn3jH-xgIgmpRGZ2Md0Zw5CA1hH_C73XyOtqY1l1sTdopYj6WQyKDdtD1p7PO_u8WExHESylX7O6qdHPmZ2FuyPhJzqemWWmgVyAfsH/w400-h190/DSCN6939.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>A flock of about 60 American White Pelicans - a fresh water species and constant companion of the fishing folk (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHC1xoUezkJJd4KemJo5Cw0zqNTeCm52pSwFE_g8wgtu1QUVaa-WKINpqhIPTydnrNUkHUek5H1sjCH0af5VmaZsc0AAkHAcCtzcDWDvgIudO-ypdOk0X_21e-A2L9uG-cflqb5iepIdQmdYQzk_KuB94-5GFpab3A-YBpfuc5DzsWTyvLltvv7nG/s846/Julio1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="846" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHC1xoUezkJJd4KemJo5Cw0zqNTeCm52pSwFE_g8wgtu1QUVaa-WKINpqhIPTydnrNUkHUek5H1sjCH0af5VmaZsc0AAkHAcCtzcDWDvgIudO-ypdOk0X_21e-A2L9uG-cflqb5iepIdQmdYQzk_KuB94-5GFpab3A-YBpfuc5DzsWTyvLltvv7nG/w400-h295/Julio1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>As we drifted in the shallows at the northwest end of the lake, a pair of Roseate Spoonbills flew over us. A third joined the pair. Julio was quick with the camera and captured this image which he shared with us. (©2023 Julio Acosta)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RDV22-8ApYZqyMLAKDk5YpFzdqQRsd0eWpliuN9bCxBxEEGI3W7VuLl5J297iN8z8CbqJfRhpaY1IwroAYhRR2kkuXNKgmxL1zPFi5LkGpC286bqLh_G1MyBiU9VPKPpMbKkCcOTmq3_Fj8FXbGYAIge9lyyRljWm8z0tjT_kPV3AfnxI70sT3vU/s4008/IMG_5548.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3006" data-original-width="4008" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RDV22-8ApYZqyMLAKDk5YpFzdqQRsd0eWpliuN9bCxBxEEGI3W7VuLl5J297iN8z8CbqJfRhpaY1IwroAYhRR2kkuXNKgmxL1zPFi5LkGpC286bqLh_G1MyBiU9VPKPpMbKkCcOTmq3_Fj8FXbGYAIge9lyyRljWm8z0tjT_kPV3AfnxI70sT3vU/w400-h300/IMG_5548.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Sun time was probably about 9:30am as we headed out of the shallows back into deeper water. ((©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvIm4sx7sO4BVolHxpMQLwSX4AbybF9axAUF2aCCrJzYj4oN_2fMyya-ekUAMJsiagl-6UUgFmyLiOWVoloLWadaaLLBZbHcOpzUFEvu8mz2JC1UTKT2I2CCtwjVXOtd0QjIX7GXDmHvwmif0QKukL6Etr1vEfKJq29vZJF2h0qQKnXH7Em8gnwMv/s2697/DSCN6954.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1998" data-original-width="2697" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvIm4sx7sO4BVolHxpMQLwSX4AbybF9axAUF2aCCrJzYj4oN_2fMyya-ekUAMJsiagl-6UUgFmyLiOWVoloLWadaaLLBZbHcOpzUFEvu8mz2JC1UTKT2I2CCtwjVXOtd0QjIX7GXDmHvwmif0QKukL6Etr1vEfKJq29vZJF2h0qQKnXH7Em8gnwMv/w400-h296/DSCN6954.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Neotropic Cormorants and Great Egret (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPqDNMLn1limwgaE1nAubZl__ul55oT--hKX0ByvGGlJcisyKsvVzSV6bzaiRwyasYFOqrgG7YU2fI5cPCGlKnVp4eqju1kgYEZWVBC1yps3zA2IgZAAmfonbRzmdfZWjWAeXuoaQdwgmYEfHoyLA_k3--LibFBeKwUbH1YO-BI9NRI1OuiV_08ts/s4608/DSCN6962.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPqDNMLn1limwgaE1nAubZl__ul55oT--hKX0ByvGGlJcisyKsvVzSV6bzaiRwyasYFOqrgG7YU2fI5cPCGlKnVp4eqju1kgYEZWVBC1yps3zA2IgZAAmfonbRzmdfZWjWAeXuoaQdwgmYEfHoyLA_k3--LibFBeKwUbH1YO-BI9NRI1OuiV_08ts/w400-h300/DSCN6962.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The vastness of this lake is really amazing. Think about how tall these mountains were before the river valley was flooded. (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMg6yLEz-QQtuwdpn2oprPxinv9pzasUB845dQxfypyxN79s1qYrbB0mra85ue0fP13kwgxqYdxZDCrODhmcMxQACbHgC3HhsRap1Tl0XcrVhTa2j-CbyxefRg1DV-IRDjvF4OZctVxfIpMDYh5GhktMQph9zBmOouWZqXI11KgSYk5k-LIebM2EOs/s3861/IMG_5602.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2365" data-original-width="3861" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMg6yLEz-QQtuwdpn2oprPxinv9pzasUB845dQxfypyxN79s1qYrbB0mra85ue0fP13kwgxqYdxZDCrODhmcMxQACbHgC3HhsRap1Tl0XcrVhTa2j-CbyxefRg1DV-IRDjvF4OZctVxfIpMDYh5GhktMQph9zBmOouWZqXI11KgSYk5k-LIebM2EOs/w400-h245/IMG_5602.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>We took a little side trip up a small stream that feeds into the lake. We observed several different species of egret along the shore, and plenty of swallows. (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_09NQ0G3drILUaGWAxjcSlY05po_2R6Jjbnw5pMRpaM6IL5xDXzQvhfPAFysEsPr2BnaJ0dbEZNljAZSCPK82lM78pG6DNYpoe_fAaMnZ8RZYBLCw5TMfTtqaERBaUeL76GZe7ofd2Hr6s_54V3WA9FX69ICloYz-1gnUJ-3deJaR6eJwCq7VgSRT/s826/IMG_5579.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="826" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_09NQ0G3drILUaGWAxjcSlY05po_2R6Jjbnw5pMRpaM6IL5xDXzQvhfPAFysEsPr2BnaJ0dbEZNljAZSCPK82lM78pG6DNYpoe_fAaMnZ8RZYBLCw5TMfTtqaERBaUeL76GZe7ofd2Hr6s_54V3WA9FX69ICloYz-1gnUJ-3deJaR6eJwCq7VgSRT/w400-h271/IMG_5579.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>This is not the clearest photo, but a pretty good catch with a phone camera. Mangrove Swallow (©2023 Linda Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX5qqlvoy-T-3iyclhMO3W5ELa4hmW0CfRfWOHRV8ZWIrHYVzUf_FNvOImxnXk1zCzy4ve8Pg9_NTdFRb4U7zlDI_KwJnqvV81Jv1v4piXnejsvkn0NdX8-JEXTMV0-AaCdQZky7E-NAPIOy9N_CtwIZ9_bJWWb4juarkZIbYP1mIJnD3ohDiI2aU/s1659/DSCN6959.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1659" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX5qqlvoy-T-3iyclhMO3W5ELa4hmW0CfRfWOHRV8ZWIrHYVzUf_FNvOImxnXk1zCzy4ve8Pg9_NTdFRb4U7zlDI_KwJnqvV81Jv1v4piXnejsvkn0NdX8-JEXTMV0-AaCdQZky7E-NAPIOy9N_CtwIZ9_bJWWb4juarkZIbYP1mIJnD3ohDiI2aU/w400-h239/DSCN6959.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Black Vultures, up close and personal. This is probably one of the most commonly seen and easily identified birds everywhere in El Salvador. We also saw Turkey Vultures. These guys are really not that cute, but they do a good service cleaning up the planet. (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgjGudSh_Pw36Cu9KCApEyaFF8sltithwltYUc4JuWRFfpeanWHPt61CQEHvYG0u_XtJ9J166JnA5j3Cm33KQTiACB2eQTJLQ9sYmQ19BpBn9RuhX21TAW53uc0A4ULSZ_5XRtuo2wWFkZqm6z5aImYpqnaN0ClyeIR35z_xAJraJWYEUiuo_s8jc/s4608/DSCN6966.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgjGudSh_Pw36Cu9KCApEyaFF8sltithwltYUc4JuWRFfpeanWHPt61CQEHvYG0u_XtJ9J166JnA5j3Cm33KQTiACB2eQTJLQ9sYmQ19BpBn9RuhX21TAW53uc0A4ULSZ_5XRtuo2wWFkZqm6z5aImYpqnaN0ClyeIR35z_xAJraJWYEUiuo_s8jc/w400-h300/DSCN6966.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Two of the last birds we spotted were a Common Black Hawk and this Osprey (©2023 Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Julio is an extremely responsible guide, and works with scientists and the lake wardens to report bird counts and sightings of new or unusual species. For example, he took a photo of some brown pelicans which we saw both perched and in flight. Brown pelicans are saltwater birds, so it was very unusual to see them at a freshwater site. The photographic evidence backs up his report of the sighting. <div><br /></div><div>We asked Julio if the pollution in the water impacted the birds. He said the additional microbes in the water in some way benefit the birds, creating more plant matter and small creatures for them to eat. We also asked if the fish in the lake is safe to eat. He said it is. Certainly we saw many fishing operations and farming of tilapia. The fish is an important source of food and income for many.</div><div><br /></div><div>We really did enjoy our birding tour. Local guides like Julio are now much more widely available than when we began visiting El Salvador. As a delegation leader, I highly recommend using local, guides as much as possible, to enhance the learning experience and to support the local economy. I think the best way to find a good guide is via recommendation. </div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-2339189234755559672023-01-13T15:45:00.011-06:002023-01-13T17:10:32.682-06:00Savor the Moment<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2856" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtV3aJUIKMTEb9IggOKC4zSaerHdVmV0vJy3d3x4e1d0uqmeYkCknF3yK8nvFwIF4DW8RQnvLLrvRZgztz_xDNwlpU8jlNKrTmh8xZPTI_LxDBmx0UytxsJYi7t6u0NLHCRSNHby_XZSt2a7ENK2BRBBMsxFmHxSKE2O7iGPa2w0_dWChU5q6e9ab/s320/IMG_5326.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="305" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><i>Silver Anniversary bells will be showing up throughout the year.<br />Today's little notebook (2001-2004)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtV3aJUIKMTEb9IggOKC4zSaerHdVmV0vJy3d3x4e1d0uqmeYkCknF3yK8nvFwIF4DW8RQnvLLrvRZgztz_xDNwlpU8jlNKrTmh8xZPTI_LxDBmx0UytxsJYi7t6u0NLHCRSNHby_XZSt2a7ENK2BRBBMsxFmHxSKE2O7iGPa2w0_dWChU5q6e9ab/s2992/IMG_5326.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a silver anniversary year. It has been almost 25 years since our 3 churches formally became iglesias hermanas - sister churches. We have shared more than 25 years of wild adventures and everyday life. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We are 3 congregations: one congregation of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church, and an urban church and a suburban church in the Greater Milwaukee Synod ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). Over the years our congregations have changed and so have our communities. We have suffered great losses. We have celebrated great joys. Parents have become grandparents, and many children in our memories now have children of their own.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">During the 15th year of our partnership, we celebrated with big quinceañera parties in Los Héroes and in Milwaukee, complete with lots of poofy pink dresses and fancy cakes. Now, ten years later, we are ready for another year of celebration. 2023 is the year of the Silver Wedding Anniversary of the Three Churches. Naturally, we are stocking up on silver glitter.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-No4jo17b8kWmSmtd_6wNZS89b3Iw8-lr26ah5iVVlHexz3GUIMjCf0Dlr-NqrgTdZ6Jei2Gs3qWBFDVs9npobO3QK0lnqRwd_ZUQPfPdva6fsPKZ0ZWSXHhktZuBQPsK9seRGmLAA4KrAYYK9uOxRPVgbGWZSkYJz8L0OWxRuiE9Tmo8Ip3faca/s3356/IMG_8183.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2238" data-original-width="3356" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-No4jo17b8kWmSmtd_6wNZS89b3Iw8-lr26ah5iVVlHexz3GUIMjCf0Dlr-NqrgTdZ6Jei2Gs3qWBFDVs9npobO3QK0lnqRwd_ZUQPfPdva6fsPKZ0ZWSXHhktZuBQPsK9seRGmLAA4KrAYYK9uOxRPVgbGWZSkYJz8L0OWxRuiE9Tmo8Ip3faca/s320/IMG_8183.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><i>Quinceañera for the three sister churches, 2013 in El Salvador</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhwG7O0r6mK4RfghgWqZheHgwdWKfqpJwMdkzrWPEtLw1F5csg6kQRkmRXXDZkZSkX8YAjEZyyhfqEpqu2yTAQqrq_Qr0OtFSMpwItBZ9MCo9hGXlPXb_hSv-KlgR-F6o_6M4eK3OIi_S-OE8duLll3UUY2j8a5o095TuFmIzUKyDZ_2PgAspABWe/s4000/IMG_8582.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhwG7O0r6mK4RfghgWqZheHgwdWKfqpJwMdkzrWPEtLw1F5csg6kQRkmRXXDZkZSkX8YAjEZyyhfqEpqu2yTAQqrq_Qr0OtFSMpwItBZ9MCo9hGXlPXb_hSv-KlgR-F6o_6M4eK3OIi_S-OE8duLll3UUY2j8a5o095TuFmIzUKyDZ_2PgAspABWe/s320/IMG_8582.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><i>Quinceañera for the three sister churches, 2013 in Wisconsin</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anniversary years call us to remember and to organize our memories. Let's face it, after 25 years, we have shelves full of albums, plastic bins full of recuerdos, and baskets full of diaries. Back in the day, one week in El Salvador at a time, we kept small journals close at hand. We jotted down names and descriptions so that once we developed our rolls of photo film, we could identify the people and places and moments we had captured. Sometimes we wrote late at night, processing our thoughts from one day before filling our hearts and minds with the experiences of another.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I pulled out one of those tiny notebooks today and found lists from home visits that my friend Vonda and I made in Los Héroes in 2002. Before I could type up the lists for the historic record, I was distracted by a random reflection I had written, simply entitled<b> <i>Saturday.</i></b></div><i><br /></i><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">During the dry season in El Salvador, it is dusty. Really dusty. Gray feet. Gray clothes. Gray backpack. Grit in your eyes. Dusty. Then you sweat. And the dust sticks. Sticky and dusty.</span></i></blockquote><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The kids are like that - sticky and dusty. I spend a good part of most days holding hands with children. Sometimes it feels like I am wearing a hoop skirt made of children, everyone grabbing onto someone. We trudge awkwardly up and down the pathways, leaving a jumble of footprints and a cloud of dust.</span></i></blockquote><div><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Personally, I do not enjoy being dusty. Before I crawl into my sleep-sack at night, I wash my feet. Wet wipes are a little luxury. I wipe my feet and drop the wipe into my zipper sandwich bag that I keep for trash. I slip my clean feet deep into my sleep sack. Sometimes, I stand up on the bed, pull the sleep sack all the way up over my head, and then gently plop back down onto the bed. I look like a caterpillar. Then I sleep. OK, no, first there is a lot of laughing, and then I sleep.</span></i></blockquote><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">If you've seen the Disney movie 101 Dalmatians, then you know about "the barking chain" and the "all dog alert." <b>These. Are. Real. </b>So is the ALL ROOSTER ALERT.</span></i></blockquote><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I strategically locate my water bottle, my glasses, my alarm clock and my flash light in my sleep sack. That way when the rooster crows, I can check the time. Usually it's about midnight which means there are just 6 more hours to go.</span></i></blockquote><div><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I can absolutely imagine Jesus enjoying a good foot-washing at the end of a long day. Maybe it helped him to sleep. Washing someone else's dirty feet is a special kind of caring. When Jesus washed the disciples' feet, it was most certainly not a pretty task, but was just so very kind. That sort of humble kindness is hard to give and hard to receive. The disciples probably felt pretty good with their clean feet. Micah 6:8.</span></i></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>That's the reflection. And even though it is only identified by the word "Saturday," I know exactly when I wrote this.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the 2005 Mission of Healing in Los Héroes, Chrissy, Vonda and I stayed with a family in the community. They gave us their biggest bed, and the three of us caterpillered ourselves into position at night after sundown. Bedtime was pretty early, because the house did not have lights. I remember a late night conversation that went something like this:</div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"Did you feel that?"</span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"What? No."</span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"That tickling. Are you tickling me?"</span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"No, why would I tickle you?"</span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"There, there it is."</span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Flashlight on. Mouse scurries across all 3 of our sleep sacks. </span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"OK, everyone to the middle. Don't touch the walls." (The bed just fit into the small room, and all 4 sides of the mattress basically touched the walls.)</span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"Is it time to get up yet?"