El Salvador 2010

We spent last weekend (much too quick!) in San Salvador, El Salvador, for Roberto's cousin Rodrigo's wedding!  What a beautiful country... and pretty much untouched by tourists.

We haven't been back since we visited over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2008... here are some pictures of that trip, at La Libertad beach and Lago de Coatepeque.  La Libertad is a surfer's paradise with laid-back seafood restaurants and very small, idyllic resorts tucked along its main winding street.  Lago de Coatepeque is one of the largest lakes in El Salvador, created by a massive volcanic eruption between 72,000 and 52,000 years ago.  Roberto says this crater lake is so deep that NASA has been unable to find the bottom, even with sonar submarines.  The water was freezing cold and refreshing when we swam in it that November, and the scenery is just breathtaking... imposing green peaks covered in tropical foliage rise around the caldera, and luxury homes are nestled along the lakeside.

Since we only had Monday to Sunday for this trip, much of which was eaten up by travel, we had much less time to explore.  However, we were lucky enough to get to see another of El Salvador's gorgeous beaches, El Sunzal.  Roberto's brother Alejandro's girlfriend, Francesca, has a house there and we spent all day Saturday lounging in the pool, relaxing in hammocks, and stepping right off her property onto an expanse of spectacular, glittering black sand beach.  It's funny how close Sunzal is to La Libertad, but the beaches are completely different.  La Libertad is very rocky.  In both places the undertow is no joke, though.  You have to be very careful even if you're wading close to the shore.  The quick tides and sharp undertow are two factors that aid in the creation of huge waves, though, so surfers love both locations.  I loved Sunzal... we had the privacy of Francesca's backyard under tall coconut palms, but if we peeked over the brick fence, local jewelry makers came walking up to sell their wares, and two guys on horses kept trotting up to see if we wanted to go for a ride.  I bought two bracelets, but didn't go riding this time.

Rodrigo and Patricia's wedding was fantastic... we had a great time!  Salvadorean weddings - at least the two that I've been to - are a good party, with live Latin music and lots of guests.  Roberto loved being able to see everyone he hasn't seen in a long time.  And of course at midnight there was a Carnival celebration with hats, noisemakers, leis, and the traditional tequila truck!!  Carnival is a mainstay at every Salvadoran wedding.  The wedding was at the Hilton Princess in San Salvador, which was convenient, because that is where we stay when we visit.
I'd like to make a conscious effort to visit El Salvador more often.  It's always nice to be surrounded by family and friends in such a lush, beautiful country.