Holiday Inn Santa Elena San Salvador

... Fernando. He certainly showed us the need is great here in El Salvador. After orientation we ate dinner at Pollo Campero,the equivalent of a KFC back home. And I personally think it is better then KFC. <br><br>We spent most of the day catching up with old friends from across the country and meeting new friends. We've had a BIG day, we're tired and we're going to bed. Buenas Noches.

We arrived after an easy flight at San Salvador at 7am and disembarked at what was a neat and new airport.  From the outside it resembled Perpignan airport &#8211; rural &#8211; but inside surprised us as the duty free put Luton and Stansted to shame.  <br><br>As we had seven hours to kill before we flew to Lima we had booked a room at a local airport hotel and took the courtesy bus there just in time ...

... bus station and after a few more hours of waiting I jumped on a first class bus. <br> This was the end of my express journey through Guatemala. All I did in the country was take the same gringo-trail as almost every other backpacker who came through. Only I skipped more and went faster. I only went to full on tourist places and failed to experience much of the culture or make any good travel buddies. Instead I just used my week in Guatemala to see the ...

... Thursday, 8/20<br>-Not feeling so well today; did work in the clinic rather than walking around all day. The day started with a meeting with the women in the community who are in a special nutrition program and representatives of a company that donated a grinder to the clinic. The women have been using the grinder to grind sorgo, an easily accessible grain, to sell and to make their own food. It has been beneficial, and they made cookies and atol (a hot drink ...

First off I just have to say that I am really sorry I have been completely out of touch for the last two weeks! Life here has been very very busy, but I can happily say that I am slowly moving back into the everyday routine! <br>On July 28, Anna Kari and Kristian Johnson arrived to start working on schedules and logistics for our 30 person delegation that arrived on the 31st. The delegation came to work on lots of different mission projects including a dental campaign ...

... who drove the drunk gringo home when the bars all closed. I dont think there was a night I was out that a group of people didnt stop me and offer to drive me home when they saw me trying to wave down a taxi. It was also weird to see how urbanised the country is. I suppose after the civil war they basically had to start again and most things moved towards an urban culture.<br>I think I will quickly forget El Salvador, but never the people, which is a damn good thing!<br><br>

... completely unfitting, but reveals just what kind of city this was 150 years ago. Stayed at Casa Frolaz, a hostel that really reminds one of being at home. Wednesday I hit the road and stopped in at Lago de Coatepeque, a spectacular crater lake. My plan was to actually hike the Santa Ana volcano, but it was a little difficult to figure out where the tour was leaving from, what time it was leaving at, etc, so I just chilled lake side. From there I made it to Santa Tecla ...

... guide, too, was shocked that I travel by bus. So dangerous, he said. They drive like madmen and the equipment is poorly maintained...Yes, yes, I know. But I get to talk to locals and eat funky food brought on the bus by vendors, joke around with adorable kids and show up at the station any time and get a bus to where I'm going. No, I wouldn't trade these experiences for "safety". Mario ...

... us (the brashy Brit, our much-welcome Kevin replacement, Chris and myself) stand along the ridge, watching the clouds descend. Soon, the fog is so dense we can barely see each other. When it starts drizzling, you can tell who the Enlish are, floral umbrellas and all. Below, we hear the screams of some of the stupider of the youth being bured after jumping into the cone. I suppose not many people can say they´ve gone inside a volcano, for obvious ...

Today is just a lazy day, it is very wet, but there are still over 100 people using the area. We even get to see and hear the live band that is playing for the people at the pool. Do not know if it is normal or if they have been especially hired. 20th-Today we had a walk around the area along to the beach, a bit mucky but the waves were enormous, the sand is black because it comes from the volcanoes, which still ...