</span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Re5snzZpUn77EDJ2OMbqFuPcPkSwu_itlSc2-eLiVQGcz96H6Kt9t9Ki9bONisWKbklFiVi4oXPh3DaA4PaD1RF7i_QM8jMDyo53jWm0QRWqpKZWNJNpN9-n4TVFczPbBSs7uY2kKMkMSz5qT5JrqoNnaLd4IHUfXGZwjWmZo21J0taR4Zf_-1U_/s2465/019_6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="2465" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Re5snzZpUn77EDJ2OMbqFuPcPkSwu_itlSc2-eLiVQGcz96H6Kt9t9Ki9bONisWKbklFiVi4oXPh3DaA4PaD1RF7i_QM8jMDyo53jWm0QRWqpKZWNJNpN9-n4TVFczPbBSs7uY2kKMkMSz5qT5JrqoNnaLd4IHUfXGZwjWmZo21J0taR4Zf_-1U_/w400-h229/019_6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><i>Chrissy walking with a buddy, 2005</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure if this is exactly a Silver Wedding Anniversary story, but that night sticks in my head just like it happened yesterday. Over 25 years, we have lived hundreds of these moments, and the ones that stick are typically just everyday events that took a turn toward the humorous. </div><div><br /></div><div>Going through the little notebooks is fun and confusing. A blank page in the midst of one visit or one year some time later became the recipient of notes from a completely different adventure. It made sense at the time not to waste paper. Now it's a Silver Wedding Anniversary scavenger hunt of memorable and forgotten moments. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the lists from 2002. On the page following the lists there is only one thing written: "Phrase to remember - saborea el momento - savor the moment."</div></div></div></div><br />Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-45437602468249333332023-01-08T23:46:00.004-06:002023-01-08T23:55:33.140-06:00Celebrating Epiphany - A Photo Diary<div style="text-align: left;">Happy Epiphany!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In El Salvador, celebrations of the Day of the <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2016/01/los-reyes-magos-magi-kings.html" target="_blank">Magi Kings</a> come with fireworks (of course) and <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2016/01/los-reyes-magos-magi-kings.html" target="_blank">processions</a>. Some families, churches, <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2019/01/the-day-of-magi-kings.html" target="_blank">political entities and community groups give gifts to children</a>, in the way that gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were given to the child Jesus. This is especially true during election years.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU8MZdMLZ7xWO5qocw1szSBhpYpo03DLj15ZvGg_SGah9schfKqBq1Rn2zyh4SyNKqLy6uX_KBevZmjaX-feRLKlWAkbUe9al-1owcc9vqROqUm1KJKvaXbkDudz09rFtoQScEaOwcHD8eERu2tgC-HOyAfGRmNZPER4vrtATdj3WP-vp4agVUrW3/s4032/IMG_5244.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU8MZdMLZ7xWO5qocw1szSBhpYpo03DLj15ZvGg_SGah9schfKqBq1Rn2zyh4SyNKqLy6uX_KBevZmjaX-feRLKlWAkbUe9al-1owcc9vqROqUm1KJKvaXbkDudz09rFtoQScEaOwcHD8eERu2tgC-HOyAfGRmNZPER4vrtATdj3WP-vp4agVUrW3/w400-h300/IMG_5244.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Los Héroes Lutheran Church's Epiphany celebration</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Today's Sunday morning worship in the Lutheran Church celebrated both the Epiphany (following the twelfth day of Christmas, traditionally celebrated on January 6) and the Baptism of Jesus. Pastor Santiago's message reminded us that Epiphany means manifestation. In the presence of the star, God was made manifest to astrologers from far away lands, who were motivated to leave their homes, travel long and difficult journeys, and bring costly gifts to the Christ child. In baptism, God is made manifest in each one of us, just as God was revealed in the baptism of Jesus. As children of God, we are all equally loved and equally called to make God's love manifest wherever we are. If those Magi could leave their homes, endure the long journey, and sacrifice to give Jesus expensive gifts, how come it is so hard for us to even take one step or move our little finger to share God's love? Message: Get out there and make God manifest and see everyone you encounter as a manifestation of God's love. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After worship, we broke into ministry groups to talk about the pastoral and outreach work of the church. How are we as a church going to make God manifest in the community during 2023? During the visioning time, we shared Rosca de Reyes (Kings Bread - in the shape of a crown). In some cultures, it is customary to hide a small baby Jesus in the bread which one lucky person will find.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8bBwsYjRxQ71tMrncJDbNfkqNYhGSS1I0LHS0FuSGfpZLTgf0WEHRJxKION3PBhW_KRffRqDKfHlky_65bIOgG9CCuWG67PgMcdcgigPCvuZbB_KwlWoDcEX28LvyVBlDRw8cl0Gt6oUnPiHIvKmiSLJ-95dlTFj-WlrnU0ob7M7ovPzMp5yJs4I/s3317/IMG_5248.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="3317" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8bBwsYjRxQ71tMrncJDbNfkqNYhGSS1I0LHS0FuSGfpZLTgf0WEHRJxKION3PBhW_KRffRqDKfHlky_65bIOgG9CCuWG67PgMcdcgigPCvuZbB_KwlWoDcEX28LvyVBlDRw8cl0Gt6oUnPiHIvKmiSLJ-95dlTFj-WlrnU0ob7M7ovPzMp5yJs4I/w400-h297/IMG_5248.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>These Magi seem very joyful as they prepare to share Epiphany bread.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In El Salvador, like in many places, it is customary to keep the Christmas decorations which were put up after All Souls Day (November 2) in place until Epiphany has passed. So, as a final nod to Christmas 2022 and Epiphany 2023, let's take a little Epiphany Day peek into this season's decoration photo diary...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx_3lF3iIQOhKAiVDnerGHeljFyY41eAC1kXlwt9i9PhadOA0JrCU099ErNyk8n37vmLkMtCWNqWlvvjbsxrIv3Bh6a4zTj-dqR0WjXeL5Aoy1vW3ALV4D6jfhtCvZS13nR6Ggr0mVvoh5zVMtY45PkVW2V_zAqaNzA6detLhMOEW8Uu5q8tKuq0q/s3316/IMG_4060.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3316" data-original-width="2595" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx_3lF3iIQOhKAiVDnerGHeljFyY41eAC1kXlwt9i9PhadOA0JrCU099ErNyk8n37vmLkMtCWNqWlvvjbsxrIv3Bh6a4zTj-dqR0WjXeL5Aoy1vW3ALV4D6jfhtCvZS13nR6Ggr0mVvoh5zVMtY45PkVW2V_zAqaNzA6detLhMOEW8Uu5q8tKuq0q/w313-h400/IMG_4060.JPG" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>First Stop: El Ático pupuseria in Planes de Renderos<br />where you can have your picture taken with the gingerbread man</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgBtSp34LoVDEd8GYxOzKZcEHwPInvjiBvdUy0pm17LM69_vlFfzAmerlJlp5SKYGMi8zTFKlQBakQwNIASsCv0dSi_4EGIGsEeNe3idKKHXGD9E9nEg4A2smnpXoY6W2b1ezMepXlDhU09kUrvbrgLj_PPJ4r2e6759N7zzLduPiVaCOnsS2_tao/s3880/IMG_4082.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2264" data-original-width="3880" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgBtSp34LoVDEd8GYxOzKZcEHwPInvjiBvdUy0pm17LM69_vlFfzAmerlJlp5SKYGMi8zTFKlQBakQwNIASsCv0dSi_4EGIGsEeNe3idKKHXGD9E9nEg4A2smnpXoY6W2b1ezMepXlDhU09kUrvbrgLj_PPJ4r2e6759N7zzLduPiVaCOnsS2_tao/w400-h234/IMG_4082.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Plaza Barrios in early November as the decorations were being put into place</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE9Wj8kMRSbpE_51UG04REafrm91X9OuWxl7tem4B85kiLqrjY5cvRPPMNClN_YGkWy6e49R__L2xs9g_6G1fBmCNRzhv9_9d0AUCabaxZro2ELm4LJ_zA1lIBrgM-zptXvHS4zp2SlptClIJfCnzf5Pdjr_P51TUsODu1-q9X6oqFfHGw03lXRqQ/s2573/IMG_4083.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1929" data-original-width="2573" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE9Wj8kMRSbpE_51UG04REafrm91X9OuWxl7tem4B85kiLqrjY5cvRPPMNClN_YGkWy6e49R__L2xs9g_6G1fBmCNRzhv9_9d0AUCabaxZro2ELm4LJ_zA1lIBrgM-zptXvHS4zp2SlptClIJfCnzf5Pdjr_P51TUsODu1-q9X6oqFfHGw03lXRqQ/w400-h300/IMG_4083.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Iglesia El Rosario - Church of the Rosary from Plaza Libertad<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpxvSkryv6UiPY7B1wbCPdAyWw8lMHGIryuEKuzK9059jzIfK3E7nYSRk3_h45VWmqIfEpPLTdxs7D0G7Wlq7rilHwuv-5qOeYxR6J8GNhUpPqmjzwdxSiFJPiXwKIQKBQwvm4jquQ75re40MEf98luJUbsQpazAPqwoMvBltWBYBKaeNOzYjiUNE/s4321/IMG_20221111_143749.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="4321" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpxvSkryv6UiPY7B1wbCPdAyWw8lMHGIryuEKuzK9059jzIfK3E7nYSRk3_h45VWmqIfEpPLTdxs7D0G7Wlq7rilHwuv-5qOeYxR6J8GNhUpPqmjzwdxSiFJPiXwKIQKBQwvm4jquQ75re40MEf98luJUbsQpazAPqwoMvBltWBYBKaeNOzYjiUNE/w400-h184/IMG_20221111_143749.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Plaza Libertad</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAo0YRq7av8zKlI5nsj2t_WOOHgyDIeYHQwXWr_lCSgUwzzHG_oxuts6JfPqfLOPsebhKHJBZEIqYLfG4hmHtbaKyPk5Aq-pl4J06LXAyKHoDbzG3UR9NnTSQLDLyOn8yI560JZfmVMa86WQIP8Ef9iEZ7brZIOadxnxTgg07baeRfDP3P9wyTFPKs/s2652/IMG_4093.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2652" data-original-width="2510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAo0YRq7av8zKlI5nsj2t_WOOHgyDIeYHQwXWr_lCSgUwzzHG_oxuts6JfPqfLOPsebhKHJBZEIqYLfG4hmHtbaKyPk5Aq-pl4J06LXAyKHoDbzG3UR9NnTSQLDLyOn8yI560JZfmVMa86WQIP8Ef9iEZ7brZIOadxnxTgg07baeRfDP3P9wyTFPKs/w303-h320/IMG_4093.JPG" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Plaza Libertad</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="3555" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfqT8IbUrB6OwUq-HKWlV3po5MpY9e1kAEwmEVVi9XUYYJfK1T9WWyVya67qbSzuGKzwC_916gftz42du6cQ8pDjY6WmD1gBr5-iyNE27mgz9t59HWONffFlgeKxVzGMz0SkkuVSee0bS3wBNROG5j6G5FcQQ_slL-4TFB714obHFlu7Axmo035Au/w400-h285/IMG_4113.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Installing the City of San Salvador Christmas tree <br />at Plaza Salvador del Mundo (with Saint Romero in the foreground)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LotthC2FF5BZuAY-6pSrFCeewPpqrp-z1vb_hwBDnK0g8w6CwDrealH6nyql2t_H-hRXNZhXUd-52ErW2i9O8QEDyaybQBE7o7ABq-YQGAegQ378T4iSjAVNNSOMzAZkJmJwF34Sg73khXLcJbttEz0B4WJTMEaiUj17807wwEmcgxAa_1MGtABe/s1697/IMG_4406.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1697" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LotthC2FF5BZuAY-6pSrFCeewPpqrp-z1vb_hwBDnK0g8w6CwDrealH6nyql2t_H-hRXNZhXUd-52ErW2i9O8QEDyaybQBE7o7ABq-YQGAegQ378T4iSjAVNNSOMzAZkJmJwF34Sg73khXLcJbttEz0B4WJTMEaiUj17807wwEmcgxAa_1MGtABe/w400-h244/IMG_4406.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Small businesses get into the Christmas spirit</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfqT8IbUrB6OwUq-HKWlV3po5MpY9e1kAEwmEVVi9XUYYJfK1T9WWyVya67qbSzuGKzwC_916gftz42du6cQ8pDjY6WmD1gBr5-iyNE27mgz9t59HWONffFlgeKxVzGMz0SkkuVSee0bS3wBNROG5j6G5FcQQ_slL-4TFB714obHFlu7Axmo035Au/s3555/IMG_4113.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i></i></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDsMTsw_JW6Qisdst6YOwHCEB1f1b2Akz42i4pl7UPjQrlkPkkU5EwpoSxC1QYmDuVealm84fQ2cKDHWTIpWu0CCMIUSUE5__WpuJoKyuGylkcLehFUvxzeQxpB2GZ_32MN2kCgHG20LiirQwJm09KLB9lh66pc6RjpCHaC6JADBJbF0p2cyDQ5U_/s4032/IMG_4124.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDsMTsw_JW6Qisdst6YOwHCEB1f1b2Akz42i4pl7UPjQrlkPkkU5EwpoSxC1QYmDuVealm84fQ2cKDHWTIpWu0CCMIUSUE5__WpuJoKyuGylkcLehFUvxzeQxpB2GZ_32MN2kCgHG20LiirQwJm09KLB9lh66pc6RjpCHaC6JADBJbF0p2cyDQ5U_/w300-h400/IMG_4124.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>The most beautiful Christmas decorations in El Salvador<br />are the ones which nature provides. <br />This is outside a home in Los Héroes.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqsB_NjmGIeGQePoSLtAhfBJtO1Dk6taGIw5oYIshbUkdmfNu-Ay_akTdwzwBjEsfBUAAgiXGwpW2LGeo-Yw7GMFpYj7jF0PCHptMNoKV7olG7QhlvHLNZQwjzOG3qK5o7mzbQDrVpt6yGdk5oUK48V4NFxZQivRBl26TxjKI7b2-H3jFk8DNSYyJ/s3432/IMG_4201.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2331" data-original-width="3432" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqsB_NjmGIeGQePoSLtAhfBJtO1Dk6taGIw5oYIshbUkdmfNu-Ay_akTdwzwBjEsfBUAAgiXGwpW2LGeo-Yw7GMFpYj7jF0PCHptMNoKV7olG7QhlvHLNZQwjzOG3qK5o7mzbQDrVpt6yGdk5oUK48V4NFxZQivRBl26TxjKI7b2-H3jFk8DNSYyJ/w400-h271/IMG_4201.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Captured this quick pic while crossing a street near the UCA<br />after the evening vigil in memory of the assassination of the six Jesuits and two women</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryya5NU_mCswKg1mTSmptNeO9fTrYF_VpBCAVvCsGOGpwEHBB_tNtrzlLcNNHHdLwoCKYT71miWPFahgsJRn5npnxQHjBH_TVOGUhS51SfQfhBIZ6NHUAezP8FHNxDSCSLjRletIvZbDh0YmzGEL8FCTimZ_0C_sF5J6X4LFnWy0cpujlrB_p3_hx/s4032/IMG_4202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryya5NU_mCswKg1mTSmptNeO9fTrYF_VpBCAVvCsGOGpwEHBB_tNtrzlLcNNHHdLwoCKYT71miWPFahgsJRn5npnxQHjBH_TVOGUhS51SfQfhBIZ6NHUAezP8FHNxDSCSLjRletIvZbDh0YmzGEL8FCTimZ_0C_sF5J6X4LFnWy0cpujlrB_p3_hx/w300-h400/IMG_4202.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>World cup meets Christmas in November at Pizza Hut</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNd165N_tz-nskToyuIri6VHj4wmRhYTN9a0okmbK_U6RBq3EJ047TbSFpF0V6kXmMjnAIBcEE7dNZ7iPZJ9J3EIE6y_MbZ1q1MlhXGF7GHJmhL2WLu_-WdpPdtKdUvgDxybkgGNEbpS6NtVYaumr-RkU8CrsrpMDosbcStjNynHSj4GfkpZJG51n/s3623/IMG_20221113_151801.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3623" data-original-width="2112" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNd165N_tz-nskToyuIri6VHj4wmRhYTN9a0okmbK_U6RBq3EJ047TbSFpF0V6kXmMjnAIBcEE7dNZ7iPZJ9J3EIE6y_MbZ1q1MlhXGF7GHJmhL2WLu_-WdpPdtKdUvgDxybkgGNEbpS6NtVYaumr-RkU8CrsrpMDosbcStjNynHSj4GfkpZJG51n/w234-h400/IMG_20221113_151801.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Really big mall Santa</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Fw2_dMgKTH_bRLoB9TKAjbBsw1YhFr18t0eOvrJV46Mm-NUxQ8IYJEThbikzoVInqF9tBOD9yV_hYlOQmWNsrhXbAMIHGzZhvGF0BEjWetCrqEJBKadDZiSa5VspsY94BAcATkDKMQwmWPTWggqVx_LyYbJEyftPsdyiw4b7bV1cLLkAAYCNBlbQ/s4032/IMG_4482.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Fw2_dMgKTH_bRLoB9TKAjbBsw1YhFr18t0eOvrJV46Mm-NUxQ8IYJEThbikzoVInqF9tBOD9yV_hYlOQmWNsrhXbAMIHGzZhvGF0BEjWetCrqEJBKadDZiSa5VspsY94BAcATkDKMQwmWPTWggqVx_LyYbJEyftPsdyiw4b7bV1cLLkAAYCNBlbQ/w400-h300/IMG_4482.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Corporations sponsor several displays around San Salvador.<br />The golden arches speak for themselves.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQt-hPRrSYUfGuviOZ63rnE-TnOhebbCXsYaO-7ks9aJbcJ9onrBeQzIJ1ciSDgibbV0L8INEVahfo1DM7SdQWn3z_HUrZhTOixW9gltpnUhQ9i0YRNLZ5NcOnHOVX28YF6iUX_avMg8IjDfpdHIcutBsxAlnRpHvI8Ig_7hZJR6bUo-61cD3j3ur/w300-h400/IMG_4256.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>The malls have pretty great decorations</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQt-hPRrSYUfGuviOZ63rnE-TnOhebbCXsYaO-7ks9aJbcJ9onrBeQzIJ1ciSDgibbV0L8INEVahfo1DM7SdQWn3z_HUrZhTOixW9gltpnUhQ9i0YRNLZ5NcOnHOVX28YF6iUX_avMg8IjDfpdHIcutBsxAlnRpHvI8Ig_7hZJR6bUo-61cD3j3ur/s4032/IMG_4256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><i></i></span></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wnDvsIjy--kpvd6jbcl2ocXIgpplMRw-S_KqAnBrtMzePjTAjVdAv0Cj61uAY3EpHIdkkg8StrzFr8BIW1BwaENQuCeg5Zvqq9JnMKZtzrhByxLPnnwtdsrokArxVKar8s7oznrV0Pw4VnM9iwsThu7b9ni1l0VknI-u_TPZfWDCZAiauFHztFqU/s4032/IMG_5282.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wnDvsIjy--kpvd6jbcl2ocXIgpplMRw-S_KqAnBrtMzePjTAjVdAv0Cj61uAY3EpHIdkkg8StrzFr8BIW1BwaENQuCeg5Zvqq9JnMKZtzrhByxLPnnwtdsrokArxVKar8s7oznrV0Pw4VnM9iwsThu7b9ni1l0VknI-u_TPZfWDCZAiauFHztFqU/w400-h300/IMG_5282.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>We happened to be at a mall after church today. The Polar Express<br />Train and kids' area are huge. Check out this slide which is constructed<br />over the giant mall staircase.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzkPE6VgM7JAcKjFc9tuSajX7jooL-X2D-xfcpXiOv2pnztK-yIyxKhM07mlUKIB-lmIVM77f2-SD4qliWCWA9cdcPRfavJ0h0EFu4CXfilGufVrVwAw-wDnDG4hLu_9IG-Jhf84bmjYEaAWCwXlY_c94hjQDWYHYceiRsVGqPoK6F18PnPGeKPmF/s3713/IMG_5285.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3713" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzkPE6VgM7JAcKjFc9tuSajX7jooL-X2D-xfcpXiOv2pnztK-yIyxKhM07mlUKIB-lmIVM77f2-SD4qliWCWA9cdcPRfavJ0h0EFu4CXfilGufVrVwAw-wDnDG4hLu_9IG-Jhf84bmjYEaAWCwXlY_c94hjQDWYHYceiRsVGqPoK6F18PnPGeKPmF/w400-h263/IMG_5285.