AN EASY INVITATION

SAYING YES!

My friend Gary is going to El Salvador & asks me if I would like to go along… Gary knows the owner and we would only need to pay for food. The hotel is directly on the Pacific coast! I say “Yes!”, cash in my credit card points, and get round trip ticket for $35. I also look up the resort, La Tortuga Verde, where we will be staying and notice there is a garden and a greenhouse - so I make sure to bring packets of seeds thinking there may be an opportunity to give back.

Gary arrived at the resort a week earlier. I grab a taxi at the airport in San Salvador and head south for a two hour ride along a road with lush trees on both sides. There are wide shoulders with room for lots of activities: for buses to pull over, for groups of kids walking from school, for the roadside businesses, and for drying corn.

Then, I see a very impressive mountain. I learn from the driver that it is a volcanic mountain. There are 6 active volcanoes and 16 that are extinct in this small country. I’m so excited to learn more about this vibrant and intriguing country!

THE OCEAN!

I get to La Tortuga Verde and find my room next to Gary’s. This is a busy place with mostly El Salvadorans vacationing here and our resort has a cool hostel like vibe with trees in the center lined by rooms leading to the ocean. The dining area is on the sand where there is a beautiful wide beach and the crashing waves beyond. Our first activity is to jump in the water.

The next day Gary and I decide to walk along the beach to Cucos. We see families cleaning their nets in the ocean and next to the beach fish are drying in the sun on logs. It’s such a nice day, we continue on to the famous Las Fleures surfing beach taking a short cut across the inlet. We hold our bags up high as the waves break at our waist. When we come to a huge cave like area we discover it is full of bee hives!

We stop at a place that has coconuts and they simply cut a hole and insert a straw. When we are finished, they chop it completely open so we can enjoy the meat.

THE EMPANADA LADY

We watch the surfers for a while and then head back to Cucos. I spot a woman with a basket on her head and the most charming gait. I’m mesmerized by her. We catch up and ask what is in her basket. She lowers her basket and shows us the spread of pineapple and cheese empanadas: the best ever! I only regret that I didn’t get more.

Exploring in this relaxed manner suits me and I am looking forward to tomorrow’s discoveries!