http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , El Salvador , Santa Ana en-us Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:52:30 +0000 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:52:30 +0000 Monday Liz provided Jason and me with a tour of the U.S. embassy in San Salvador. After our go round we quickly came back to pack up necessities summer reads Ipod and sunscreen for the beach. I was extremely eager to spend the day relaxing. I swear I could hear a hammock on the beach calling my name. Our days here in El Salvador have been so jammed with activities that a tranquil afternoon http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-421298.html On Toby's day off we took a trip over to the twin volcanoes of Santa Ana . Since his work ANADES was taking some supplies over that part of the country we were able to get a ride to the feeder road. Justin and I rode in the bed of the pickup which was really nice. When it is summer riding in the back is better than in the cab with AC.We caught the bus that goes to the foot of the mountai http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-419284.html El Salvador Photos http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-399281.html Ok. Well now im in Danli Honduras working as a voluntary physio. the last 2 weeks have been mad entering El Salvador and Honduras has introduced me to another level of weirdness. El Salvador what can i say was there 6 days never seen anything like it. This country does not have tourists in 6 days i think i saw 5 tourists. for this reason your mere presence attracts attention like you cant imagi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-392589.html Dear all Buenos dias de El Salvador I apologise that it has been so long since my last entry my days have been so full and they seem to go by far too quicklySo the Week of the Child ended with a huge celebration in Terminal it was so much fun Since then my recorder groups have gotten well under way and many are picking it up much quicker than I anticipated which is wonderful They really see http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-340041.html Today we started mixing cement for the foundation of both homes. It's another physical task and the sun was out full strength again. We made sure to pace ourselves as mixing cement by hand involves mucho shoveling First you start by filling wheelbarrows with sand and gravel. Then you dump them into a heap and start mixing. Next comes the water and the bucket brigade to the trenches. One of the h http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-337875.html Guest blogger Tim LehmanIn preparation for our trip to El Salvador each team member established a head rational behaviorexpectation and heart emotional behaviorexpectation goal. The reasons for coming on the trip varied widely but some common themes bound the team together.Head goals1. Safely complete our work. 2. Opportunity for a team build with other Thrivent employees. 3. Represent http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-337549.html Today was another great day on the build sites. We made so much progress. Mike Pete Mary Dawn Marcia Carrie Krystal and I Tara finished digging out the trenches for the foundationinterior wallsand finished tying rebar. At the end of the day we dug out and helped prepare a pit for mixing the cement by hand. During the day we had a few extra helping hands as neighbor children offered to http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-337214.html ldquoThis is a lot harder than I expected.rdquo We finally began work at the two build sites today 20 minutes outside of Santa Ana. These are new sites so we started at the beginning by digging trenches through the heavy clay soil for the foundation and tying rebar. After digging in the intense sun rebar was a welcome break. The local children helped us get through the day playing king http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-336784.html Today was an amazing day for many reasons. Our team was able to worship at Cristo Rey Lutheran Church in Santa Ana. While the congregation is poor financially they are definitely not poor spiritually. We were given an amazing welcome and treated like celebrities. They are so grateful that we are here in their country. Taking the time to give of ourselves to not only build houses but build relatio http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-336768.html We got our first introduction to the familycentered culture of El Salvador at the airport. Huge crowds of extended families waited at the arrival doors. Team members felt they were stepping onto the red carpet. Grandparents babies cousins and neighbors warmly greeted each other then 20 at a time crammed into Ford Ranger size trucks and sped away. We rode a comfortable bus for two hours to S http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-335974.html Just another quick post to let you all know the whole team has now made it safe and sound to El Salvador. Dawn Diane Julie and Carrie made it in on time and breezed through customs after a great flight through Houston. Cate Natalie Marcia Mary Krystal Michael Peter and Keith all met up in Atlanta and made it in country around 1 p.m. We stopped for a bite to eat at Pollo Campero on our way http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-335936.html Hola todosIt's a humid afternoon here in Santa Ana and the heavens have well and truly opened They say the rain is set in for a few more days 'la temporada' as they call it. Everything is going really well here in El Salvador. For the past week we have been celebrating the Week of the Child in the two projects organising different activities which inform the children about their rights from s http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-332349.html Hola todos I apologise that it has been such a long time since my last entry the past few weeks have been so busy and this really is the first chance i've had to write to you all So i'll start from the beginning...I arrived in Santa Ana nearly 3 weeks ago now. It's a beautiful colonial city although it feels much more like a town full of life and vibrancy albeit a little rough around the ed http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-327599.html Day Nine Wednesday September 27thWednesday was the day we were going to Tazumal. We woke up early and had breakfast. Then I wanted to make a video that showed the inside of the house so I made a video tour of Yani's house. It starts in the room that we're staying at and goes throughout the place until the front door and then outside. I say beautiful a lot because I wanted Yani's parents t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-311102.html Day Eight Tuesday September 26thWoke up Tuesday feeling sick. I can't remember if it was a regular headache or not. I think it was a combination of my antibiotics that I had to keep taking and a headache pill that didn't react well with the meds. Either way after breakfast and while we were on our way to the mountains I started feeling like ass.We arrived at a restaurant which was outdoors http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-311099.html The first half of my trip was spent in the capital of El Salvador which is called San Salvador. For a few days Marta and I went to the town of Santa Ana to visit a friend of hers. This section of the report contains pictures from there.Day Seven Monday September 25thBefore our trip to El Sal Marta had found the phone number for a friend of hers that she'd had when she lived there. I'm curren http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-311001.html At the Terminal Occidente in San Salvador we had our first Pupusas. Cheese stuffed tortillas which were quite delicious. We found the bus to Santa Ana but I had trouble getting on with my backpack. Pieter had to push from behind while the bus driver pulled me up. Arriving at the market in Santa Ana after an uneventful ride we took a US3 taxi to the Hotel Libertad. We had booked ahead but there we http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/Santa-Ana/blog-225478.html