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Happy Epiphany from downtown Antiguo Cuscatlán</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>For more about Epiphany, follow the previous links imbedded within this story and read about<a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2020/01/get-to-know-holidays-january.html" target="_blank"> January Holidays</a> in El Salvador.</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-63658867603903126592022-11-16T23:00:00.002-06:002022-11-16T23:01:26.539-06:00Human Rights Award: The Continued Fight to Save Valle del Ángel<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKifF0QlQRBz7ObGT9lBcWUxkZ4G3OL1mUC63CRLmW6mgTZlRHL0spMriNCDKNzioFYgNnVDffLIiXd0QvzSQB09NP2Wdl1lLTxxGS2WdGnUFECKNAvK0eyx8IFalIBMoebA_wIjdflIrJHR3jmr8_9KTlLp-pAPTZMhkdgMElMNdi-eCMyTi4VLc/s4032/IMG_4107.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKifF0QlQRBz7ObGT9lBcWUxkZ4G3OL1mUC63CRLmW6mgTZlRHL0spMriNCDKNzioFYgNnVDffLIiXd0QvzSQB09NP2Wdl1lLTxxGS2WdGnUFECKNAvK0eyx8IFalIBMoebA_wIjdflIrJHR3jmr8_9KTlLp-pAPTZMhkdgMElMNdi-eCMyTi4VLc/w400-h300/IMG_4107.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>The Rose Garden at the UCA - with memorial posters for <br />the six Jesuit priests and two women who were murdered on<br />November 16, 1989. (photo taken in 2022)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Segundo Montes, S.J. was a physicist, philosopher, sociologist, theologian, humanitarian, teacher and Jesuit priest. His writings are extensive, and he is well remembered for his humanitarian work with internally displaced people and refugees during the 1980's civil war in El Salvador. It was during that time, that he founded the Human Rights Institute at the UCA (Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas). He, like several of his colleagues at the UCA , was originally from Spain. He followed his heart and his calling and became Salvadoran, teaching sociology and defending human rights. </div><div><br /></div><div>On November 16, 1989, Segundo Montes was murdered, along with Ignacio Ellacuría, Ignacio Martín-Baró, Juan Ramón Moreno, Joaquín López y López, and Amando López, together with Elba Ramos and her 16 year-old daughter Celina Ramos, by a military death squad. The bodies Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter were discovered by Elba's husband (the gardener) who planted roses where his daughter, wife and the priests were murdered. The martyrs of the UCA are honored and remembered each year during the week of November 16th with a vigil, a mass and other special events. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFglyScgWRyxhzhdL7gnuxYpYOwT42McJQlXsaSDJtlmjIjdNn2TY0tBEJ3PuBQT0HNpJ_vOtD-fax-LyanB4og9LV29aFF7NJX4syxGPPFhWxaO2S8IFfe8Bhg0ijml6vpKN2C9-zn3hXhdANVeuTmGCPvGFz0n1IssE7sRT-8te7Eyw9Cag6Ri7C/s4032/IMG_4174.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFglyScgWRyxhzhdL7gnuxYpYOwT42McJQlXsaSDJtlmjIjdNn2TY0tBEJ3PuBQT0HNpJ_vOtD-fax-LyanB4og9LV29aFF7NJX4syxGPPFhWxaO2S8IFfe8Bhg0ijml6vpKN2C9-zn3hXhdANVeuTmGCPvGFz0n1IssE7sRT-8te7Eyw9Cag6Ri7C/w400-h300/IMG_4174.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Pilgrims gather before the vigil and the walk with farolitos (little lanterns)<br />(November 12, 2022)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrTzqKRTytN3Lqh5yrUUeXpSmmy7IO8_ZaFKmvgOQWIDqujFrlLRmuA5Kl2cDYto0Bjikljay9stR43NWCW09qwXpQO4IkasMPRntOm2bXRMCes4MrO78Qj2xNwUalo8UdbHdwU-V5UsyENrLFjB7cOyUUJqxHLGaNWo-RFhtRGNzHzj4JQOCOm-P/s4032/IMG_4168.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrTzqKRTytN3Lqh5yrUUeXpSmmy7IO8_ZaFKmvgOQWIDqujFrlLRmuA5Kl2cDYto0Bjikljay9stR43NWCW09qwXpQO4IkasMPRntOm2bXRMCes4MrO78Qj2xNwUalo8UdbHdwU-V5UsyENrLFjB7cOyUUJqxHLGaNWo-RFhtRGNzHzj4JQOCOm-P/w400-h300/IMG_4168.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>The alfombras (carpets made of colored salt) <br />33rd anniversary of the UCA martyrs (November 12, 2022)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>For the last few years, the UCA planned to give out a new human rights award, named for Segundo Montes. Due to COVID, that plan was delayed. This year, the Segundo Montes Human Rights Award was given for the first time: one award to an individual, and one award to an organization or group.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTId-kbrRU4KIWbMqQhXfZ2fTo83vdUloUKg2AmPWUhP_6boD1-f1T8QWZN2PF64EGu5jtoI_6vC9raMDbS2IdiBkpnfp2ioQW_wZEry7SkOBP6CZBX_sUwb5T2MaQjkM3J8srK8ob9ZPzaSpe4JSszSsHq6VOYL4xRXjuNJpkLyMrJYdNgCLJvv9T/s995/8045ae23-d6fe-47fe-a533-be104eb846a5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="995" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTId-kbrRU4KIWbMqQhXfZ2fTo83vdUloUKg2AmPWUhP_6boD1-f1T8QWZN2PF64EGu5jtoI_6vC9raMDbS2IdiBkpnfp2ioQW_wZEry7SkOBP6CZBX_sUwb5T2MaQjkM3J8srK8ob9ZPzaSpe4JSszSsHq6VOYL4xRXjuNJpkLyMrJYdNgCLJvv9T/w400-h391/8045ae23-d6fe-47fe-a533-be104eb846a5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Translation: Segundo Montes Human Rights Award<br />of the Central America University José Simeón Cañas (the UCA)<br />Tuesday, November 15th at 2:30 pm in the Segundo Montes Auditorium<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">Through the "Save the Valley of the Angel" network, we learned that the Colectivo Salvemos Valle de Ángel was nominated to receive the award for an organization's distinguished work in defense of human rights. As we have accompanied our friends, especially in the Salvadoran Lutheran Church and in Nejapa with this work, we asked if we could attend the ceremony, celebrate this achievement, and share the story with the solidarity community.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The purpose of the Segundo Montes Human Rights Award is to acknowledge the good works individuals and groups do and to encourage the building of networks and alliances in defense of human rights. Father Andreu Oliva, Rector of the UCA, gave opening remarks in which he recalled historic advocates for the defense of human rights, including Father Rutilio Grande, Saint Oscar Romero and survivor of the massacre in El Mazote, Rufina Amaya. He postulated how wonderful it would be if we did not need to defend human rights, if El Salvador were a country where all of the people lived with dignity and freedom and their human rights were respected. Until that day, however, we need to stand up to the powers of oppression, and defend the rights of the people and the planet.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7lB9fBwfGFhnVhebf-GqS988LwC7iiFJ8XXe0etFLqTEzZxn3GJoA0BgE4F11WOkCebjFipx-P2iPZxfsBgITlqYBQEq9ylF7ngjsxtAa6kkfSOzzcc5qMcC5EV46KEa3pxBuQo10Cd1UbVQRHpUuymaIngRIdlNzZPO2oNEwyFhVtbfbO9QTYbh/s4032/IMG_4300.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7lB9fBwfGFhnVhebf-GqS988LwC7iiFJ8XXe0etFLqTEzZxn3GJoA0BgE4F11WOkCebjFipx-P2iPZxfsBgITlqYBQEq9ylF7ngjsxtAa6kkfSOzzcc5qMcC5EV46KEa3pxBuQo10Cd1UbVQRHpUuymaIngRIdlNzZPO2oNEwyFhVtbfbO9QTYbh/w400-h300/IMG_4300.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Representatives of the Save the Valley of the Angel Collective<br />applauded, held up signs and called out their slogans.<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyR2jvLyafW9OyIB1GtMBmK2E_ePkRmTdQS8IZvRAftDfed41AGAM60RCdeRa8Dp3CGju8yRQK_tVSfmztjiOc8wAbppQqcVdEjWSw3w6E0LMVbhIsk1KD2ydw-G2CbBMotVxUL1rq8I6_x4YngTpgY2oWk1afeVwJwQgfoJTD2qxiOXmroQUuyo1/s3281/IMG_4296.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="3281" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyR2jvLyafW9OyIB1GtMBmK2E_ePkRmTdQS8IZvRAftDfed41AGAM60RCdeRa8Dp3CGju8yRQK_tVSfmztjiOc8wAbppQqcVdEjWSw3w6E0LMVbhIsk1KD2ydw-G2CbBMotVxUL1rq8I6_x4YngTpgY2oWk1afeVwJwQgfoJTD2qxiOXmroQUuyo1/w400-h264/IMG_4296.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Get out, Oligarchs! Get out, Dueñas family!<br />(Signs defending the land and aquifer from wealthy developers)<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the nominees were announced, and the individual award given, the emcee announced the winner of the group award: Campaña Cuidadana Salvemos Valle El Angel (Citizen Campaign Save Valley of the Angel). The campaign against overdevelopment on the north side of the San Salvador volcano has been long and frustrating. The call to protect the Valley of the Angel grew out of work done by the Foro de Agua (Water Forum), a consortium of citizen and social groups, which worked tirelessly to get the Salvadoran legislature to pass a water protection law (finally passed in December 2021). For years the Foro de Agua has protested the depletion of the aquifer in Nejapa by businesses such as Coca Cola, and they are part of the movement (along with churches, community representatives, ecological organizations and human rights groups) calling for the government to protect the aquifer, the forest, the rivers, the soil and the agricultural land in the valley.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05KZEpPAAOfTssHD1AMkz7SxK_ToIUgTZ_Md-w7jE3HQ4365NnmEdqXJjr1C7SLtlkW-5l-4Xexcin1X4GnQYcmVe4jSuEPZpM77iTz3xSGXEuZBRXThPRuJnZlclJMQ30x-57ti19--T27_6Ihi50Rj9N0-7Kl5_twkN4dkBWlOCYdizl86iHELb/s3232/IMG_4162.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="3232" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05KZEpPAAOfTssHD1AMkz7SxK_ToIUgTZ_Md-w7jE3HQ4365NnmEdqXJjr1C7SLtlkW-5l-4Xexcin1X4GnQYcmVe4jSuEPZpM77iTz3xSGXEuZBRXThPRuJnZlclJMQ30x-57ti19--T27_6Ihi50Rj9N0-7Kl5_twkN4dkBWlOCYdizl86iHELb/w400-h206/IMG_4162.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">Road development to accommodate more traffic in the valley.<br />(November 2022)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bPXgGiyntvXuYK70L5KSQ1fP4x9W4Q1WrG774IZGW5dpjl-NrV8lgiTdw7lwjI5ysMMa_JNrIXWOXqEXbRQcnDgX80UIE13XjF5aA7UYTkg8w84xBvJcXItZ4U_ros6wRMw_UDy3vsiGXUimuKBen6L645ADZCXMzJKTEqZk4Q55VMZIJHgoXlH_/s1280/81fcc3dd-109a-4b85-9c97-4958600e0177.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bPXgGiyntvXuYK70L5KSQ1fP4x9W4Q1WrG774IZGW5dpjl-NrV8lgiTdw7lwjI5ysMMa_JNrIXWOXqEXbRQcnDgX80UIE13XjF5aA7UYTkg8w84xBvJcXItZ4U_ros6wRMw_UDy3vsiGXUimuKBen6L645ADZCXMzJKTEqZk4Q55VMZIJHgoXlH_/w400-h300/81fcc3dd-109a-4b85-9c97-4958600e0177.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>"The violence of the state against nature is violence against women. <br />Dueños get out of Valley of the Angel!<br />Eco-feminists"<br />(Photo courtesy of Salvemos Valle del Ángel, September 2022)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RD75V4-md12mYFp6U6caIzZjdALIh7BXnu0_lcpvLciW6OJQKcY4sGROHoccN2sILtaVOogzGLPelGHpUynSoeOHqA2FEneJ6vr0cHyttO4H0TVhLfC8WAi6UHmSzfnjbTnXm1vC94UuFap0FHCj3bMRbNK8vpJ_SaegjpM979C-lerXhvVBBGRx/s1280/3c39f7ec-7d30-4b78-ae6a-42c08d10923a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1280" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RD75V4-md12mYFp6U6caIzZjdALIh7BXnu0_lcpvLciW6OJQKcY4sGROHoccN2sILtaVOogzGLPelGHpUynSoeOHqA2FEneJ6vr0cHyttO4H0TVhLfC8WAi6UHmSzfnjbTnXm1vC94UuFap0FHCj3bMRbNK8vpJ_SaegjpM979C-lerXhvVBBGRx/w400-h301/3c39f7ec-7d30-4b78-ae6a-42c08d10923a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">The banner in this photo calls for the protection of the micro-aquifer<br />of the Chacalapa River (in Apopa) from contamination due to a mega-development<br />of a commercial center and housing units in Valle del Ángel.</span></i><br /><i style="color: #073763;">(Photo courtesy of Salvemos Valle del Ángel, September 2022)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After announcing the winner of the award, the emcee asked 2 or 3 representatives from the Colectivo Salvemos Valle del Ángel to come to the stage. The exuberance of the members in attendance could not be contained. <div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzC6dEaxgNr6jY6GosvgtyGltVYFNe_cv_EqIuf6ZNQyvCgGeq4ZLVSPgNHj7pANKIHvKkJ8WBqdqG-0iZV0vW0Vd2n-CoiMDR2-1QrszVYAfF_6qbJ1epiQly6kdYmEJQ7A7MrSXKXlMCa_CDjmbWDdG-sSqwANOD0o8qWLjCuuGFG5-FIUPqcWi/s4032/IMG_4308.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzC6dEaxgNr6jY6GosvgtyGltVYFNe_cv_EqIuf6ZNQyvCgGeq4ZLVSPgNHj7pANKIHvKkJ8WBqdqG-0iZV0vW0Vd2n-CoiMDR2-1QrszVYAfF_6qbJ1epiQly6kdYmEJQ7A7MrSXKXlMCa_CDjmbWDdG-sSqwANOD0o8qWLjCuuGFG5-FIUPqcWi/w400-h300/IMG_4308.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>A few members of the collective came up to the stage to accept the award<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>The video of the entire ceremony is posted on the UCA Facebook page. <a href="https://youtu.be/AVP5eAp6CnM" target="_blank">Pastor Santiago was first to speak</a> on behalf of the group, stating that the doing the work together as churches in coordination with citizen groups follows the footprints of Father Rutilio Grande. The right to water is a human right. Water is not a commodity. All who live in the cities, towns and farms on the north side of the San Salvador volcano have the right to safe, clean water.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AVP5eAp6CnM" width="320" youtube-src-id="AVP5eAp6CnM"></iframe></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/EGI6H6rzLHg" target="_blank">The second speaker stated that the collective</a> receives the award with love and gratitude, but more importantly, they receive it as a motivation to continue to fight for their rivers, their water. This is a fight by the people who live there. Her passionate fight against the wealthy landowners is the fight of grandmothers, mothers and children.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EGI6H6rzLHg" width="320" youtube-src-id="EGI6H6rzLHg"></iframe></div><br /><div>To be recognized for their consistent, faithful work is a well-deserved honor for the Collective to Save the Valley of the Angel. The group's response to receiving the award illustrates the power of community organizing, the power of human rights education, and the power of bringing different sectors of society together to make a difference for the common good. Congratulations. The fight continues.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS2mNP2lE--akgAjB7nfUolgmT4vrZASy9iDraYyfXLUhYDd3WGbqYXzsFokjoj8rOtGanOStTLwEgwmYkY3pAFhK99_XKO-stw3rls7mjPp7LDOqvg80Y5LeKheJgZ14UocRLqVms0YLHOIKqJFeWXSYMMLdfp85ct9Q5VDAFigivd66NmEqTVoj/s4032/IMG_4320.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS2mNP2lE--akgAjB7nfUolgmT4vrZASy9iDraYyfXLUhYDd3WGbqYXzsFokjoj8rOtGanOStTLwEgwmYkY3pAFhK99_XKO-stw3rls7mjPp7LDOqvg80Y5LeKheJgZ14UocRLqVms0YLHOIKqJFeWXSYMMLdfp85ct9Q5VDAFigivd66NmEqTVoj/w400-h300/IMG_4320.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Everyday people being recognized for their perseverance in their<br />fight to have access to water. <br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs0-6RWQGqvbewNNCeIflpezICMwI9HY5zGHwm77qZ2fUyh_9gCAH1XwHFq0N-xMcFgROgEpdwt1po3hb7Wy3BDGY61r_L_XnQ9jRc5Krt5EWkRTxwqL-YRQUVqttQPEsUPG_r00UfYmno8JZ8gHKUv2VeI8vt3KaCoQvEqADDYvmygZHsQQX-LBM/s1600/e44b5cb0-96c9-4f39-9408-8d281ccd38e1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs0-6RWQGqvbewNNCeIflpezICMwI9HY5zGHwm77qZ2fUyh_9gCAH1XwHFq0N-xMcFgROgEpdwt1po3hb7Wy3BDGY61r_L_XnQ9jRc5Krt5EWkRTxwqL-YRQUVqttQPEsUPG_r00UfYmno8JZ8gHKUv2VeI8vt3KaCoQvEqADDYvmygZHsQQX-LBM/w400-h300/e44b5cb0-96c9-4f39-9408-8d281ccd38e1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Water protection march<br /></i></span><i style="color: #073763;">(Photo courtesy of Salvemos Valle del Ángel, September 2022)</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-45518802423150445082022-11-05T19:38:00.006-05:002022-11-05T19:38:57.587-05:00The Lutheran Trifecta: The Part in the Cemetery<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Día de los Difuntos - All Souls Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">is a day for family. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Día de los Difuntos literally translates as Day of the Deceased, or Day of the Dead. In El Salvador, just as in the United States, some Day of the Dead traditions from Mexico have crept into local culture - especially in the commercial realm. In El Salvador, observance of the Day of the Dead is typically a quiet event. With or without sugar skulls and mariachis, the Day of the Dead is about communing with family across across the boundaries between life on earth and life in the eternal realm.