El Salvador

¡Hola mis amigos! Well we picked up from San Marcos at Lake Atitlan and headed to Antigua. We walked into the hostel we had stayed at before and lo and behold who is there but our family from San Pedro...about 6 guys we have become close with....just sitten there playing poker! It was amazing! They then left for Honduras the next morning. On Tuesday morning we caught at bus at 4 am to Copan, Honduras where the ancient Mayan Ruins are located. It was a long bus ride and it was practically impossible to sleep...we also had a very disgruntled bus driver... so much so that when we got the Honduran border and I told him that I didn´t have my passport in my small bag and it was in my pack on the roof, he replied, ´lo siento, no pase en Honduras´ (sorry, you can´t pàss into Honduas) it was hilarious. So I just had to hoist myself onto the top of this bus to get it myself....laughing the whole time. Anyway, we arrived in Copan, and who are we greeted by when we get off the bus?? None other than two of our buddies from Antigua! We went to the hostel where everyone was staying at and figured out the day´s plans. We decided to go to these hot springs about an hour away. We were waving down any driver in the street who had a pick-up truck that would fit all of us. Finally, after talking to a few folks, this one dude said he would take us out there. Next thing we know, we are voraciously holding on to the not so stable steel railing in the back of this pick up truck, flying throughout the most green lushious countryside. At one point, we had to halt to a stop because there was a pack of cows blocking the road. We finally made it to the river about an hour or so later. I literally felt like it was straight out of a Planet Earth episode. The river truly just takes me home. There were wild pigs, and little chickies, beautifully blue dragonflys, and tons of children bathing and frollicking the water. As I kept walking down the river, I came to this old rickety bridge. As I crossed it, I was met by this beautiful young dark skinned gal with deep brown eyes. We started chatting and she lead me up to her house. Before I knew it, I was meeting her mom, and her 6 brothers and sisters, and being invited up into their town. But honestly, from the river, you would have no idea that there was anything beyond the small path alongside the water. They excitedly lead me up this dirt path and I was greeted by the most amazingly green pasture, filled with horses, beautiful small homes, pigs, and children running around playing futbol. I was so grateful.  Pete and I started playing with the kids, making human pyramids and kicking the soccer ball around. Everyone in the town was staring at us from their doorways.  I had all these little kiddies giving me hugs as we laughed and played and ran throughout the pasture. It was absolutely beautiful, and the landscape nothing short of a picturesque fairy tale. Then....they wanted to go swimming. They lead me to the other side of the river where there was an awesome swimming hole. Next thing I know, they´re all fearlessly flying off these rocks, laughing and screaming.  Then we´re all in the water playing games, racing from one rock to another, singing songs as I find all these cute little kids riding on my back. We had huge water fights where I literally would just close for eyes for two minutes and flail my arms in every which direction...it was hilarious. However, there was this one beautiful girl, the one who I first met on the bridge, who didn´t seem to want to leave my side. It felt so good to feel like I was truly living my life and sharing with anyone and everyone. The driver who had dropped us off said he was coming back around 4 so alas, it was time for us to head out. We gathered our belongings, bid our farewells, and my new little friend escorted us back down the river to the road. This day was heaven for me. The next day was amazing as well. We visited the ancient Mayan Ruinas of Copan. We payed for a guide, which was well worth the money, and he informed us of all the history of the ruins. The structures are unfathomable...with red paint still embedded in some of the statues from 1,300 years ago. It is actually too much to go into detail here, but it was a very powerful experience and I could definetely still feel the energy of the people still deeply alive in the land. We went out that night, and had some free salsa lessons. Cass and I made friends with a few of the locals, and we to their friends bar and danced to Manu Chao until wee in the morning. We then woke up at 5 am and caught a bus to San Salvador. Little did we know we were getting on the most luxurious bus ever!!! They gave us pillows and blankets and movies were playing the whole time. Cass and I were the total haggard hood rat travelers riding along with all the more well to do passengers. It was hilarious. There was even a bathroom on this bus!!! Good thing we enjoyed it, because I doubt we´ll experience that again anytime soon. We arrive in San Salvador, which is an awesome big city. We grabbed some dinner with some new friends, and on our way back, stumbled across a Kareoke bar!!!! woo hoo!!! There were some total regulars there who had the most amazing voices, such characters. With the English song selection limited, we sang a few songs and drank in the city life. Also, while in Antigua, I randomly ran into this dude that I met back at the lake. Turns out, he lives in San Salvador, so we hung out with him and his friends the next night. We all went to dinner and randomly got tickets to the Latin American Idols Concert!! By the time we showed up it was over, but it was so hilarious because all these adolescent teeny bopper screaming girls were practially fainting as the stars emerged from backstage on their way out. We danced salsa and merengue at some crazy club that you´d never ever see me at in the States. Cass got up on stage and sang her signature song...I Will Survive. I was her biggest fan. Soo.....as timing is on our side, our new local friends were leaving for the beach the next morning and so were we! They picked us up the next morning after only a few hours of sleep and we drove to the beach that we are at now, which is a beautiful tropical black sand beach in the south of El Salvador lined with palm trees, hammocks, surfers, and a way laid back vibe. We basked in the sun, enjoying papaya and swimming in the WARMEST water ever! (compared to CA at least). I have been practicing poi which is hard to explain but those of you who know what it is, I have been practicing and I am absolutely addicted and loving it! I know this is incredibly long and I swore I wouldn´t be one of those travelers who bores their family and friends back home with every minute detail of every day.... (I would write with much more care and color if I weren´t sitting in the hottest internet cafe ever ) So real quick before I wrap things up, I´ll tell you a quick story. As the bright warm orange of the sun was setting along the horizon, I went and did some yoga on the beach.  As I finished my practice and layed down in shavashana, I was so relaxed that I fell asleep. Next thing I knew, I was completey covered in a blanket of water! So startled, I could not jump up fast enough! I had no idea where I was, and was completely drenched in the warm evening ocean water. I immediately stumbled to my feet and starting walking to realize I had left my clothes on the beach but it was dark so I didn´t know where anything was...so I scrambled around on my knees and finally found my stuff and walked back up the cabana so wide eyed, my heart still pounding. I was totally fine, but it just caught me sooo off guard! (Chan, I´m sure you´re laughing right now...I assure you it was as comically entertaining as you picture it!)We will be here for a few more days and then we are trying to take a boat on over and down to Nicaragua!!!!!! There we will hopefully WWOOF (Willing workers on organic farms) in the south of the country, I am beyond thrilled about doing this. All is well, the people are absolutely wonderful. They may not be rich in pocket, but they are incredibly rich in heart, full of generosity, and loving kindness. With that said, it is not assumed that their lives are easy either. The hard work is endless and the days long. But I still feel the positivity of people who value the simple important beauties of life.

Much much love to you all, thanks again for all of your love and beauty in my life. I deeply appreciate you.

Whitney