The Beginning

The first part of my ginormous, crazy, huge, super-duper long voyage home I flew solo, my first time ever in Central America.  And so, as I waited to board that first plane in San José, my heart fluttered in anticipation.  I tried to play it cool, sitting there sipping my free Café Britt coffee and reading a book.  Inside, though, I was a mess of emotions.

The night before I had said goodbye to a family I had come to love and leaving them behind felt like I was jumping off a cliff—a few quick thoughts, some mixed emotions, a fast fall, and then a face-full of shocking cold water that hurts everywhere it touches.  And then it’s over and, looking back, you realize you lived through it (a.k.a. you didn’t die) and *gasp* you might even do it all over again :)

The plane ride dragged on forever, me thinking way too much at 6 in the morning when I should be napping.  In reality, it was only a short flight and landing in San Salvador was uneventful—apparently flying alone to a new and scary airport is not such a big deal.  There are plenty of signs everywhere to guide you like a sheep to the place where you pay the tourist fee (a healthy $10) and eventually to the exit.  Easy peasey.   

Jeannie, Me and Ethel at Tazumal

I spent a total of 4 days in the capital, bunking with some friends in their spare room.  I ate way more pupusas than I can count (the famous food of El Salvador) though I never did get sick of them.  I also had the amazing opportunity to explore Mayan ruins at Tazumal, a dream of mine since I was a little girl.  I met several old friends, some new ones, participated in a Bible Study, saw a volcano, went to a mall and a museum, drank hot chocolate and coke and beer, ate looking out over a majestic lake, and basically had a blast.  Needless to say, I was sad to wave it goodbye.

The next morning, I traveled alone once again though this time by bus (only a 5 hour jaunt).  It was my first time crossing at the El Salvador/Guatemala border and so I had no idea what to do or expect.  Thankfully, the woman sitting next to me turned out to be a pro at crossing that particular border and so she took good care of me.  And shared some of her food with me too :)  Good times.

Next stop: Guatemala, the one Central American country I hadn’t been to before.  I wonder what could happen next?

Stay tuned!