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In El Salvador, November 2nd is a public holiday. It is a time for families to visit their deceased loved ones in the places of their eternal rest. Long, long lines of cars and buses clog the streets near the large cemeteries. In small towns and in the large cities, small pop-up shops filled with flowers are set up under canopies and umbrellas. Entrepreneurs take advantage of the slow traffic to sell whatever families may need for their visits: picnic blankets, plastic flowers, cold beverages, and balloons. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHfUDrav1-WLdtObNnbqqApOpDl1XdCPnMq66HBjBZ5e48bcNwvsG-GKi-DdaNToExmoNGh7YDoLlaiOxcHv_DsQvVTCJ8xokXKkuAVh3ROXkOE2ntgiDEaCabjnGbbn4v32JqSSJNOQOSU5LGOV0T2RZFT4wOPXrPP9RcQ7Cah7BANw_hjBQXdCj/s2560/IMG_20161101_170016411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHfUDrav1-WLdtObNnbqqApOpDl1XdCPnMq66HBjBZ5e48bcNwvsG-GKi-DdaNToExmoNGh7YDoLlaiOxcHv_DsQvVTCJ8xokXKkuAVh3ROXkOE2ntgiDEaCabjnGbbn4v32JqSSJNOQOSU5LGOV0T2RZFT4wOPXrPP9RcQ7Cah7BANw_hjBQXdCj/w400-h225/IMG_20161101_170016411.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Many families find comfort in just sitting for a while.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once at the cemetery, family members wash the tile tombs and headstones, or tidy up the earth and vegetation over the graves. Burial sites are decorated with flowers and garlands. Sometimes families bring photos of their loved ones. Deceased children are remembered with stuffed animals and balloons. Families sit, talk, remember, and just be. It's not a quick visit, it's a time for the communion of saints. Often, families take photos of these holy moments, to share with extended family and friends. Sometimes, I receive these photos. It's an honor and a blessing to receive them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When a friend sent me some photos this year, I asked him if I could share two of them in this story. The departed ones were dear to me, and even through the photos, I could again feel their presence in my heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTURh1gwbQTDpH1bOaZQkV4PnTlmsu7zc6oSVwVxIdIx5VeGqvkLYmOfTm8L6Tx6HAJMcBBWPJFutdQwHtYQ5cCOrIRO3zIijv9FLBGwvHb1v7wrCgTGlt2ECkIhH0ntNo6yhwVWDDCJHLK_E0ikdO5VUjYxQOL4fZrWHvH2wDzAPfYhGTg_-z8TG/s1280/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-11-02%20at%207.30.56%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1280" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTURh1gwbQTDpH1bOaZQkV4PnTlmsu7zc6oSVwVxIdIx5VeGqvkLYmOfTm8L6Tx6HAJMcBBWPJFutdQwHtYQ5cCOrIRO3zIijv9FLBGwvHb1v7wrCgTGlt2ECkIhH0ntNo6yhwVWDDCJHLK_E0ikdO5VUjYxQOL4fZrWHvH2wDzAPfYhGTg_-z8TG/w400-h391/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-11-02%20at%207.30.56%20PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>"With my little brother, Onan" (photo from Santiago)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I remember and honor Onan. We had some wild rides in an old jeep with no innards, loose wires, and holes in the floor. His calling in life was to be a quiet helper. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcByavx2K2wI1nz1Kf_L02Wj1PCV6BVs4HJB7QyJY6BQYmb2PD-Hv0mTdg7VODxb-UyL9uUEPLvjBX_lTc3knhs43rO1YK3L04I2Q04z4PoxU8Iv14Gjf8tQTen8h0EhfYOGsg17xG0S1L3HHyXTNLG1stiSteZB4AYO4LVLN3KFoxpOhC0ZIbpjJ5/s1043/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-11-02%20at%207.28.56%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1010" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcByavx2K2wI1nz1Kf_L02Wj1PCV6BVs4HJB7QyJY6BQYmb2PD-Hv0mTdg7VODxb-UyL9uUEPLvjBX_lTc3knhs43rO1YK3L04I2Q04z4PoxU8Iv14Gjf8tQTen8h0EhfYOGsg17xG0S1L3HHyXTNLG1stiSteZB4AYO4LVLN3KFoxpOhC0ZIbpjJ5/w388-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-11-02%20at%207.28.56%20PM.jpeg" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>"With Olimpia and Eduardo" (photo from Santiago)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I remember and honor Olimpia. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was a survivor, a feminist, and badass brave. She is one of my heroes. <div><br /></div><div>I remember and honor Eduardo. He was a beloved son, brother and young father. He was gifted with a musical spirit and a song in his heart. I will always remember visiting with him at the music school. His smile and joy live on in his daughter and forever in his mother's heart.</div><div><br /></div><div>For some families, there is no grave to visit. In the heart of San Salvador, in Parque Cuscatlán, the Monument to Memory and Truth holds the names of more than 20,000 of the 75,000 civilians who were killed in El Salvador's civil war (1980-1992). On the Day of the Dead, families come to the wall to place flowers below the names of their loved ones and to pass their stories on to the younger generation.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEi_ZFf7sGM0lliBVTmSmuu5fHjJTlTU_oZDbAj84kPsouZoGjIJPS1-Ubo_1gMYh3m9wdgVyDy2lUXxO6VMTxPRuEzIQkfQjt_a9EVUxumHOd8J0Uz3n4T3QeBrJIMwZKsl-4Sk68B-m1jRF3VQRr4q6KVD5J6_ouLQbVOt4kVY31yp8F9A9UuwK/s1877/IMG_20161101_114254506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEi_ZFf7sGM0lliBVTmSmuu5fHjJTlTU_oZDbAj84kPsouZoGjIJPS1-Ubo_1gMYh3m9wdgVyDy2lUXxO6VMTxPRuEzIQkfQjt_a9EVUxumHOd8J0Uz3n4T3QeBrJIMwZKsl-4Sk68B-m1jRF3VQRr4q6KVD5J6_ouLQbVOt4kVY31yp8F9A9UuwK/w306-h400/IMG_20161101_114254506.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Families remember and honor their beloveds<br />on All Souls Day at the memorial wall</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Observing All Souls Day and remembering and honoring beloveds who have died by visiting with them in their places of rest or at a memorial is customary for most Salvadorans, whether or not they are members of a particular Christian denomination. For Salvadoran Lutherans, the traditions of All Souls Day are part of living out the belief in the communion of saints (Third Article, Apostles Creed).</div><div><br /></div><div>For those with sistering relationships with the Salvadoran Lutheran Church, I think it is rich and beautiful for us to explore our common and our unique faith traditions and cultural practices which mark these days of Reformation, All Saints and the All Souls.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first two reflections in this 3-part series are:</div><div><a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/11/the-lutheran-trifecta-part-with-balloons.html" target="_blank">The Lutheran Trifecta: The Part with Balloons</a><br /><a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/11/the-lutheran-trifecta-part-with-saints.html" target="_blank">The Lutheran Trifecta: The Part with Saints and Spooky Tales</a></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-90088706729929975682022-11-04T00:08:00.003-05:002022-11-04T12:55:53.621-05:00The Lutheran Trifecta: The Part with Saints and Spooky Tales<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Día de los Santos - All Saints Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">is a Christian holiday, celebrated in a variety of ways depending on theological, geographical and cultural tradition. In our Lutheran Church community in El Salvador, this is the day on which legends are brought to life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4aXB5nQLYPKFeRan1XhbQKKOeBfsaO0pOO2ApEuX7uas6ac6jzB5XJ7gPYTxonl-UqyQ85WsQ93vCtRGQ0kTlatVS2sxgAOFgjf3vFGJ3Z8LCsmsVo-FsKUAwsZ3dYSbfLtWmjJEPCYcv_iETugnEQpvBNIBhG7bx9K0f095876oGsnJJfXBdr2E/s2048/313973210_1732216250493089_6328407028418426676_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1542" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4aXB5nQLYPKFeRan1XhbQKKOeBfsaO0pOO2ApEuX7uas6ac6jzB5XJ7gPYTxonl-UqyQ85WsQ93vCtRGQ0kTlatVS2sxgAOFgjf3vFGJ3Z8LCsmsVo-FsKUAwsZ3dYSbfLtWmjJEPCYcv_iETugnEQpvBNIBhG7bx9K0f095876oGsnJJfXBdr2E/w301-h400/313973210_1732216250493089_6328407028418426676_n.jpeg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Perhaps not your typical All Saints Day Lutheran Church photo. <br />This is an image of The Screaming Bride - one of the legends illustrated<br />by live actors in the Festival of the Calabiuza <br />(photo used with permission from a friend)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a bit of old school history: The description of a feast day in commemoration of multiple saints or martyrs can be found in writings from the early times of the church (prior to 400 C.E.). In the late 700's C.E., Pope Gregory III is said to have dedicated a chapel in honor of all saints and martyrs on the date of November 1st, and by the 800's C.E. the Festival of All Saints is widely recognized and celebrated on this date.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In medieval England, the Feast of All Saints (also known as All Hallows Day or Hallowmas) was celebrated as part of All Hallowtide, a 3-day observance from October 31 (Halloween) to November 2 (All Souls Day). All Saints Day was designated as a holy day of obligation by the Roman Catholic Church, in commemoration of all of the historic saints and martyrs who now reside in heaven - those officially recognized by the church as well as those who many not be known. A second day of commemoration, All Souls Day (November 2), was observed as a day to remember all who have died in the faith (such as family members and friends). These two dates continue to have theological and cultural importance in the Roman Catholic tradition. (Refer to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/All-Saints-Day" target="_blank">Encyclopedia Britannica</a>.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As part of his theological study which led to the Reformation, Luther described a new understanding of the biblical word "saint" to mean "believer." For Lutherans, there is typically one day of celebration, All Saints Day, on which all believers who have passed on from this world, are remembered. Because Reformation Day and All Saints Day occur one after the other, Lutheran Churches commonly celebrate these two festivals on consecutive Sundays: the last Sunday of October, and the first Sunday of November. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In El Salvador, All Saints Day is not an official holiday. November 1st is a day on which faithful Catholics attend mass. Otherwise it is a regular work day and a time of preparation for going to the cemetery the next day. This year, the city of Suchitoto held its second Día de los Muertos celebration on November 1st, incorporating many traditions most commonly found in Mexico. The celebration is designed to promote tourism. It included a fire show, live music, a showing of the movie <i>Coco</i>, and a concurso de catrinas (literally a ladybug contest; ladybug refers to faces painted to represent skulls adorned with flowers).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRS1y-XHQG2hEuL1pgjZU-LWy2wqcC1E76AuRa9iwAHk0S00U9aNd9C_cXHkUqyRnaW-stxJ5IJcds9mhmQgDJdGjf2vN8lMSSwMfIs8DTtSkIHcrrAaFdRY4btEBmGAg9o1xvrEOlr-9OUsO4G7dymxpt91Ju9MdDAOjj5pBxaUl_dwWqs11OVsuN/s1024/photo_5125385861494581836_y-1024x765.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1024" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRS1y-XHQG2hEuL1pgjZU-LWy2wqcC1E76AuRa9iwAHk0S00U9aNd9C_cXHkUqyRnaW-stxJ5IJcds9mhmQgDJdGjf2vN8lMSSwMfIs8DTtSkIHcrrAaFdRY4btEBmGAg9o1xvrEOlr-9OUsO4G7dymxpt91Ju9MdDAOjj5pBxaUl_dwWqs11OVsuN/w400-h299/photo_5125385861494581836_y-1024x765.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The winners of the Catrinas contest (photo by David Martínez, DiarioElSalvador.com)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The uniquely Salvadoran Fiesta de la Calabiuza has been celebrated in Tonacatepeque for many years. We have participated in the festivities a few times. Spooky legends from the region are brought to life with screams and laughter during the evening parade. These legends are <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2013/10/night-tales.html" target="_blank">told and retold by local folk by candlelight in the dark</a> of night. In this video, you might hear screams coming from <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2014/10/the-squeaky-cart.html" target="_blank">the squeaky cart</a> or catch a glimpse of el cadejo.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyrEro4gBsuUDRKxhNXqBFqbQ-f0gUlxdAdl7pcH78n1RSXTf9KZ7dl5G1C-llfV4S7g8rZHY-wHIhu0KJH7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Video used with permission from a friend</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Fiesta de la Calabiuza in Tonacatepeque</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>November 1, 2022</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Over the last year, the cultural house in Tonacatepeque increased its programming to preserve, teach and promote local stories and traditions. Many of the spooky legends are like fables, some with an origin in the church or related to the church (like the headless priest). Saints and spirits and spooks...it's a good time to light a candle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Salvadoran Lutheran Church All Saints Sunday celebrations are very similar to those celebrated in Lutheran congregations throughout the world. Stories of historic saints may be shared as inspirational examples of lives lived out in faith and love. Congregants remember their dear ones and light candles in their honor. Special attention is given to the families who have lost a beloved one within the past year. It's a time for the community to come together and support one another. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you have lost someone dear to you, may God comfort you in your tears. May your beloved's memory be a blessing in your life. May you find a community that mourns with you and supports you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Read the first story in this 3-part series: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/11/the-lutheran-trifecta-part-with-balloons.html" target="_blank">The Lutheran Trifecta: The Part with Balloons</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Read a related story: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2017/11/days-of-saints-and-dead.html" target="_blank">Days of Saints and the Dead</a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-60849727986601801942022-11-02T18:03:00.003-05:002022-11-03T11:26:04.281-05:00The Lutheran Trifecta: The Part with Balloons<div style="text-align: left;">While one might logically and theologically expect that a story entitled "The Lutheran Trifecta" would explore the Holy Trinity: God the Creator (Father/Mother), Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit, that is not the subject of this writing. As October passes and November begins, Salvadoran Lutherans and many of their global siblings in faith gather in worship and tradition to celebrate the Lutheran Trifecta: Reformation Day, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Reformation Day</span></b> is traditionally celebrated on All Hallows Eve - October 31st - the date on which in 1517 C.E., Martin Luther supposedly nailed his notorious 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. His goal was to reform the Roman Catholic Church. His legacy, with that of other reformers, charted a new course for Christianity. