El Salvador - San Blas, Punta Roca Surf Resort

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Had a fantastic couple of days down the coast at The Punta Roca Surf Resort. San Blas. Even quieter than El Tunco Beach if that was possible and actually a little eerie when you first turn up and there is nothing but the resort and only one other person staying! Actually the pets out numbered us with the cutest pair of dogs and resident parrots, frogs et al! One dog we took a particular shine to as he was a heinz 57 who had white feet so we named him White socks and he seemed happy to answer to that!

Half an hour in and we were settled but it is probably the hardest part of travelling around, it takes a bit to get settled again but we are practising! Within 5 minutes a guy introduces himself and asks if we are hanging around for a bit. He was the son of the owner and the Jimmy Rotherham who is one of the best surfers in Central America. What a down to earth guy, sat nattering about our travels and after about a day we cornered him to discuss the waves and his life. Currently rated no.1 here he was in preparation for a competition this weekend and made us feel much better about our abilities when he admitted that when it's 25ft high he still feels butterflies when he takes the drop - hope for us all. Anyway was absolutely great to meet him and he was kind enough to sign our lonely planet and Neil's Surfers Path mag.

We knew that El Salvador had been hit hard by Hurricane Ida about three weeks back when we were in Belize and that I think over 120 people died. At San Blas it was all too obvious that the hurricane had been through, the beach was literally covered in broken palm trees and debris of all types and when we walked along so many of the beach front bars which are literally shacks were just washed away and destroyed. A slight air of desparation definitely exists as a woman who had half rebuilt hers spent ages in Spanish trying to persuade us to abandon our beach walk and go and listen to 'free music'. For starters we were not carrying any money and also all we wanted was to walk the length of the beach and take the place in but I still felt bad.

Also I guess what makes everything a bit unsettled is the levels of security everywhere - the resort in Punta Roca had 24hr coverage and the guy just patrolled constantly with his pump action shotgun! That's the only downside is that you just can't go out after 6pm so good to be back at La Guitarra where even though we can't go out after dark we have just a bit more to do and more travellers to mix with again (many of whom were here when we left a few days back!). Neil says it's a bit Hotel California - you can check out but you can never leave! Okay we know what that song was actually about!!

We are still waiting on my contact in the UK to try and get a decent priced flight sorted to take us to Nicuragua so will stay at La Guitarra resort in El Tunco for some more r and r until we can leave - not exactly a hardship it has to be said! I worked out btw that I had not cooked a meal myself since Nov 4th (day before we left Costa) so our taxi driver who was called Lobster(!) (Taxi = pick up truck with his father riding shotgun in the back) took me to the supermarket on the way back here so I could grab a few bits. Lucky for us a shared kitchen here so I can relish in making my own food again for a night or two!

love to you all xxxxx

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Photos

San Blas
Sunset from outside our resort

Punta Roca Surf Resort
Appreciating having a great pool for a few days

Two Socks and friends
Our adopted pets for two days playing frog literally

Neil
Neil after he could not listen anymore to me explaining the differences between Spanish and English!

Kirsty
Escaping from the 90 degree heat

San Blas
A cleaner part of the beach which the tide had cleared of the main debris of Hurricane Ida

What a job
High above me a guy is sitting at the top of the palm tree giving it a prune!

Parrot
Well I think it's a parrot!

Sunset
El Salvador has the best sunsets we have seen

Beer O'clock
Poolside beers (not consumed before beer o'clock aka 5pm!)