I think we can all agree that the past year was a challenging one and one we will all remember for years to come. There was so much personal and professional turmoil that the physiological effects of it may not be fully understood until years from now. It was not the environment we have been used to and took a lot to change our behaviors and go through our daily lives in a “new normal”. We were forced to postpone many of our planned events including much anticipated family vacations and special events like weddings. We are still in the midst of it, but there is renewed hope, and with this hope comes the realization that we will move on, and we will continue to enjoy our lives albeit with some precautionary measures.
As travel restrictions were relaxed and put into place, we decided to revisit last year’s cancellation of our trip to El Salvador. Why El Salvador you may ask…well this little country in the heart of Central America is where I am from. I wanted to introduce my family to their relatives, show them the beauty of the country, the kindness of its people, and expose them to a culture different than what they have experienced. Our family trip was a resounding success!
Our memories started immediately. Getting to El Salvador requires approximately a five hour flight from our home in Virginia, and this would be the first time my youngest son would experience flying on a plane. We have flown before, but he was much too young to remember, so this was a very special day for him. If he was nervous, he did a great job of hiding it, but I think it helped that there were other kids on the flight who gleefully cheered, “We are flying!!” as the plane took off from the runway and climbed into the clouds.
Arriving in El Salvador for me is a nostalgic experience. Many memories come flooding back to me as I see the beautiful and lush landscape. The endless Pacific coast with its waves crashing, the lush fertile fields with its active volcanoes jutting out, the magical crater lakes, and the quilt of farmland has an effect on the memories of a young boy who left the country over 34 years ago…I was happy, blessed, and proud to share this experience with my wife and kids! Seeing them peeking through the airplane window as we came in for landing and watching them smile gave me the first indication that this was going to be a great trip.
As small as the country is, there is a lot to do and see and the kids, having done some homework on the country, had a small list of things for us to do in the week that we were there. But first, we had to meet the familia…they were in for an experience and for a small glimpse of how large our family tree extends.
We headed from San Salvador, the capital of the country, to La Union. La Union is the small town where I was born and raised. The very town were I have my fondest childhood memories. There we would meet a large portion of our Familia as we were all gathering to celebrate a Quinceañera. In the Latin culture quinceañeras are a celebration of the passage from girlhood to womanhood. It is as elaborate as a wedding and an anticipated celebration where family and friends gather to celebrate this special birthday. It was an unforgettable experience!
We stayed in a hotel that was literally a stone’s throw away from the farm were I grew up among my many cousins. The landscape has changed a bit, but I envisioned the areas, the places we would go to eat fruit, the shortcuts we would take to get to the ocean, and the humble home of my grandparents where great memories were made. The view was stunning and I took an opportunity to wake up early and watch the sunrise with the islands of the Gulf of Fonseca in the background.
I took the opportunity to walk around and show my family the little town, the Central Park and market, and other areas were I typically walked and frequented. It was certainly a different experience for them, but I think they appreciated the narrative of how I grew up and the memories I recalled. For me it felt that time had stood still, reliving my experiences, knowing the streets of the town, and my internal GPS guiding me to the places I recall visiting and frequenting when I lived there.
This time, for me, it felt different. It may be my age, but I felt a very strong emotional connection reliving my past experiences and reflecting on where I am today. Showing my family all of it and recounting my days there was an even stronger emotional connection that I am unable to describe in words.
We then took off an explored the country. Part of the “must do” and a highlight of the trip was visiting the Santa Teresa Hot Springs. This was part of the research my sons had done prior to our trip and they thought it would be cool to take a dip in a pool heated by a volcano. Ask and ye shall receive….this was a first even for me. The thermal springs we visited was along the way of Ruta de Las Flores…another trip that is a must for visitors as you see the various colonial towns of the country, experience the craftsmanship of local artisans, and enjoy the AMAZING coffee of El Salvador. The experience was unforgettable. Listening to the boiling gurgling water heating up the pools, dipping into the hot water, experiencing a spa treatment, and enjoying it with the family was more than I could ask for. It was an excellent choice by my boys to select the place where everyone had a great time.
We visited a dormant volcano and stood at the crater rim of it, and even was provided with a rare sighting of the Torogoz, the national bird of El Salvador. El Boquerón park provided a beginner hike to the top of the volcano and along the rim of the crater. Along the way to the rim of the crater we found a vendor selling green and ripe mangos which we had to try. Austin opted for the sweet ripe mango shaped like a flower, while Lucas and me opted for the green mangos with salt, lime juice, and hot sauce (mouth watering just writing about it)…delicious!
This was an easy drive as we were based out of San Salvador and allowed us to experience other things along the way, including sliding down a colorful slide tucked in between a coffee plantation. While there we enjoyed coffee and a hot chocolate unlike any other…Absolutely delicious!
We made the best of being centrally located in the country’s capital. From there we visited the historic central square where it felt like millions of pigeons lived. Feeding them is an act of valor as thousands of them come flying from various places to eat. We also visited the beautiful El Rosario church were you are greeted by colorful light from the glass embedded in its wall and walked through the stations of the cross where the artist created amazing abstract pieces depicting the path of Christ to the cross and resurrection.
We closed our trip by visiting Surf City and the beautiful beaches of La Libertad. There we experienced some amazing seafood, great local artisans, and saw the famous rock of El Tunco. We walked La Bocana where surfers from all over the world go to shred those gnarly waves, and the recent location for the Olympics Surf Qualifiers. Getting there is an easy 45 minutes from the capital through a newly constructed bypass that drops you right into the heart of Surf City. The location is also home to some very nice resorts where the majority of tourist stay as they enjoy the tranquil breeze of the Pacific, the delicious fresh catch of the day, and the local treats that make El Salvador that much more special to me. There the kids experienced, the famous “Minutas”. This is a cup of shaved ice, doused with local jelly made of tamarind and coconut and accompanied by your choice of strawberry, mango, or grape syrup. While my wife enjoyed homemade ice cream sold out of a street cart….a nice way to close out our memorable family vacation.
It was a long time coming, but we are happy to report that the wait was worth it. El Salvador allowed all of us to experience something new, reconnect with our family and friends, and allowed us an opportunity to see a different part of the world and experience its culture. Reconnecting after years is an amazing experience not only reconnecting with family and friends at a personal level, face-to-face, but also the joy of experiencing life and making memories that will last a life time. May your vacations and travels be as exciting as our was. Enjoy the small moments and share the beauty of the world and its people with the rest of us. Cheers to the next adventure!!!
I would like to send a very special thank you to my family for hosting us with open arms, taking time out of your days to show us around, and for making this experience even better than the rest. We love each and everyone of you and our world would not be the same without you. We look forward to seeing you again in the very near future. Until then, sending our love, hugs and kisses. Chao!