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW8gvPszmXLt9IYOyWZyRTi4afxyMIjxrmUnVJHPiRjbFpvZ7irPFl8CttW-fOGPhGvUxkdSNbVvD1rf6NV8CBxqoDekkXBZsI29uibg-qSDQN-fnTmLfjDOF_jPPQtvmg0UudZR75lwzCJ-ZwAmK4jYu33xOEXvpisg65VFk1ehPqguNcWC6SlZB/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-17%20at%208.07.14%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW8gvPszmXLt9IYOyWZyRTi4afxyMIjxrmUnVJHPiRjbFpvZ7irPFl8CttW-fOGPhGvUxkdSNbVvD1rf6NV8CBxqoDekkXBZsI29uibg-qSDQN-fnTmLfjDOF_jPPQtvmg0UudZR75lwzCJ-ZwAmK4jYu33xOEXvpisg65VFk1ehPqguNcWC6SlZB/w400-h225/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-17%20at%208.07.14%20PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Flat Martin pattern made its way to El Salvador several<br />years ago, and sightings of Flat Martin have been reported in 2022.<br />(photo by Pastor Gloria)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In El Salvador, there are about 15,000-20,000 people who identify as Lutheran, or about 0.3% of the Salvadoran population. The Salvadoran Lutheran Church is small, but mighty. It is a church which works hard to care for those most in need, and to preach a prophetic message of grace and social justice. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This year (2022 C. E.) marks the 505th anniversary of the Reformation. One of the beloved church elders, Monseñor Santiago (who most refer to Pastor Santiago Papá), did a little digging in the soil in Santa Barbarita about a month before the celebration. He had an idea to create a living memorial for Reformation Day, for the reforms of the past and the reforms to come. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WNrg7v-VxfZw0xS5JyGPVmfDHBmK1Y5fJ8ap7mlh8vSr0FlvEYje43TPyOysZdVPfjX1nUvV2Qw2WDI0Dndfyz5MTDZqKdEfWvokVrK4os5oY3j0TteXt2HzuCgKGm4BGhBROF-SlrmvVDbsEzEIx1fRM257KpVrclKVBueHqVPQoFo7f-jOfOFo/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-09-23%20at%2012.39.58%20PM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WNrg7v-VxfZw0xS5JyGPVmfDHBmK1Y5fJ8ap7mlh8vSr0FlvEYje43TPyOysZdVPfjX1nUvV2Qw2WDI0Dndfyz5MTDZqKdEfWvokVrK4os5oY3j0TteXt2HzuCgKGm4BGhBROF-SlrmvVDbsEzEIx1fRM257KpVrclKVBueHqVPQoFo7f-jOfOFo/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-09-23%20at%2012.39.58%20PM%20(3).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Pastor Gloria helps her father, Pastor Santiago to plant local herbs<br />and plants on the dirt mounds. (photo from Pastor Gloria)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCvKVdO-SpM3WDRT0XJlVE1u2FqEYDSprqSlz67yZ5XeIZPrg4h2FX-ENeKrYhVjaL2j6OmGB4iCAgSOr9id5h1rpdA-HkyFErs3_v5_bV6SrA6CWFwXtjaqppxG0sjAAdawhOmPh_yaRTdJFNgKqAptpDLBkFYVvqCAGU3YlvOJWx-7bD5Y4HE-v/s1563/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-09-23%20at%2012.39.58%20PM%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1563" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCvKVdO-SpM3WDRT0XJlVE1u2FqEYDSprqSlz67yZ5XeIZPrg4h2FX-ENeKrYhVjaL2j6OmGB4iCAgSOr9id5h1rpdA-HkyFErs3_v5_bV6SrA6CWFwXtjaqppxG0sjAAdawhOmPh_yaRTdJFNgKqAptpDLBkFYVvqCAGU3YlvOJWx-7bD5Y4HE-v/w400-h270/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-09-23%20at%2012.39.58%20PM%20(4).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Papa Santiago and his helper from Santa Barbarita look over their work.<br />(photo from Pastor Gloria)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAQdVQqk2xNFZi2fx8NecLrTWLkuWFokPaWlLsSgm_Yi7TqSNHjGEsh-vjJ27Pb6lKS8QamiUpwlOlyOj2CwgpzxECxFmUlVlvyLjUQasPky4Kiq5WPdfdpcvyIyBEoxiVm0qDZb3dMWk50guzo4rwfilA5jvmdLgxZWvuM17UJTRY9IXSH26J26L/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%209.24.58%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAQdVQqk2xNFZi2fx8NecLrTWLkuWFokPaWlLsSgm_Yi7TqSNHjGEsh-vjJ27Pb6lKS8QamiUpwlOlyOj2CwgpzxECxFmUlVlvyLjUQasPky4Kiq5WPdfdpcvyIyBEoxiVm0qDZb3dMWk50guzo4rwfilA5jvmdLgxZWvuM17UJTRY9IXSH26J26L/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%209.24.58%20AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>In the early morning of October 27th, pilgrims gathered with<br />Papa Santiago to see the living memorial to the Reformation.<br />The letters spell out: Reforma 505 años (photo from Pastor Gloria)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW59jzkFuF5v_0vPw5zCnOOB6iqmoomvrVAhObOWWbJxtF0n4TI6pl6L3fxkXByaCasUY1MWeaQZcxry3he1i-9jfBvT0Dt_9GJJV95wy_q7WVU2yT5uuTweZfR9piUE8oZiBYnVxJ_rtsDRRirXPg4MOgDO5IYMCO88rA08kcqeOvy7uUdqtgcd99/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%209.22.30%20AM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW59jzkFuF5v_0vPw5zCnOOB6iqmoomvrVAhObOWWbJxtF0n4TI6pl6L3fxkXByaCasUY1MWeaQZcxry3he1i-9jfBvT0Dt_9GJJV95wy_q7WVU2yT5uuTweZfR9piUE8oZiBYnVxJ_rtsDRRirXPg4MOgDO5IYMCO88rA08kcqeOvy7uUdqtgcd99/w300-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%209.22.30%20AM%20(3).jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Reformation Report: Flat Martin has made his way to <br />Santa Barbarita (photo by Laura)<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">After their visit to the green memorial, on the morning of October 27th, pastors, church leaders and lay people from the region gathered at Iglesia Luterana Héroes en la Fe (Heroes in the Faith Lutheran Church) for worship. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_McSKJi3lardr6gWWvfb4uaiXhpiL8B4Tww5fb58TXpg_myLQy1zKo5VecjR7PafbtptRcWZzWS2lfGBKSnHeEvCx7PHogwfdPIodr_LdgRNnb5FUKYtXidBEVAgjHKlZ2VOqsReJn1OK3kpfBXOc2tQdXo3AH8vm6UH5qfNm5ywmMUKMBeAGpFTB/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%2010.41.22%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_McSKJi3lardr6gWWvfb4uaiXhpiL8B4Tww5fb58TXpg_myLQy1zKo5VecjR7PafbtptRcWZzWS2lfGBKSnHeEvCx7PHogwfdPIodr_LdgRNnb5FUKYtXidBEVAgjHKlZ2VOqsReJn1OK3kpfBXOc2tQdXo3AH8vm6UH5qfNm5ywmMUKMBeAGpFTB/w400-h225/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%2010.41.22%20AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Pastor Sonia (newly ordained pastor in Los Héroes) gave the welcome<br />and preached the sermon. (photo by Pastor Cruz)<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXdmatHS1OZmJgMofwyNX8LOz93v4S2bcTzO63MfF95hB7--N7yrxkMy7skidB6renzrVeVrlLH8oV5dwRtAjUjV33J6A6gMqkb47cIc79QxEcnHicxXGEvjNXvvPAsHAE86ZqxK3ZQEur-7UgsTBFfV_BQQcuXDvgg2IbDcwpHWo6x0JxwG5742f/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%2011.20.43%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXdmatHS1OZmJgMofwyNX8LOz93v4S2bcTzO63MfF95hB7--N7yrxkMy7skidB6renzrVeVrlLH8oV5dwRtAjUjV33J6A6gMqkb47cIc79QxEcnHicxXGEvjNXvvPAsHAE86ZqxK3ZQEur-7UgsTBFfV_BQQcuXDvgg2IbDcwpHWo6x0JxwG5742f/w400-h225/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%2011.20.43%20AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Some of the pastors from the northern region. One gift of the <br />ever-reforming church is the leadership of women.<br />(photo by Laura)<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNJiRjutwRDYbU5OCgE3-_QiEL2q5tUvrPyKNVLBkN38qMr8Nll2soMICQ3PMrCEfYhkJMCraVgDePcOC-_AXE-_e8TZ5pnTMubNGSlBSv2aOrL5I3vLf5mfMZz6YIGfqJN_ME3LCiqX3Z4rbDEI3zXpE6RY3mWk3gSREwvNlxKpqqnKw0EwvIhc4/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%2011.20.58%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNJiRjutwRDYbU5OCgE3-_QiEL2q5tUvrPyKNVLBkN38qMr8Nll2soMICQ3PMrCEfYhkJMCraVgDePcOC-_AXE-_e8TZ5pnTMubNGSlBSv2aOrL5I3vLf5mfMZz6YIGfqJN_ME3LCiqX3Z4rbDEI3zXpE6RY3mWk3gSREwvNlxKpqqnKw0EwvIhc4/w300-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%2011.20.58%20AM.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Celebration of Holy Communion.<br />(photo by Laura)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXwfSnU8jVEguWetQfRrgOZGfw1UUgcniyhVszfQXO1QeviQQah_qfVcgX-YPBNsNwEBTtEYnwUaxiRh2_Vz-Z9sWxI3TF5hkHcskMjFAEZC7ryOpeRXtsXR9LIFFVLaMuBalV_GTHJ8-JrilrlBjvbkT37Qjana5hv8CNmoHAsvXSw2m9-_vtVtf/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%2011.20.51%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXwfSnU8jVEguWetQfRrgOZGfw1UUgcniyhVszfQXO1QeviQQah_qfVcgX-YPBNsNwEBTtEYnwUaxiRh2_Vz-Z9sWxI3TF5hkHcskMjFAEZC7ryOpeRXtsXR9LIFFVLaMuBalV_GTHJ8-JrilrlBjvbkT37Qjana5hv8CNmoHAsvXSw2m9-_vtVtf/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%2011.20.51%20AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Pastor Chemita, the coordinator for the northern region,<br />gives the final blessing. (photo by Laura)<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-dDn0lecYmWsf1CVSFCH_XY1ggSMFPVRy1Py-JsNmGZKAaktWB1n9Kl7u-G219-KxhvIO8JNB1A31E1kD4JqpLcx9Exp7oB4cuR8Xp5JtACrcvGaxmYu6O2fnm7jOti-f40RdBAEK12hwbQcFUMhUKJsLYwwYPWK6IK9pdQcaueSttqUKRAJujPl/s1000/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%202.00.59%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1000" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-dDn0lecYmWsf1CVSFCH_XY1ggSMFPVRy1Py-JsNmGZKAaktWB1n9Kl7u-G219-KxhvIO8JNB1A31E1kD4JqpLcx9Exp7oB4cuR8Xp5JtACrcvGaxmYu6O2fnm7jOti-f40RdBAEK12hwbQcFUMhUKJsLYwwYPWK6IK9pdQcaueSttqUKRAJujPl/w400-h299/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-10-27%20at%202.00.59%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Fellowship fun after worship (photo by Karla)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXo87-kAP3blJAal7lmmEyrzOV29Ny4WS8ixZN-YXIAj0vDJ8sH2cjS3VaPsCzwzthKSNE0RFCwJhfOACB4g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Balloons! (Video by Karla)</i></span></div><br /><div>Read another Reformation story (with a bit of humor) from the northern micro-region of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2016/10/smiling-waving-friendly-lutherans-and.html" target="_blank">Smiling, Waving, Friendly Lutherans</a>.</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-37580768464580147552022-10-14T11:01:00.001-05:002022-10-14T11:01:39.987-05:00Refrigerio and Almuerzo<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's talk about food.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the Salvadoran Lutheran Church, feeding people is a BIG deal. Sometimes, to be honest, it sometimes seems like the refrigerio (breakfast or snack or coffee break treats) and almuerzo (lunch) are more important than the meeting or workshop or gathering itself. Leaders get big props for a really good refrigerio. Skimpy refrigerios bring on a bit of attitude.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Feeding people is biblical. Feeding hungry people is super biblical and just. Globally, Lutherans are definitely foodies and promoters of historic, cultural, local cuisine (I see you out there eating your lutefisk and stollen). In El Salvador, the refrigerios are typically Salvadoran comfort foods.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Salvadoran Lutheran Church gatherings are typically held in the morning. Folks have to get up really early, waaaay before breakfast time, to take buses through heavy traffic in order to arrive by 8 or 8:30 am. Lutheran Churches in El Salvador are located in communities which struggle mightily with generational poverty. Feeding people is not only the polite thing to do, but the right thing to do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently, I participated in a Sunday School teacher training meeting with Lutheran Church leaders in the church's northern region. I met up with the leaders at the church offices in San Salvador at 7 am (not too early - but Saturday mornings are not very trafficky). We loaded up, headed over to pick up Obispa Abelina, and then headed north. We chatted and laughed along the way, until we pulled into a gas station, but not to get gas. We slid into a parking spot, and Abelina brought out a plastic bag of warm tamales with a random collection of little foam plates (eco note: those plates are saved, washed and reused until they fall apart).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Does anyone have a fork?" someone asked. Nope, no forks. (Ugh, I cannot believe I went out without my spork.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"No problem," said Esperanza, "Bishop Medardo showed me a new way to eat tamales."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At this point, Esperanza told a cute story about "how you can eat tamales your whole life, but then the Bishop can teach you something new." One time, they had tamales and no one had forks. The Bishop asked Esperanza if she had a scissors. She is in charge of craft projects in her Sunday School, so she always has a scissors. The Bishop said that it is important to carry scissors. He cut the end off of the tamal, and showed her how to eat it like a freezie pop, squeezing it up from the bottom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How is it that we did not know about this most excellent and not messy way to eat tamales? We ate up the tamales, and each had a can of juice. Then we were on our way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEY3FnMDKTxHWPQUp4Pcm2ecYcwuaWfYx9CkKPXkScmqsnQy0S4a01aLhlTR3WFgn1DGkjT-Z-XOYvhhwd5ba2aqK3hOX8mrs2NjgholIXzR4bVJvPsoV25bLGsMOGijD1C-t4oU2PtxRJOfncpQ3XnudYi0hyrOicDeFadtnfmEMdDwkyqQSNuGbU/s2569/IMG_3114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2569" data-original-width="2189" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEY3FnMDKTxHWPQUp4Pcm2ecYcwuaWfYx9CkKPXkScmqsnQy0S4a01aLhlTR3WFgn1DGkjT-Z-XOYvhhwd5ba2aqK3hOX8mrs2NjgholIXzR4bVJvPsoV25bLGsMOGijD1C-t4oU2PtxRJOfncpQ3XnudYi0hyrOicDeFadtnfmEMdDwkyqQSNuGbU/w341-h400/IMG_3114.JPG" width="341" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Tamales to go: Refrigerio #1</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We drove on for a few minutes, picked up a couple more passengers, drove on some more, and picked up the final group, squeezing 14 into our 10 passenger van. <p></p><p>We arrived at our destination and all piled out. Hugs and greetings were shared, then we sat in a circle and the local pastoras led a brief devotion. We went around the circle and shared more greetings. Then it was time for the refrigerio: pupusas!! And coffee.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs0r8h15PeyPMnNMgPnzuateJFIhqPvK2haa2UHRUmvBNeepIKqwJFqhlnjI7MkhvriuXbYyKRMOxskNW4hF7_xeKjYlK1Hiq0PMpiAG8luiW1NFI8wKwW1-nhxz9sFHx9GxbW1gvQH5GyPIxOLQyUEqYk5u9sW2Y_hi6-3wmtjBn20FE5d7XJ4mA/s1632/IMG_3121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1632" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs0r8h15PeyPMnNMgPnzuateJFIhqPvK2haa2UHRUmvBNeepIKqwJFqhlnjI7MkhvriuXbYyKRMOxskNW4hF7_xeKjYlK1Hiq0PMpiAG8luiW1NFI8wKwW1-nhxz9sFHx9GxbW1gvQH5GyPIxOLQyUEqYk5u9sW2Y_hi6-3wmtjBn20FE5d7XJ4mA/w640-h312/IMG_3121.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Bean pupusas, curtido and salsa: Refrigerio #2</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Twenty minutes later, we started the workshop. It was fun! We sang, we did actions, we talked about the way children learn and developmental stages. For about 2 1/2 hours, participants were engaged in a pretty good exchange of ideas about what works and what does not work with their students. Then, it was time for lunch.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucGd3mOJ815c7hF-L2q3dFNHF9QT5GyOL36nclOEntPAFuSfmqXbZ235lq0DJ5e4ba_xup23jG257JZofPk0l_mgmCX0-GkfAepFhTX3mUh7F3vTTjgUeCNC0XvTd6MyIEXF-AIhTc_BRApXUISKWSPsG3A2HYnosoXs-9GqTpi-5-78MlE9QobKL/s4032/IMG_3147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucGd3mOJ815c7hF-L2q3dFNHF9QT5GyOL36nclOEntPAFuSfmqXbZ235lq0DJ5e4ba_xup23jG257JZofPk0l_mgmCX0-GkfAepFhTX3mUh7F3vTTjgUeCNC0XvTd6MyIEXF-AIhTc_BRApXUISKWSPsG3A2HYnosoXs-9GqTpi-5-78MlE9QobKL/w300-h400/IMG_3147.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>Carne asada, rice and salad: Almuerzo<br />(Marinated beef: lunch)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Then we were done for the day. We piled 20 people into the 10 passenger van. Not kidding. We were full, and we were full.</p><p>On Sunday, we went to worship in Los Héroes, and then scooted over to worship at Resurrection Lutheran Cathedral. They were celebrating their 50th anniversary as a congregation. After worship, we had...wait for it...a refrigerio! Bishop Medardo's favorite: tamales. And two little breads. And a cookie. And soda. And forks.