Sunday afternoon in El Salvador

This past Sunday we visited a spectacular place only 35 minutes outside the city.  A gorgeous rustic restaurant with views of the volcanoes, and the fog rolling over the hills, flowers, birds.  It was a birthday party for some new friends, Lori and Pedro.  Live music, charming people - a great way to spend an afternoon.  El Mirador de la Giralda. http://www.elmiradordelagiralda.com/

Mark has been working hard with back to back meetings out of town, so it was good to have a relaxing afternoon.

Here's Lori and Pedro, and their friends.

Road Trip 2

Mark: We're visiting Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico for my job this week and learning some interesting things about border crossings.  Check out the rafts on the river going between Guatemala and Mexico as seen from the official point of entry.

Kathleen: Chiapas is far more urban and populated than I expected, I think because it is a border state.  Mark's conference is interesting because they were so comfortable admitting that they have casual informal border crossings with Guatemala that have been in place for generations.  So trying to force people to use the official border bridge, and to stop rafting across when they've been doing it for generations....not so much.  Rustic hotel, lovely downpours every night, Mexican food including spice and flavor - can't ask for much more in life.  I looked for signs of Zapatista involvement, but saw nothing but what I see all over Mexico - lovely people living in crushing poverty.

View From Our Balcony

click on photo

Earthquake!

Mark: very exciting, our first "noticable" terremoto last night; woke us both up, we looked at each other and said "earthquake" in unison. Lasted about 10 seconds, our big 'ol bed shakin' to beat the band. It was reported on the news and in the local papers but apparently not a big deal since the city's been clobbered with really big ones three times in 25 years. Still... follow the link below for further on earthquakes and some El Salvador-specific data. http://nasadaacs.eos.nasa.gov/articles/2006/2006_hotspots.html

A clean towel, mushrooms, and Perro Dos

We make progress each day, and we take a few steps back every day, too. Our brand new washing machine violently wanders across the floor, and probably makes the neighbors hate us. So we got that going for us. Tonight, we decided to brave it anyway, but had to stop it mid spin, and dry the towels for a good long while. End result -- clean towels! Forward progress!! Also, cooking has occurred, so we are finally getting back into our routine of healthy breakfasts and lunches, and apps prior to dinner. One of my favorite foods, mushrooms, (Michelle, groan here) are just terrible here - like they're two weeks old when they hit the shelf. I am sensing a business opportunity. But it might mean working in the dark. With fungus and dung.

Enough of the menos mal.* We live near a lovely yoga place, YogaShala, and this evening took a class together from the lovely Lianik. It felt so -- normal -- to take a yoga class, and we were both very happy with the lovely Lianik. And, to top it off - what a cool way to keep learning our Spanish, and to learn all the body parts! They call downward dog Perro dos. Muy graciosa.

It then felt so -- abnormal -- to try to cross the four lane street we have to cross to get to and from yoga. The pedestrian experience here is truly a nailbiter. It's one of the many reasons that nobody ever walks anywhere. In fact, it is so rare, that when I walked into the yoga class yesterday for the first time, the owner pronounced to everyone "Que Rico! She was walking with her yoga mat down the street. How amazing!!!"

Yup, it is amazing.

We will post some more pics soon. Promise.

** menos mal - 'less bad'

Finally, A Home!

Mark: Greetings All! We're blogging from our apartment, the 4th floor of Condominio Quetzaltepec, our home and refuge for the remainder of out tour. It took longer than we expected (kind of a lot longer!) but we've been spending the Columbus Day weekend making it feel like home. We've bought plants & groceries, we're putting stuff up on the walls, and we're deciding which towels go in what bathroom (there are five, OMG). The apartment is 3 bedrooms + den + maids quarters and so much storge that no place else will ever seem adequate and we've got cable, high speed wireless internet and Skype!

Its been a slow start but we finally feel like we're getting in gear; there're a couple regional trips in the offing (Belize, Chiapas & Costa Rica) and it won't be long before we feel comfortable guiding others throughout the region. More pix and stories to follow, stay tuned.

Kathleen here : Feel free to call us! We each have cell phones (see right) and would love to hear from all of you!