The actual flight time to San Salvador from Minneapolis is only about 6 hours, but getting there takes a day. I was up at 3:00am...and 2:00, 1:30, 12:45...excitement plus backache plus kid throwing up does not make for a good night's sleep.
I will spare you the minute by minute details, in favor of a few highlights.
1. In the line for customs, I joked that I am the most likely to get searched for drugs, with my hiker pack and hippie cloth bag. Well they didn't hassle me, but then a security dog took a big liking to me. I'm telling you it was sniffing me up and down and going crazy. But not like it was busting me. More like I had all my pockets stuffed with Bac'n Bits.
2. We stopped at sort of a pupusa mall for a snack. Tons of food stands all clustered along one road. Pupusas are sort of the national street food of El Salvador, a thick corn or rice tortilla stuffed with beans and cheese or pork. I don't want to even think about how many calories are in one of those things, but they might be my new favorite food.
3. Pastor Conchi shared some history and thoughts on how the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero has affected the Salvadoran people - while standing next to the spot where he was killed. This is the true reason for my trip, delicious pupusas aside. A bit gets lost in translation, but I am starting to see a tiny piece of what life is like here, and how recent the massacres of the eighties are, yet at the same time how rapidly people have healed and moved on.
4. And now, I'm relaxing on the patio in my hotel, while delicious smells hint of the dinner to come, and I have a whole week of adventure ahead.
Love the update! Thanks for posting!
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