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUIf7H6_1_3KWc-e6Jk2t1fJ4MfXBbnjkNvar31aH4XcrP5cX0Cpurzf0V6gkGmUOD9pU0CDZbDtA4G5Dd-3cxi-JmqDU2Y-uF_JcGvEXyrI8sY6C6Y1t5fbDC7mCzkfTIVDsyHdK4SAAjNIu1blRFur_QCSsUoWlNbbiWK395ymBbpcPe78VAqh-/s1110/IMG_3181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1110" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUIf7H6_1_3KWc-e6Jk2t1fJ4MfXBbnjkNvar31aH4XcrP5cX0Cpurzf0V6gkGmUOD9pU0CDZbDtA4G5Dd-3cxi-JmqDU2Y-uF_JcGvEXyrI8sY6C6Y1t5fbDC7mCzkfTIVDsyHdK4SAAjNIu1blRFur_QCSsUoWlNbbiWK395ymBbpcPe78VAqh-/w400-h309/IMG_3181.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i>We ate it all. It was so good.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-7070789211768331482022-09-22T22:32:00.004-05:002022-09-22T22:37:28.839-05:00Vacation Week: The Beachy Part<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvlRtgFXUIxnTT81OI0pNfAvbiVDPdEhi7k2-Kxcn3kaAFInQraVc3YBZivInb1kAmN4-oEBdnw89HwOLt2soBTxlXzYph8rMifjZecR4hTJB86ISr0Jsv0HbDWOflT-D-1X8waz0atYs_O6XD82ZDwpAagxq88RgnZA-VJW1LMSOKkjt8mX1YFna/s4032/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvlRtgFXUIxnTT81OI0pNfAvbiVDPdEhi7k2-Kxcn3kaAFInQraVc3YBZivInb1kAmN4-oEBdnw89HwOLt2soBTxlXzYph8rMifjZecR4hTJB86ISr0Jsv0HbDWOflT-D-1X8waz0atYs_O6XD82ZDwpAagxq88RgnZA-VJW1LMSOKkjt8mX1YFna/w400-h300/IMG_0868.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We started our vacation week with coffee in the mountains, and we ended our vacation with a couple of days of relaxation, and coffee, on the beach. We rented a house on Playa Maculís in <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2021/01/off-beaten-path-la-union.html" target="_blank">La Union</a>. We cooked simple meals, did a lot of walking, swam in the pool and jumped in the waves. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDqwBIr7Pvi7LcSKGSPF-3OnvvpPxCCrgjC6bnvq2lkNAyDfXZAQ7OyHp5z1p0k1Raw-6Bqili6EDLedD7DMyuBpwwcKB2RAEuYi0LlxpWj5oob6utVF4e_tswQBTIqSOHsMiFwp6j63dz706Ra2kB68dFh_d1Hm-R_kA3v1LG2-IWWPyRqlscqQq/s4006/IMG_0827.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2593" data-original-width="4006" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDqwBIr7Pvi7LcSKGSPF-3OnvvpPxCCrgjC6bnvq2lkNAyDfXZAQ7OyHp5z1p0k1Raw-6Bqili6EDLedD7DMyuBpwwcKB2RAEuYi0LlxpWj5oob6utVF4e_tswQBTIqSOHsMiFwp6j63dz706Ra2kB68dFh_d1Hm-R_kA3v1LG2-IWWPyRqlscqQq/w400-h259/IMG_0827.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>So lovely to have a pool as well as the sea, especially if it's a little<br />rough out there or you are afraid of creatures.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRLQoZan3Jse7KDS52m_yPY1XLTcm4vAiNd0X3x7h2jqsfL227fHkg0p0von9GiNev89lxiNCgxPgTCwWEmSwR0E49ZOy3oELUYj3oV4gabQJEXj0ha8QyLuZ9YqGyqXSiG3KDM8x9wktx4nVmxVPqC7gh86XyBOq9RRp1CrNwrBrKNqhbPTGZRRY/s3985/IMG_0831.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2989" data-original-width="3985" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRLQoZan3Jse7KDS52m_yPY1XLTcm4vAiNd0X3x7h2jqsfL227fHkg0p0von9GiNev89lxiNCgxPgTCwWEmSwR0E49ZOy3oELUYj3oV4gabQJEXj0ha8QyLuZ9YqGyqXSiG3KDM8x9wktx4nVmxVPqC7gh86XyBOq9RRp1CrNwrBrKNqhbPTGZRRY/w400-h300/IMG_0831.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Beach art. Not human-made. Crab-made. It's really hard to appreciate<br />just how large this crabby firework is! </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our investigations indicated this was the work of a sand bubbler crab. The beach was covered with their designs during low tide. Here is a great little video which explains the daily routine of a sand bubbler crab.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lOeGXKUgMWM" width="320" youtube-src-id="lOeGXKUgMWM"></iframe></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR66gtK2nHhBuy7z9qS09ORo0KcIu2sz5sn_QQgZyYghxQ12EO-W6l-YgQCHMt4HohUj-t-NvT857J4-SWaGW6x5VT-FACGsH-u7UxffrNLpEaPRlRCHpVAZMxDz6sqiKA_B6hJVtiEG2uFiF9nw6yapG67-0OO0yx1AG8wgpl8giROJj9jkz6Vux-/s4032/IMG_0851.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR66gtK2nHhBuy7z9qS09ORo0KcIu2sz5sn_QQgZyYghxQ12EO-W6l-YgQCHMt4HohUj-t-NvT857J4-SWaGW6x5VT-FACGsH-u7UxffrNLpEaPRlRCHpVAZMxDz6sqiKA_B6hJVtiEG2uFiF9nw6yapG67-0OO0yx1AG8wgpl8giROJj9jkz6Vux-/w400-h300/IMG_0851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The change of the colors in the sky and sea is mesmerizing, <br />and with such a flat expanse of sand at low tide, the shallow water<br />is smooth like glass.<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczA00QPfu5MWm4dYz40kW4gi5oUQuf9p_q3RkZsfR-t5wGdUlg7BQ7U5KjmwuSZnSu3P1Z-qbmc2Sei2jX5ynRAFpGiZhjEXitDdh9XLt70N5CK3YbjL3XxGqCQFzGOYUrfCVxOfzyIjyuQ6JCNx6oc42W8ZYrOjcu6Y4NUF90o9juYMTiOwes9ky/s4032/IMG_0842.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczA00QPfu5MWm4dYz40kW4gi5oUQuf9p_q3RkZsfR-t5wGdUlg7BQ7U5KjmwuSZnSu3P1Z-qbmc2Sei2jX5ynRAFpGiZhjEXitDdh9XLt70N5CK3YbjL3XxGqCQFzGOYUrfCVxOfzyIjyuQ6JCNx6oc42W8ZYrOjcu6Y4NUF90o9juYMTiOwes9ky/w300-h400/IMG_0842.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Do you see it? This guy was hanging out in a tide<br />pool. We almost stepped on him! We were surprised to see such a large<br />stingray in such shallow water. He periodically buried himself in the sand<br />and then gently swam, stirring up the sand so it was difficult to see him.<br />This is a good reminder to all beach wanderers to be attentive. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfO9pJcnW97jrI7B_n1CJ3I-Dupit8Y3DIp2c5rlqFg-h94SvM_GbE6initqyoTPc4nRo4K4SQ386N6z_aDLWOLOXA9B0ieoEBlRRXKP7CFoH2pXQSySU8_e5FkVsSEWWTdbGlSn29BHK-wdOEZ9SfRduz84wERhnlsSz_XhRmn--0kU0vxxnE09Z/s4032/IMG_0923.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfO9pJcnW97jrI7B_n1CJ3I-Dupit8Y3DIp2c5rlqFg-h94SvM_GbE6initqyoTPc4nRo4K4SQ386N6z_aDLWOLOXA9B0ieoEBlRRXKP7CFoH2pXQSySU8_e5FkVsSEWWTdbGlSn29BHK-wdOEZ9SfRduz84wERhnlsSz_XhRmn--0kU0vxxnE09Z/w400-h300/IMG_0923.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>This structure is near the tide pools where we saw the stingray.<br />We didn't find anyone who could tell us when it was built or for what<br />purpose. One local person told us it was for swimming.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTU1t9SOgH_JuLfTwXw-WVIfdWlKQD8ywGiaf4vp_Fm6C8AW3vNYI2UWevR5Q-8NEaG-PE6Hce-TfeSfKO1pfM9o9Pw4jeyaYo2Dq6cny9-khOslGmkk3x3anb5iHZO8F7bqBgxmgdRiunzyeuSeafhAURH1nmDgNAfe4paO-qUICRH9mbeKM-55_/s2996/IMG_0877.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2392" data-original-width="2996" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTU1t9SOgH_JuLfTwXw-WVIfdWlKQD8ywGiaf4vp_Fm6C8AW3vNYI2UWevR5Q-8NEaG-PE6Hce-TfeSfKO1pfM9o9Pw4jeyaYo2Dq6cny9-khOslGmkk3x3anb5iHZO8F7bqBgxmgdRiunzyeuSeafhAURH1nmDgNAfe4paO-qUICRH9mbeKM-55_/w400-h319/IMG_0877.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Nature sure knows how to decorate herself.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_5gpy-69AGPlREClWnxjNjlG2X8MCFADhfRO-ehs8m5oIRLzwKOGKW7QuCXyf7Vv9f5yAqSEueSYHV9e4ONfM-EN2m3pb1vchNvT8-3wV3UMhUJ-Z0ccHZIvyzVVyOqwUo_YYiQKMFSvUtetWQ5gxaWuGWPU70WoLqSS-qSuZznglVgCzCGKHZ3u/s3848/IMG_0889%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="3848" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_5gpy-69AGPlREClWnxjNjlG2X8MCFADhfRO-ehs8m5oIRLzwKOGKW7QuCXyf7Vv9f5yAqSEueSYHV9e4ONfM-EN2m3pb1vchNvT8-3wV3UMhUJ-Z0ccHZIvyzVVyOqwUo_YYiQKMFSvUtetWQ5gxaWuGWPU70WoLqSS-qSuZznglVgCzCGKHZ3u/w400-h300/IMG_0889%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The month of May brings the transition of seasons, from dry to rainy.<br />At the coast, rain can come at any time of year. Sometimes, the <br />humidity just hangs in the air.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3018" data-original-width="4024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ4cnlzUXA-yWy2IJpKqY488XVWe_BnIiCU35DKPKe36IR60lWPk8Is-tqLQMln0Qg2hBP_iTWzWMARv-BQFsDug0CbUugAYzLv4GJHc8mfbLX360FgDaG_N3ySY6sxK4ahG8FVMCKEWgHKmX447w9DPfwKt9R9g4iOh_iImsNY5bA3rD4TaA7mhb/w400-h300/IMG_0895.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>When the tide is low, its fun to explore among the volcanic rocks.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ4cnlzUXA-yWy2IJpKqY488XVWe_BnIiCU35DKPKe36IR60lWPk8Is-tqLQMln0Qg2hBP_iTWzWMARv-BQFsDug0CbUugAYzLv4GJHc8mfbLX360FgDaG_N3ySY6sxK4ahG8FVMCKEWgHKmX447w9DPfwKt9R9g4iOh_iImsNY5bA3rD4TaA7mhb/s4024/IMG_0895.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i></i></span></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlTlqGqF1I2ng8X2VvqeuMyzl59mrhBTgmeI2QK4v4uWoXl4dciaxvwX20LD7u4ELS8vbYpsV0AbtMIEAqUzVFP775LHf_eBNnU-JyE6iT1Q6TGoKgGo0Bjo5WCLsOLCwCgPeqbPJnJuxHlK-fAW970fcw6cgmfkdekSat6VSOGZdG5PW-iAimgqP/s3970/IMG_0911.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="3970" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlTlqGqF1I2ng8X2VvqeuMyzl59mrhBTgmeI2QK4v4uWoXl4dciaxvwX20LD7u4ELS8vbYpsV0AbtMIEAqUzVFP775LHf_eBNnU-JyE6iT1Q6TGoKgGo0Bjo5WCLsOLCwCgPeqbPJnJuxHlK-fAW970fcw6cgmfkdekSat6VSOGZdG5PW-iAimgqP/w400-h300/IMG_0911.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>These rocks have been here for a long time. Visually, it appears that <br />there could have been a volcanic flow to the sea from the nearby Conchagua Volcano.<br />Conchagua (which is actually 2 overlapping volcanoes), is currently in the<br />solfatara state, meaning hot gases sometimes are released, but the volcano is not<br />active. It last erupted in the Pleistocene era.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9Y2af4RaXPqOc_3kEvBg0Iasi0V0gQrUFGClSPOqFrFADe_Wp6i9BUHECyuigzuSGWV3c8EXgSoQiQt0j5MkGG2qOgIEULXXZQwfVY1XrJWG4ZV0xnP-tIdBX-NkE9AYER7Bw8R4T6Hql4hUomKEk51kxr-pH3f1S26wdQ69-8EP_yr2xRt9AZnv/s4032/IMG_0944.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9Y2af4RaXPqOc_3kEvBg0Iasi0V0gQrUFGClSPOqFrFADe_Wp6i9BUHECyuigzuSGWV3c8EXgSoQiQt0j5MkGG2qOgIEULXXZQwfVY1XrJWG4ZV0xnP-tIdBX-NkE9AYER7Bw8R4T6Hql4hUomKEk51kxr-pH3f1S26wdQ69-8EP_yr2xRt9AZnv/w400-h300/IMG_0944.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>More colors</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9y7g19CkDJO9zl-R1U9volzDUhE1uZeIDd_fE5CdUwnRPWkbM2zMk0n-HxsUainYd76K421xiMFXSI11zwuverNs1pPMCTuTyTwrKbz2HmcCz_1cS5ImMZfM-TLOsYx2FsUWfeHAB_Zslk-ABrNpQA6aKaGs8RYOq6tsHI3gVI_hF5bA0CE87dvG/s3010/IMG_0976.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2269" data-original-width="3010" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9y7g19CkDJO9zl-R1U9volzDUhE1uZeIDd_fE5CdUwnRPWkbM2zMk0n-HxsUainYd76K421xiMFXSI11zwuverNs1pPMCTuTyTwrKbz2HmcCz_1cS5ImMZfM-TLOsYx2FsUWfeHAB_Zslk-ABrNpQA6aKaGs8RYOq6tsHI3gVI_hF5bA0CE87dvG/w400-h301/IMG_0976.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEarQXE-fizimMYWt0gsxyeaE_BYBBSg3928Ybm-B8n4w1h60j6b1j7uwWA5VUJiHMBV877iEOmPmCOBnD9s9NSI2OwuuO-_rL07VsoiahExKF4AjMpwWmFOpo2Bql0sKnr9sW3j2T4JUCn4hfsNnKCRVHkN4IDQ3tyuvbXF4Lyo0A9D7WeEDTz9Sp/s2760/IMG_0977.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="2760" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEarQXE-fizimMYWt0gsxyeaE_BYBBSg3928Ybm-B8n4w1h60j6b1j7uwWA5VUJiHMBV877iEOmPmCOBnD9s9NSI2OwuuO-_rL07VsoiahExKF4AjMpwWmFOpo2Bql0sKnr9sW3j2T4JUCn4hfsNnKCRVHkN4IDQ3tyuvbXF4Lyo0A9D7WeEDTz9Sp/w400-h303/IMG_0977.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Notice the little things</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyT1SRpi2vvGHD7itlgTbe1DyGRkOHILml5zxZqEaUWIHc_3oV4WNWgBS87CnbhTnI_IWzd6vEgV4KAVC2q2hQbVCMyymSJz1zBdLk6bk9ENdKP0IyyG_ognz7_Ig0X1KYvhT0W1PVJhFq-VmuTMSwp8x2GQt3-tShd94vq2ZqmLT_YHCeg1MSsDN/s4550/IMG_20220511_064146.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2085" data-original-width="4550" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyT1SRpi2vvGHD7itlgTbe1DyGRkOHILml5zxZqEaUWIHc_3oV4WNWgBS87CnbhTnI_IWzd6vEgV4KAVC2q2hQbVCMyymSJz1zBdLk6bk9ENdKP0IyyG_ognz7_Ig0X1KYvhT0W1PVJhFq-VmuTMSwp8x2GQt3-tShd94vq2ZqmLT_YHCeg1MSsDN/w400-h184/IMG_20220511_064146.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Relax. Drink coffee. Swing in the hammock.<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Thanks for joining us for Vacation Week in El Salvador. Maybe this little series of photo-stories will entice you to plan your own vacation week, or to sneak in a couple of vacation days the next time you participate in a delegation or work visit.</div><div><br />Episode 1: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/05/vacation-week-coffee-stop-above-lake.html">Coffee Stop Above Lake Coatepeque</a><br />Episode 2: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/05/vacation-week-experiencing-energy-at.html">Experiencing the Energy at Tazumal</a><br />Episode 3: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/06/vacation-week-concepcion-de-ataco.html">Concepción de Ataco</a><br />Episode 4: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/09/vacation-week-fun-in-apaneca-mountains.html">Fun in the Apaneca Mountains</a><br />Episode 5: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/09/vacation-week-walk-in-nahuizalco.html">A Walk in Nahuizalco</a><div>Episode 6: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/09/vacation-week-enjoy-ride.html" target="_blank">Enjoy the Ride</a></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-28215022215667525562022-09-15T22:31:00.004-05:002022-09-15T22:53:09.491-05:00Vacation Week: Enjoy the Ride<div style="text-align: left;">During a vacation in El Salvador, foreign visitors can appreciate the great beauty of the country, learn about the impact climate change has on Salvadoran ecosystems, support local entrepreneurs and the tourist economy, hear stories from Salvadoran people about the blessings and challenges they face, grow in understanding the story of migration from El Salvador to the United States and the connections between the two countries, and experience the love, friendship and hospitality of the Salvadoran people.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today's episode in the Vacation Week series is being posted on the anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence of United Provinces of Central America from Spain, which occurred on September 15, 1821. El Salvador recognizes September 15th as a national holiday. It is a day of pride for the people of El Salvador, when children and adults celebrate the beauty of the country, wave the blue and white flag, and share cultural traditions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNayCTfIOVvi1I0RVqDvfWYhHB8ArPosKBHMW6sq2h7kY5p256BzXvLZMvDoON0_FAL-BuXKxQzizb5k6x_4e0g7Q4CGL3ezWsBEERjodoX_i0pk-anEw7eTpjtK8DuKocxeTXQYfzlAzjmkBa1P4FNyv56xc9n8K-WWmGCzrwOsX7_poMGY1XYWt/s1620/306261163_5452037228165468_4696021911609318886_n.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNayCTfIOVvi1I0RVqDvfWYhHB8ArPosKBHMW6sq2h7kY5p256BzXvLZMvDoON0_FAL-BuXKxQzizb5k6x_4e0g7Q4CGL3ezWsBEERjodoX_i0pk-anEw7eTpjtK8DuKocxeTXQYfzlAzjmkBa1P4FNyv56xc9n8K-WWmGCzrwOsX7_poMGY1XYWt/w320-h320/306261163_5452037228165468_4696021911609318886_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><i>September 15 - Day of Independence - Let's proudly salute the homeland<br />Photo credit: Salvadoran Lutheran University</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our itinerary for this particular vacation week included exploring locations in the mountains of the central-west region of El Salvador followed by driving southeast along the Ruta de las Flores, passing through Sonsonate to Rte. 2, and then driving the coastal highway through the tunnels out to La Libertad. Today's episode focuses on getting from one place to another with a few stops along the way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNyAD-7Dmg7ptFXt3HFzf5cCn0cANfiih1qumd0YEAaG8mrcwB-xH3HQytFHWxOQuenHlsEZ0Comvuud9AvNHbibxOqVHssBQMrmPOhTI7LXCEVZeaCisn9jqdvyD6l3EIaU-13bz9UR147JPy4nPWcdN-PX47CQkfz0waxKCxE2FuVHQjs0JmotJ/s800/mapa-ruta-de-las-flores-el-salvador-800x450.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNyAD-7Dmg7ptFXt3HFzf5cCn0cANfiih1qumd0YEAaG8mrcwB-xH3HQytFHWxOQuenHlsEZ0Comvuud9AvNHbibxOqVHssBQMrmPOhTI7LXCEVZeaCisn9jqdvyD6l3EIaU-13bz9UR147JPy4nPWcdN-PX47CQkfz0waxKCxE2FuVHQjs0JmotJ/w640-h360/mapa-ruta-de-las-flores-el-salvador-800x450.