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Published: July 23rd 2009
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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 by the ocean was much needed by our trio. Luckily, for us Liz’s mother volunteered her friend to drive us. (If it weren’t for her kindness (and the rest of Liz’s family) we would definitely have some steep cab fares this trip.
Our vision of spending the day on the beach did not go according to plan. (Apparently, plan changing is typical of the “in-laws” and throughout the day Jason supported his “I told you so” smirk). We boarded the beat up sedan with an aggressive Latina driver, who insisted on having one hand on the steering wheel and the other on her cell phone, driving autobahn speeds on a winding side road. (I really can’t catch a break with the transportation.) The new plan turned
into Liz’s mother and her friend Roxanne taking us to a restaurant. The three story restaurant is located on the beach and offers majestic views of the Pacific. Liz’s mom knows the owner of the restaurant and introduced us to him. He was a tall Salvadoran man who wore a black cowboy hat and a variety of gold jewelry (I think he resembles a rich Juan Valdez, or a cast member of “Blow”). After a quick bite to eat turned into a two hour lunch with Juan Valdez, we made a brief pit stop at a black sand beach. Here we were greeted by many locals begging for money (far from peaceful). We quickly decided to make a break for Roxanne’s swimming pool at her vacation home. With only forty five minutes before it was time to return to the ranch we took a quick dip in the pool. It allowed ample time to amuse ourselves with the new underwater camera. Also, each of us enjoyed a coconut filled with milk during our swim. Needless to say, I didn’t get any reading done.
That evening we went to dinner at an authentic Salvadoran chain restaurant called Chili’s. At this
point in the trip we all shared approximately twenty-one authentic Salvadoran and/or Guatemalan meals together. Our stomachs were craving familiar American cuisine. (My belly has been doing a seven day Cha Cha with hips faster than Shakira!) Over dinner we had some great conversation. Liz answered a series of questions from me, and I believe I am better versed on her family history than Jason. With all my questions, Jason is confident that I will be an effective interrogator for detainees in Guantanamo and that I am in fact pursuing the wrong career. I, however, disagree.
(Tuesday)
Yesterday we intended to greet Liz’s sister Vanessa at the airport. Unfortunately, due to a variety of logistical issues, we were unable to do so. We ended up meeting her at a local mall in San Salvador where we had lunch together before heading to a nearby volcano.
Our morning was spent shopping at a local street market. Latinos were pulling me in forty-seven million directions and nagging me in a foreign language to purchase products from their booth (if they only spoke slower, I would be able to understand them). Extremely irritated with people disturbing my personal space(again another
reason why Salvadorans should attend school- to learn about safe hands and personal space), I only purchased salt/pepper shakers and magnets. Jason and Liz discovered an artist who painted with incredibly bold colors and purchased (for a whopping $45) an original Salvadoran painting to display in their home.
Our afternoon was spent visiting Volcan San Salvador. We toured the top of the volcano and took some terrific views of the crater. The hike to the top of the volcano was impressive; an array of exotic flowers including orchids thrive in the rich volcanic soil. On the way down, we stopped at a look- out for a tremendous view of the city. Afterwards we “celebrated” Jason’s last night in San Salvador with a trip to an Italian restaurant. (I, however, have two more days with the “in-laws” until I continue my journey to Costa Rica). The food was actually fairly decent. Afterwards we shared a night cap at a local pub.
(Wednesday)
With only a short sleep, we woke up to drive Jason to the airport, again squishing five people in a Mitsubishi Eclipse. By the time we arrived, I had sweat dripping from every place on my
body. Let me tell you the car smelled like a combination of sweaty shinguards, wet cleats, and five prepubescent teens. After wishing Jason a safe flight, Liz, Vanessa, and their mom and cousin grabbed a quick lunch and headed to Santa Ana. We made a pit-stop at Lago Coatepeque for an adult beverage on the pier. (I recommend the Pina Colada…it might just take an hour to get it, but be patient - it’ll get there eventually!)We continued the drive to Santa Ana to watch a parade, and scrummage through vendors selling food, jewelry and handicrafts. I indulged in plantain chips (my favorite). The rain made for an abrupt ending to the evening and for a wretched ride home. Clenching my fists to my ears, rocking back and forth with my eyes closed, and almost in tears, I attempted to calm my nerves by singing to myself. Somehow, I had to get my mind off of the pitch-black roads, the heavy rain, cars with no head or tail lights (believe it or not, lights on cars are a luxury here), lightless streets, and the tense ride home. The car continually jerked due to the soaked roads. Often Liz would mention
to her cousin to slow down. To the side of us was a man riding a motorcycle with no gear that reflected where he was. I think some Salvadorans have a death wish; honestly, there is no way that man made it home in one piece. I was praying that I would not have to witness such occurrence. I did, however, live to tell the story. I’m tired. Tomorrow I actually get to spend the day relaxing, preparing for Costa Rica, catching up on sleep and laundry, because Friday morning brings an early 4 A.M. wake-up call and a day of traveling.
El Salvador has been an incredible trip. Touring volcanoes, Mayan ruins, pre-colonial towns, and zip-lining through the mountains has been an experience like no other. I’m so lucky that I shared it with my cousin Jason and his wife. Although I do get to make frequent trips to Tampa, three visits a year is still not enough bonding time. This trip has been the most consecutive time I have ever spent with Jason, and to tell you the truth,I didn’t even get sick of him. Jason and Liz made traveling to El Salvador an adventure. Jason’s “Howard”
sarcasm is infectious, and he repeatedly brought a smile to my face throughout the duration of this trip. I admit, I enjoyed tooling on Liz. She is an extremely good sport and was able to balance two Howards, a crazy Latina Mama, and a large Salvadoran family without completely going insane. (She did develop a case of hives though). Jason and Liz, I thank you for being perfect travel companions and I hope we can endure another foreign journey soon.
The rainforest awaits my arrival. I’m excited about Costa Rica. The second part of the trip leads to a different kind of adventure…so stay tuned…
Love,
Christina (President of the Howard Division)
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Thanks for staying with my in-laws in a developing country that has a complete diregard for laws and/or regulations. I'm actually vacationing in Siesta Key right now. I'm relaxing in a beachfront villa with cold a/c and promptly served pina coladas. God Bless the U.S.A! My plan worked perfectly...Ha Ha Ha!!!(<---evil laughter). Sucka! -J Howard