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Ruta de las Flores map showing our route from Ataco, through Apaneca, Salcoatitan,<br />Nahuizalco and Sonsonate. Photo credit: elsalvadoreshermoso.com </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />La Ruta de las Flores, the Route of the Flowers, provides beautiful scenery, especially in November and December when the flowers are blooming (though I have seen some type of flower in bloom at any point during the year). There are several cities and towns to explore along the route. This vacation week series includes a few highlights:<br /><br />Episode 1: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/05/vacation-week-coffee-stop-above-lake.html">Coffee Stop Above Lake Coatepeque</a><br />Episode 2: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/05/vacation-week-experiencing-energy-at.html">Experiencing the Energy at Tazumal</a><br />Episode 3: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/06/vacation-week-concepcion-de-ataco.html">Concepción de Ataco</a><br />Episode 4: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/09/vacation-week-fun-in-apaneca-mountains.html">Fun in the Apaneca Mountains</a><div>Episode 5: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/09/vacation-week-walk-in-nahuizalco.html" target="_blank">A Walk in Nahuizalco</a></div><div><br /></div><div>One place we did not visit this time, but which is definitely worth a day or more is Juayua. The historic <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2011/04/just-click-fifteen-minutes-in-juayua.html" target="_blank">town center and church</a> are beautiful, <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2011/08/off-beaten-path-juayua-is-worth-more.html" target="_blank">the town</a> is a great jumping-off point for hiking to nearby waterfalls, and the weekend gastronomic fair offers all kinds of delicious food and drink. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqDgNfFkQlga8i4VXb-YELSCjA-1E9_Itf6R4_EwF354vLEnWa6nEUemFQvZL4vzDTN1MS6W3UvFdFkniPsQnD_ALAKubRkttelbJZ0W_IYBIhhSubg9Ok-GixzptblnMK3dp2RDuzn_xhdKOfNpt8E-fT-9X43d5-yqqqZDXz4sf5mBxswS_K-WA/s1536/Xmas%20pics%20904.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqDgNfFkQlga8i4VXb-YELSCjA-1E9_Itf6R4_EwF354vLEnWa6nEUemFQvZL4vzDTN1MS6W3UvFdFkniPsQnD_ALAKubRkttelbJZ0W_IYBIhhSubg9Ok-GixzptblnMK3dp2RDuzn_xhdKOfNpt8E-fT-9X43d5-yqqqZDXz4sf5mBxswS_K-WA/w400-h266/Xmas%20pics%20904.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Photo of the central plaza and parish church in Juayua<br />(one of my older photos, taken in December 2005)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our drive from Nahuizalco took us through a little bit of weekend traffic in Sonsonate, and then on toward the coast. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ4KrUXTD-ClA2x0ZZIP_cfZ-FimmpkUrs43YI8GPV15t50z__stfrxRb1wgv_mUTDthO-dYIJzhpzFqt_T8ySZm11Me_z0DcEEehbk5iS_UZW1_N9HIoAdCpHIPjLZPlsZHQROIrSY9erd07QBltjUP98cejF4Z-zb4Sj4uFLQMt630LVn7OiY6P/s2739/IMG_0731.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1742" data-original-width="2739" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ4KrUXTD-ClA2x0ZZIP_cfZ-FimmpkUrs43YI8GPV15t50z__stfrxRb1wgv_mUTDthO-dYIJzhpzFqt_T8ySZm11Me_z0DcEEehbk5iS_UZW1_N9HIoAdCpHIPjLZPlsZHQROIrSY9erd07QBltjUP98cejF4Z-zb4Sj4uFLQMt630LVn7OiY6P/w400-h255/IMG_0731.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Heading downhill toward the outskirts of Sonsonate, with the<br />towers of the Cathedral of Sonsonate peaking up over the trees</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSPlk2rib4qpExLIHnF3DN6iSbjxrsdoz7KZPSzVkJ_WHKSYSdVqtdi0EVSPOyhei0AnNDAM92RQ-1TTOuJXNXiAsmxysxOWQMDBgls-hOo6oG76lZF612aV4SY3tNB2b00y36LUDmd3djuhBt5UHxm4ozGLHlJ_F15s7dOuaid6hJfRqRRctOt5k/s4032/IMG_0732.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="4032" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSPlk2rib4qpExLIHnF3DN6iSbjxrsdoz7KZPSzVkJ_WHKSYSdVqtdi0EVSPOyhei0AnNDAM92RQ-1TTOuJXNXiAsmxysxOWQMDBgls-hOo6oG76lZF612aV4SY3tNB2b00y36LUDmd3djuhBt5UHxm4ozGLHlJ_F15s7dOuaid6hJfRqRRctOt5k/w400-h221/IMG_0732.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Just a typical day on a typical main road in Sonsonate</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCfIm8fjst1ZaJalZxexS1w8z8jafVnpnEiDhxZBCfaC0L0vq_kU0SzaBEaG12WE6olvfnfPMCNJvcag-LorvrzUp_nKfxg9glOYJBCHwLxH39cskKB-p_Eoi6zz0HSc5DwUMO-LK34vnreI5C1hL1kSd6dqiU4kgi3nX0msx4hIEr5qIU_92CKsC/s3528/IMG_0733.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3528" data-original-width="2271" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCfIm8fjst1ZaJalZxexS1w8z8jafVnpnEiDhxZBCfaC0L0vq_kU0SzaBEaG12WE6olvfnfPMCNJvcag-LorvrzUp_nKfxg9glOYJBCHwLxH39cskKB-p_Eoi6zz0HSc5DwUMO-LK34vnreI5C1hL1kSd6dqiU4kgi3nX0msx4hIEr5qIU_92CKsC/w258-h400/IMG_0733.JPG" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>I love it when an artist creates a little spot of joy along<br />a narrow, congested route.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3868" data-original-width="2709" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFIbCO81bYnKapn-qZF7c89eVMmzHvP8AmI3t1_r5ccRgDMUjaEVNS4cGRXp7ulOt4-ngyXL2DHVjiNW7kKDj4D4_wF9Qq-vU6vgsnkDM0FGXbsHETSoD8eywNAmqgU7ux0t1YWmND3QvfB3FXvmxsvOXMKVVGvB8oTPvS9gwGIJ5M-mhUSnB7sUp/w280-h400/IMG_0734.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="280" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Looking up at the facade and towers of the cathedral</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFIbCO81bYnKapn-qZF7c89eVMmzHvP8AmI3t1_r5ccRgDMUjaEVNS4cGRXp7ulOt4-ngyXL2DHVjiNW7kKDj4D4_wF9Qq-vU6vgsnkDM0FGXbsHETSoD8eywNAmqgU7ux0t1YWmND3QvfB3FXvmxsvOXMKVVGvB8oTPvS9gwGIJ5M-mhUSnB7sUp/s3868/IMG_0734.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i></i></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5iQBLFcsVjYNT_A2VE7AARs_U-rjf-MikZfBMi9dyN05iXDJIwohcKlCgPqP4nOV5ELC1lgSzG1tjrqPYpQH1JLLXDkUNSgy7hoVqOesO6ppbsTjLQ-Pw4A6AViYkqs6Z56xOyjWCa6YU9lpof0po2J6HOVzRVruZ19-DX3QyOfgRerI9L20Sb1m/s1993/IMG_0735.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1993" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5iQBLFcsVjYNT_A2VE7AARs_U-rjf-MikZfBMi9dyN05iXDJIwohcKlCgPqP4nOV5ELC1lgSzG1tjrqPYpQH1JLLXDkUNSgy7hoVqOesO6ppbsTjLQ-Pw4A6AViYkqs6Z56xOyjWCa6YU9lpof0po2J6HOVzRVruZ19-DX3QyOfgRerI9L20Sb1m/w400-h204/IMG_0735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Heading south toward the coast, we took the coastal highway - a wiggly road<br />which takes you through mountains (literally) and forest and along the Pacific Ocean.<br />There are 5 tunnels - really marvels of engineering.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our lunch destination was El Cadejo restaurant in La Libertad. It's definitely a favorite spot for hanging out, enjoying the ocean breeze, sharing good beer and good food with friends, and taking a dip in the pool or the tide pool (shown here).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrOlJxtTJcnsAgXwyeySlD6z9UjCuN4BJN2ZHKTaeHnmxdGhujQVSgfBSr7EWJ9OVAifR4jGLabg-foM0tubSA0CxyWyZ_OyDoaLnYLz1N6Lx1Qkb7xG1cYLMtNH-_0vyrbh5gPRsRMDpYoaY5hM8ndrolzc1RPKgYd6SFnYR9ms7Y8VJJbYE5043/s4522/IMG_20220507_140339.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2072" data-original-width="4522" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrOlJxtTJcnsAgXwyeySlD6z9UjCuN4BJN2ZHKTaeHnmxdGhujQVSgfBSr7EWJ9OVAifR4jGLabg-foM0tubSA0CxyWyZ_OyDoaLnYLz1N6Lx1Qkb7xG1cYLMtNH-_0vyrbh5gPRsRMDpYoaY5hM8ndrolzc1RPKgYd6SFnYR9ms7Y8VJJbYE5043/w400-h184/IMG_20220507_140339.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Hold my beer.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our vacation included weekend time in our sister church community, so that the couple vacationing with us could enjoy time in worship at the church and visit with families in the community. We spent a couple of nights in San Salvador, and then we hit the road. This time we headed east to the department of La Unión where we had rented house on a quiet beach. Part of the fun of vacationing in El Salvador is the wide variety of eco-systems that one can experience within just a few hours of travel time. Check out these photos which I managed to capture from my back-seat perspective.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6Y_epQ0RGxrnhodWSqrMds0o5W2x2weo20cNUYxasb7mUZ2zWdZ-Ya7gRbd5nPE-0v7CmpnU6GaQS-924-zqDjBhwVv_MwB96Y1fye8TdKDMZDGSsFy_z_Od6r6ZV4kVIy6yiuyivgDGwQvERXUD8q7c4PY_jWMz4iJ-1SMzV31UUR8Rl34lUhAt/s3560/IMG_1049.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3560" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6Y_epQ0RGxrnhodWSqrMds0o5W2x2weo20cNUYxasb7mUZ2zWdZ-Ya7gRbd5nPE-0v7CmpnU6GaQS-924-zqDjBhwVv_MwB96Y1fye8TdKDMZDGSsFy_z_Od6r6ZV4kVIy6yiuyivgDGwQvERXUD8q7c4PY_jWMz4iJ-1SMzV31UUR8Rl34lUhAt/w400-h340/IMG_1049.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Árbol de Fuego - the fire trees were in full bloom</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwypZKLFnO4P6xzqJJstk9JVDMRhDiJt551JbHnh1G5WONKYxpMQLwB-vth9at6g15QMvW04cuRF3j7tRkCrXKDd947lKrRr9k2iIPYt0KCeMrGDFDQ81eD2-AsbS-sFtLMaJIMxF-vlybDgU1PS_z0mM1pwDHclTx8xeeb0uaEjceWctU-bWGbGj-/s4027/IMG_1050.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2299" data-original-width="4027" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwypZKLFnO4P6xzqJJstk9JVDMRhDiJt551JbHnh1G5WONKYxpMQLwB-vth9at6g15QMvW04cuRF3j7tRkCrXKDd947lKrRr9k2iIPYt0KCeMrGDFDQ81eD2-AsbS-sFtLMaJIMxF-vlybDgU1PS_z0mM1pwDHclTx8xeeb0uaEjceWctU-bWGbGj-/w400-h229/IMG_1050.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Crossing the Río Lempa - "I am part of the solution to conflict"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aEYBduv9SBL9_-nAFHiw5a5Oq-VROmpKONzQonvERXfJ-VJp2L9wpxPy3COsm55W0caSnQhlpUjWDU7ejS4gA9_dzT9bEaeam8oKAHKDtUScVxyJtyjdXikZGz-eN-t9Z1FFaCMJsLoi3nJQtOZXgNW94i1HNidlQYezlRk2SHApkZ2_KbIeZJ4v/s4032/IMG_0824.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aEYBduv9SBL9_-nAFHiw5a5Oq-VROmpKONzQonvERXfJ-VJp2L9wpxPy3COsm55W0caSnQhlpUjWDU7ejS4gA9_dzT9bEaeam8oKAHKDtUScVxyJtyjdXikZGz-eN-t9Z1FFaCMJsLoi3nJQtOZXgNW94i1HNidlQYezlRk2SHApkZ2_KbIeZJ4v/w400-h300/IMG_0824.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>On our way out to the beach, we stopped at Comedor La Finkita for lunch.<br />Located along the bypass around Usulutan where it intersects the old road to <br />Santa Elena, this cafe with comida a la vista (a buffet) is a gem. We knew<br />it had to be good because with thunderstorms all around us, the place was packed, including<br />with police (who usually know the good places to eat). I asked if I could take a quick<br />pic of the kitchen - this chicken was really, really delicious.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pSEr9bIwodAh_xdqWdb4eGG-c77yRlW0ryl8usCdvBF6D7g9IlJmEYdtnKB_wlplAL3fd9ugdDcLQtjaUVMdrY_bITcDsLVLNVM447HIqV1ILmGmwgFvI7HcW0ms55tG0qEopH3M2zOVHDnHAOzuu-DzBEf8RsBjODC2evf9VvbCGHDXKxmzb2E6/s4004/IMG_1034.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2121" data-original-width="4004" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pSEr9bIwodAh_xdqWdb4eGG-c77yRlW0ryl8usCdvBF6D7g9IlJmEYdtnKB_wlplAL3fd9ugdDcLQtjaUVMdrY_bITcDsLVLNVM447HIqV1ILmGmwgFvI7HcW0ms55tG0qEopH3M2zOVHDnHAOzuu-DzBEf8RsBjODC2evf9VvbCGHDXKxmzb2E6/w400-h213/IMG_1034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The warm plain between the mountains and the sea,<br />sugar cane fields as far as you can see<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFMAWaIWngSSTxYUD2-CAH3Fi3J16j0hoPY5OiVZLkBdZdhq9DQ6z0ueKLKPZey3FQLcJypG5XUiS64T4u_o-EPTUrZZ3Fl3Nv4Ae_xkmlEc8HQZRBiRdfZeg9mzxKIYLIhSHWtzicBpSI4LgiFdzW76un7zLxQi6Gvq5tPno_OzX7zIzvEiwGsCr/s3428/IMG_1032.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="3428" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFMAWaIWngSSTxYUD2-CAH3Fi3J16j0hoPY5OiVZLkBdZdhq9DQ6z0ueKLKPZey3FQLcJypG5XUiS64T4u_o-EPTUrZZ3Fl3Nv4Ae_xkmlEc8HQZRBiRdfZeg9mzxKIYLIhSHWtzicBpSI4LgiFdzW76un7zLxQi6Gvq5tPno_OzX7zIzvEiwGsCr/w400-h181/IMG_1032.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>There are stretches along the coastal lateral highway which<br />appear as a tunnel through the trees</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQuYjF2mit_sj_9kotPHj3n5Y1bLSB4ZJX52oQLaiU9uICYa9JJKyVxZAczhnm_xydmZ0mKwEqOMZ2km6g0qLdG-30ahSUtGtI1nhXIiJi2M8bbTULJbLLykKYW3-OdO1QtwFYlVkyKeJibcFZYPvhEj8J3FN_pU4YfkwhHDxhbUQzSb-aJFpF7M-/s4032/IMG_0993%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQuYjF2mit_sj_9kotPHj3n5Y1bLSB4ZJX52oQLaiU9uICYa9JJKyVxZAczhnm_xydmZ0mKwEqOMZ2km6g0qLdG-30ahSUtGtI1nhXIiJi2M8bbTULJbLLykKYW3-OdO1QtwFYlVkyKeJibcFZYPvhEj8J3FN_pU4YfkwhHDxhbUQzSb-aJFpF7M-/w400-h300/IMG_0993%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>One never knows when one will meet up with the Salvadoran Navy</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59uKmkNXgHrMJf7YJ9mDYFZY0MhJE8PDavNYnCEXk7ip_S-zUJzNjTk7fZMmWhnsNOiPE9uT_MxyojhnrFq2kyRVPtloDuDnnw3h5ZeltUR4vVRr6xVeN27-Yk34VVoANI4aKmbrLYsMh9HxORlV-yVMXYdJ1yxBy23IFaa6jMrnxq7r6se6-X8lL/s4032/IMG_1010.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59uKmkNXgHrMJf7YJ9mDYFZY0MhJE8PDavNYnCEXk7ip_S-zUJzNjTk7fZMmWhnsNOiPE9uT_MxyojhnrFq2kyRVPtloDuDnnw3h5ZeltUR4vVRr6xVeN27-Yk34VVoANI4aKmbrLYsMh9HxORlV-yVMXYdJ1yxBy23IFaa6jMrnxq7r6se6-X8lL/w400-h300/IMG_1010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Sometimes the colors of nature and the colors of human creation<br />just complement each other in a way that is particularly beautiful</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1Vcb1Li5tm-qDFfQDJzsncekBZpKbdIbGeeYlcUqz7KkHiPOhiJqU-L57rfwLwEQOkqcicnMPR0BXQam4e6K4jMWThkvrWMd9AjNQxO8fWNGar2jT07t1EZPZSkMBWZa-6hrPTAh0kTJCb6__J-v32wFTFjlNqyj4YGqY_MqLn2Z1SP8HvFl5NQ5/s3304/IMG_1040.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="3304" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1Vcb1Li5tm-qDFfQDJzsncekBZpKbdIbGeeYlcUqz7KkHiPOhiJqU-L57rfwLwEQOkqcicnMPR0BXQam4e6K4jMWThkvrWMd9AjNQxO8fWNGar2jT07t1EZPZSkMBWZa-6hrPTAh0kTJCb6__J-v32wFTFjlNqyj4YGqY_MqLn2Z1SP8HvFl5NQ5/w400-h260/IMG_1040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The ravines which carry rushes of rainwater from the hills to the sea<br />are called "quebradas"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsSEMDnbwQVoyTpLWD1yRrmcUIZyz-36nQ6TWbM7TSOY5qvn3X57xJUVt1QIpg66QDphLZ1qbwbgZIV7y6juJ1_U9nhY6UQJ5ecqhrRJzw7p8n4TTgwMc1XYFybhvNPqsIiDCXxecL44jbV8JW6DUDmTZI9I5qnToILe0TCTRx1dE8UgPGvQRsWSw/s3396/IMG_1047.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2126" data-original-width="3396" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsSEMDnbwQVoyTpLWD1yRrmcUIZyz-36nQ6TWbM7TSOY5qvn3X57xJUVt1QIpg66QDphLZ1qbwbgZIV7y6juJ1_U9nhY6UQJ5ecqhrRJzw7p8n4TTgwMc1XYFybhvNPqsIiDCXxecL44jbV8JW6DUDmTZI9I5qnToILe0TCTRx1dE8UgPGvQRsWSw/w400-h250/IMG_1047.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Bananas. That's it, just bananas. They are so beautiful.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p9_sJ6S75SVmx52RgXck4Ev0lllgCHMivKtxmDMFsf9GfU89yzltpUS6ZTIFm5-Ua_4Y2UbmXs1qilOXOlXITtPnmIakCMJACjM_yiLsqf8t3mUk9SmbUWwmoR8FZGzBDb9B6HpBG5SWoMygL-23yCpUExqKKs8dYQLoCs5EL5MEBUxV_HnwopeR/s3213/IMG_0986%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="3213" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p9_sJ6S75SVmx52RgXck4Ev0lllgCHMivKtxmDMFsf9GfU89yzltpUS6ZTIFm5-Ua_4Y2UbmXs1qilOXOlXITtPnmIakCMJACjM_yiLsqf8t3mUk9SmbUWwmoR8FZGzBDb9B6HpBG5SWoMygL-23yCpUExqKKs8dYQLoCs5EL5MEBUxV_HnwopeR/w400-h251/IMG_0986%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>I probably have a few photos of this home from over the years.<br />It seems so big, and check out those fine windows. These colors<br />are fabulous. Makes me curious about who lives here.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div>In the next episode: Beach Days!</div></div><br />Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651947307182887812.post-82260370832298054752022-09-13T14:42:00.006-05:002022-09-13T14:50:59.243-05:00Vacation Week: A Walk in Nahuizalco<p>After a couple of days exploring Ataco and a bit of the surrounding hills, we drove down the Ruta de las Flores (the Route of the Flowers) to the southern edge of the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range, to the town of Nahuizalco. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztgEI7q6F59lynnSsmjNz1uyNIlCPXhFiw_d8uvJQXrCnk0U_KgPoVDqeue0XL96w_VfqDZxbZp_wllnxZktaLE-5CH6Szgz2FmhiCVVfd1fSfrjUTKxbiMrBnSTs2AJ1vml3xslGcYFohB5ZYwm0gPFKTxkgZVujLTJ0KY6kmSdyjBS4nKkUUij0/s4032/IMG_0720.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztgEI7q6F59lynnSsmjNz1uyNIlCPXhFiw_d8uvJQXrCnk0U_KgPoVDqeue0XL96w_VfqDZxbZp_wllnxZktaLE-5CH6Szgz2FmhiCVVfd1fSfrjUTKxbiMrBnSTs2AJ1vml3xslGcYFohB5ZYwm0gPFKTxkgZVujLTJ0KY6kmSdyjBS4nKkUUij0/w400-h300/IMG_0720.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Photograph from 1922 of local women wearing traditional woven skirts<br />and a small example of the tule plant (a type of rush or grass)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Nahuizalco is known in El Salvador as a center for indigenous culture and one of the few places where the Pipil language, Nahuat, is preserved. The city was founded as a settlement by Pipil families, and the name "Nahuizalco" can be understood to mean "four Izalcos." One name origin story tells of four families from nearby Izalco (located at the southwest base of the Izalco volcano) that migrated west to found a new settlement. Another theory speculates that at one time, the population of Nahuizalco was four times as large as that of Izalco. Investigations indicate that Izalco was populated by one of the Pipil groups that arrived in El Salvador between 900 and 1500 CE. The name "Izalco" contains the root words for obsidian, sand and houses.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1z96hHA7rRdSUDkTX4flvq9tQcRXAU-smmc55TPT6IjYLTkG7EqRFSpsqk6eVaFWGBLyYiqEHWtPGmWiVxg8XHRdQE7PhI7_kz5e6oyOuvaZe801oMwEk0GUyWkSHgcLsCzrpTJLM-4ZzRZWkuh53LQWTCzpoB0lRUG7UpmZKjVHyx-CPRD0IVCv/s4608/IMG_20220507_103101.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="4608" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1z96hHA7rRdSUDkTX4flvq9tQcRXAU-smmc55TPT6IjYLTkG7EqRFSpsqk6eVaFWGBLyYiqEHWtPGmWiVxg8XHRdQE7PhI7_kz5e6oyOuvaZe801oMwEk0GUyWkSHgcLsCzrpTJLM-4ZzRZWkuh53LQWTCzpoB0lRUG7UpmZKjVHyx-CPRD0IVCv/w400-h184/IMG_20220507_103101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Nahuizalco's central square (photo credit: Tim Muth)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Today, the city of Nahuizalco and surrounding area is home to about 50,000 people. It is a center for artisans who specialize in creating weavings from natural fibers and items made from tule, wicker, wood and cotton. On the main roads outside of town, artisan shops featuring these products give an example of what might be found in the city's markets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg852NwRPEv_eNwXxEXe-Q2v8rzxcrrfa0D8RVN9ZivsgPQus1yaa27XgQDNGr4Dc-i4JF2IP9x3z9ddUqHJdGsVhxV2XS3PJz0HlDehIJC6McgRIviETXKMbLllt_Ji9apES4wn2OwI1EEHfnl3NvQdayMjMmllVI2CSIChPSjgcJBk8brQBIsFa1W/s2276/IMG_0726.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1531" data-original-width="2276" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg852NwRPEv_eNwXxEXe-Q2v8rzxcrrfa0D8RVN9ZivsgPQus1yaa27XgQDNGr4Dc-i4JF2IP9x3z9ddUqHJdGsVhxV2XS3PJz0HlDehIJC6McgRIviETXKMbLllt_Ji9apES4wn2OwI1EEHfnl3NvQdayMjMmllVI2CSIChPSjgcJBk8brQBIsFa1W/w400-h269/IMG_0726.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U3zgd6twpTPgdaJdyTDfBodm_DD4gwDyn7I7dL-vTjYzNZt61dTvzCTeTGrS1pTgoM2eiaCY22J3JnCaUeLQ00cWM_3NNyZtIgCqdG6CLn5yFHs3HfYsBNRd2bTXBd3i2dbTKKOnNky1917zkSOb57lqO7F-gbB5oJe5pF2-jt667ndTTKKYnX-u/s1270/IMG_0725.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1270" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U3zgd6twpTPgdaJdyTDfBodm_DD4gwDyn7I7dL-vTjYzNZt61dTvzCTeTGrS1pTgoM2eiaCY22J3JnCaUeLQ00cWM_3NNyZtIgCqdG6CLn5yFHs3HfYsBNRd2bTXBd3i2dbTKKOnNky1917zkSOb57lqO7F-gbB5oJe5pF2-jt667ndTTKKYnX-u/w400-h272/IMG_0725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO31JcieB1izqWavtZXg1en-fHlRRdVfM0-9XHMg9_iTQ7JELHbp4AD4E3OLTQL3oO_COsQwcw-uc4nvv07LRmV3QgaLX_24GLeWJklIqoH7b3pgLs6yEUq01PFh9_feEfoiqTIUGHXoQYCmbSHHt7puNxXn4fv8wzW8JG-dmTnoyt7RdNy9K3DFBs/s4032/IMG_0723.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO31JcieB1izqWavtZXg1en-fHlRRdVfM0-9XHMg9_iTQ7JELHbp4AD4E3OLTQL3oO_COsQwcw-uc4nvv07LRmV3QgaLX_24GLeWJklIqoH7b3pgLs6yEUq01PFh9_feEfoiqTIUGHXoQYCmbSHHt7puNxXn4fv8wzW8JG-dmTnoyt7RdNy9K3DFBs/w400-h300/IMG_0723.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The streets of town were pretty quiet. We parked and walked just a<br />couple of blocks to the market.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We visited Nahuizalco during the day, and the street market was filled with families shopping for fresh foods and basic things needed in the home. Nahuizalco also hosts a famous night market. The area around the central plaza is lit with candles and artisans sell their woven creations, as well as items made from wood and wicker.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdQ2fz4wzAl1k7EaFzOt80Wazk1HtbxtUUWLrMYQEioEAUIlbyyOnmedmduEYs7_cBaUpDokp7mNh2mfPKl670UGEjG0vIRIU-gX0-19w9SSWFJQa1F-hP7C1Q0UN9GESSSwJWCTA6jL88fEvp3RJsYHTCuy-wTH6s-vDBLmS5RFIvPZ3T-71_tkb/s4032/IMG_0721.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdQ2fz4wzAl1k7EaFzOt80Wazk1HtbxtUUWLrMYQEioEAUIlbyyOnmedmduEYs7_cBaUpDokp7mNh2mfPKl670UGEjG0vIRIU-gX0-19w9SSWFJQa1F-hP7C1Q0UN9GESSSwJWCTA6jL88fEvp3RJsYHTCuy-wTH6s-vDBLmS5RFIvPZ3T-71_tkb/w400-h300/IMG_0721.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>It was a busy shopping day, and we did catch some attention<br />as the only obvious tourists in town.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OkOlyZPPu6tttxphdaN9GlAFYZKCPG-X4O088zsOc2DxpSqMbxkesD0NNab7_wuDZr7Gz1DmwQZwf7sK7PXqC1hMojLsLOFpzZl4gBG-YtjXxxYeIoH-47LjFugxzDLPx_xSjz-SjvTmyAVMIhePfKBzRNUWFwdaQ2TJ-TThyxa2enOAKU_OFa7n/s2558/IMG_20220507_105530.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="1738" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OkOlyZPPu6tttxphdaN9GlAFYZKCPG-X4O088zsOc2DxpSqMbxkesD0NNab7_wuDZr7Gz1DmwQZwf7sK7PXqC1hMojLsLOFpzZl4gBG-YtjXxxYeIoH-47LjFugxzDLPx_xSjz-SjvTmyAVMIhePfKBzRNUWFwdaQ2TJ-TThyxa2enOAKU_OFa7n/w271-h400/IMG_20220507_105530.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The Spanish word for green bean is ejote.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx0quuhxc2BRf0mDEzDHtqDrwuJWUp0SwbgVrgIry39mx5TRC-TJ0ODIJ1mCQOTYhO6sPOvLJ_drhYUqR0TPkfvyA-DCgg4ca1t_ELCHZy-9WyQi3HSuXoX3mgtbTObvbzhng3xBKhXjbflqQ25kAA5VlpTjY0wT_MLEzXILT_SANCrk92Jyvw_EG/s2558/IMG_20220507_105530(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="1956" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx0quuhxc2BRf0mDEzDHtqDrwuJWUp0SwbgVrgIry39mx5TRC-TJ0ODIJ1mCQOTYhO6sPOvLJ_drhYUqR0TPkfvyA-DCgg4ca1t_ELCHZy-9WyQi3HSuXoX3mgtbTObvbzhng3xBKhXjbflqQ25kAA5VlpTjY0wT_MLEzXILT_SANCrk92Jyvw_EG/w306-h400/IMG_20220507_105530(1).jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The produce was fresh and colorful. The flower stalks are Flor de Izote,<br />the national flower of El Salvador. The the blossoms are edible, though usually<br />people just use the petals because the center is bitter. Sauté some onion and pepper, <br />add the petals and then add eggs to make a scramble.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhHKiVAuRzP9dRFPeG9QMUXlFJbbEpU_GtNloxmwIPgeaULGSi10JewXq35Q36Ek1TIqIdi_Q2ZDvfTo9TumlfkIhnQOXjGKqqGve67Rqsk55GQh657mZ7kFeWViKiQUfnOMbypbuB89ejE_eG113moX4aJG8VAdyowf5XDliwnn5cpBIehSVke_M/s3164/IMG_0722.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3164" data-original-width="2686" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhHKiVAuRzP9dRFPeG9QMUXlFJbbEpU_GtNloxmwIPgeaULGSi10JewXq35Q36Ek1TIqIdi_Q2ZDvfTo9TumlfkIhnQOXjGKqqGve67Rqsk55GQh657mZ7kFeWViKiQUfnOMbypbuB89ejE_eG113moX4aJG8VAdyowf5XDliwnn5cpBIehSVke_M/w340-h400/IMG_0722.JPG" width="340" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>We asked if we could take a close-up photo, so one of the vendors<br />arranged the flowers so we could see them better.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We walked through the market street to the central square. Nahuizalco is hot, and with the sun shining brightly, the curious wanderer should definitely have a hat or umbrella and carry water. Nahuizalco is laid out in the traditional colonial pattern, with the mayor's offices and the parish church flanking the town's central plaza. Tucked away in the corner of the square, next to the church, we found the Casa Cultural. When in a new town, it's always a good idea to visit the Casa Cultural. A very kind docent welcomed us in, offered us coffee, and told us a little bit about the small collection of items inside. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuqVU2QqLAhwLbnAmomapnpcDKdQ8bakS6FvjysMyaSRZbLi0daSaEBVGAyTwK_W_EZXyjTEJOTc4jKj9_fkzAXXWH-Oq5sKAoSRYiYVHC11TFfDPG8RU8vU0e5s-jg46iDXe07D-AWSxrkdgghwslcR4PcmcBGfuKgdc6FWcwUqUez0ZFfVT8ujf/s4032/IMG_0718.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuqVU2QqLAhwLbnAmomapnpcDKdQ8bakS6FvjysMyaSRZbLi0daSaEBVGAyTwK_W_EZXyjTEJOTc4jKj9_fkzAXXWH-Oq5sKAoSRYiYVHC11TFfDPG8RU8vU0e5s-jg46iDXe07D-AWSxrkdgghwslcR4PcmcBGfuKgdc6FWcwUqUez0ZFfVT8ujf/w400-h300/IMG_0718.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The facade of the Casa Cultural (cultural house)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The cultural house has a little exhibition showing the process of making petates (woven mats) and other objects from tule. The tule plant is in the rush family, and produces leaves like palm stalks, which can be ripped into uniform strips for weaving. Petate mats, which can easily be rolled up, are used by families in their homes or when they sleep outdoors, by military personnel, fishermen, and in prisons. This weaving technique is used to make baskets, storage boxes, purses, hats and clothing. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEKb7Y3fXJo6AwUOdFT-15CPtmTaH9SP5YGpsH9PDYcMw7eMg6S84MOtyMQTIyxmzSrdFoQHzpWFwVyyxC6i4qWG7IUIfeYPTt88I1CZbHCrCdSUMHK8oTUZbO3J8UKcbyp6AnP8KHALmH0GHeYEUEy7Ii7OLkMip-h_X3fQnMR5WTDsUw8ny5t1v/s4032/IMG_0719.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEKb7Y3fXJo6AwUOdFT-15CPtmTaH9SP5YGpsH9PDYcMw7eMg6S84MOtyMQTIyxmzSrdFoQHzpWFwVyyxC6i4qWG7IUIfeYPTt88I1CZbHCrCdSUMHK8oTUZbO3J8UKcbyp6AnP8KHALmH0GHeYEUEy7Ii7OLkMip-h_X3fQnMR5WTDsUw8ny5t1v/w400-h300/IMG_0719.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Typical items made from the tule plant. <br />The different colors are created from natural sources. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>After our visit to the Casa Cultural, we explored the sanctuary of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church. The building dates back to 1660 CE and seems to have undergone some reconstruction. The current cornerstone simply states the origin date as before 1800 CE. The church suffered some damage during the 2001 earthquakes and has been repaired.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfIT_XNuYozpwEg3dPFkv1MrFGk7yf0BbOw7uULXdyOrkoWe5s8fe9tVugXhddoQCPyK72fDjrsqAUP5_x1M82eE2BPgzL1Khd4YkB6lfBoDtjlSVQ7FAyePpVt_CevJZBleg7lzdcoifdGtFwnBtN_E1NhX_l3xpVkM8Gyt0wO7oDA77ehRxC4Et/s3920/IMG_0708.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2940" data-original-width="3920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfIT_XNuYozpwEg3dPFkv1MrFGk7yf0BbOw7uULXdyOrkoWe5s8fe9tVugXhddoQCPyK72fDjrsqAUP5_x1M82eE2BPgzL1Khd4YkB6lfBoDtjlSVQ7FAyePpVt_CevJZBleg7lzdcoifdGtFwnBtN_E1NhX_l3xpVkM8Gyt0wO7oDA77ehRxC4Et/w400-h300/IMG_0708.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Exterior of the parish church, St. John the Baptist</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCzaeG_o5QedIAa_k7XaKZevNZGPaKcZIwdJS6iJjXrGsSyW2iS0mi5HYQWaGrqKqePCj_HkE6T_zNj2rn3SRYJXnv5RFIofjRq_aZAgzgPX1J9mys51b8BbZ0MZ47Igb5kqyVTYnF5Fxqg3Y3G5K2I6OynibmndxAs3EWfkomimdD2ZuW6j5wpha/s4032/IMG_0713.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCzaeG_o5QedIAa_k7XaKZevNZGPaKcZIwdJS6iJjXrGsSyW2iS0mi5HYQWaGrqKqePCj_HkE6T_zNj2rn3SRYJXnv5RFIofjRq_aZAgzgPX1J9mys51b8BbZ0MZ47Igb5kqyVTYnF5Fxqg3Y3G5K2I6OynibmndxAs3EWfkomimdD2ZuW6j5wpha/w400-h300/IMG_0713.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Interior of St. John the Baptist Church</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3S2zijQmOPoFuSvoH_Ns7FsN6CUioSTHQutHWmvN9XQwdd89LKtWsXPZEQ9xHzYLNcEfMnixl20kMEtiHbqJjwR2wfFIaLOldFa_t4hsDgJka7WmT4o11yQE5IwES_H5Oef_UU8GW-2xLSF3A15E4IutfSODYMPqk2jWmPkCPWSH7kG2w6M6b-w2/s4032/IMG_0711.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3S2zijQmOPoFuSvoH_Ns7FsN6CUioSTHQutHWmvN9XQwdd89LKtWsXPZEQ9xHzYLNcEfMnixl20kMEtiHbqJjwR2wfFIaLOldFa_t4hsDgJka7WmT4o11yQE5IwES_H5Oef_UU8GW-2xLSF3A15E4IutfSODYMPqk2jWmPkCPWSH7kG2w6M6b-w2/w300-h400/IMG_0711.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSarMnRP4SVtuQ16Oq14p2OYzII_QZXPei9fN2i020xknMtrHmSpgbn18E5VcpWKASxMxj2nmPoJjKr_5nwchkYnmEhxOO_Ik8KOIcBAGA5NjIJQpC9EQzPmA6wLlOYwcVD8H4GxtOoUiPCTvSldEqWoEsJfr6VRLv8tNjuvqkgJJEonobh6IzMn3L/s4032/IMG_0712.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSarMnRP4SVtuQ16Oq14p2OYzII_QZXPei9fN2i020xknMtrHmSpgbn18E5VcpWKASxMxj2nmPoJjKr_5nwchkYnmEhxOO_Ik8KOIcBAGA5NjIJQpC9EQzPmA6wLlOYwcVD8H4GxtOoUiPCTvSldEqWoEsJfr6VRLv8tNjuvqkgJJEonobh6IzMn3L/w300-h400/IMG_0712.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The patron saint days honoring St. John the Baptist are celebrated from June 20-25.<br />Festivities include marches in the streets and traditional folkloric dancing.<br />School children dress in costumes which combine their colonial and Pipil heritage, <br />with themes of caring for creation.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcOrXFmyvVZl0DayofH5wtj_ADuyJiddKGf56FFj2GUSY4-3bn40bGGUDNoI_BQF8H6RYW1qdW3LUQmlop04kfyycAgm5tsofM18NnRwgkNTrQh4-f-92bnYxF1g35axX5jckMSu5BWyVaJ8NnMZ5an_rLudLOXgAWNGzDIydvnZN3cWSAwIDcMcx/s3874/IMG_0714.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3874" data-original-width="2929" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcOrXFmyvVZl0DayofH5wtj_ADuyJiddKGf56FFj2GUSY4-3bn40bGGUDNoI_BQF8H6RYW1qdW3LUQmlop04kfyycAgm5tsofM18NnRwgkNTrQh4-f-92bnYxF1g35axX5jckMSu5BWyVaJ8NnMZ5an_rLudLOXgAWNGzDIydvnZN3cWSAwIDcMcx/w303-h400/IMG_0714.JPG" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>View from inside the church looking back out into the central plaza.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq749bwx8y1RZ1H0M1q0zp7JZXXWHXTsdQVSGJCNh7lKs49MNQhLnWutH8RmciPdne5KlVUv8298f9numV95ZZg48rUF6bAJM0nWltO5o6sun9cJPO9bqSLGxE3-3CU22RDWTJwmJjVRueD1gV5mDNOT1RcV4DQudekT0Vco7pydLLfZu6pu7U7EVL/s4032/IMG_0707.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq749bwx8y1RZ1H0M1q0zp7JZXXWHXTsdQVSGJCNh7lKs49MNQhLnWutH8RmciPdne5KlVUv8298f9numV95ZZg48rUF6bAJM0nWltO5o6sun9cJPO9bqSLGxE3-3CU22RDWTJwmJjVRueD1gV5mDNOT1RcV4DQudekT0Vco7pydLLfZu6pu7U7EVL/w400-h300/IMG_0707.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>We visited in the month of May, during which Christians celebrate<br />the Day of the Cross. This cross was in the central plaza.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></div>Other stories in this series:<br />Quick Review: Vacation Week Series<br />Episode 1: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/05/vacation-week-coffee-stop-above-lake.html">Coffee Stop Above Lake Coatepeque</a><br />Episode 2: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/05/vacation-week-experiencing-energy-at.html" target="_blank">Experiencing the Energy at Tazumal</a><br />Episode 3: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/06/vacation-week-concepcion-de-ataco.html" target="_blank">Concepción de Ataco</a><div>Episode 4: <a href="https://blog.walkingwithelsalvador.org/2022/09/vacation-week-fun-in-apaneca-mountains.html" target="_blank">Fun in the Apaneca Mountains</a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572113710404545550noreply@blogger.com0