We are actually further south than the red dot. We are located where the blue water appears by the shore. (I couldn't find a map with the actual location)

A Week in Review
(Sounds like a news report)
We threw off the lines and headed out Sunday to start our 3 day 11 hr journey out of Mexico. The weather window could not have been any better. A full week with no wind expected. A full moon. As luck or (good planning) would have it the trip was non-eventful. It was such a pleasure to be guided over the water with a full moon lighting the way. We entered Guatemala around 1230 in the afternoon, thus we transited most during the evening and some into the next morning. The fishermen here have a very unique and wonderful system. They have their nets attached to poles that have flags and at night flashing strobe lights. Red and green; thus allowing you to know where to pass. The fishermen themselves have a flashing white strobe to indicate where they are floating. I seem to have the shift that transited through the Guatemala fishing fleet. I was happy to see the lights and the full moon helped tremendously.
We were just having breakfast when we were approaching the Guatemala / El Salvador border. The Guatemalan Navy came close, checked us out but never boarded us. Thankful not to have to stop we continued onwards. The coast here is wonderful, green lush forest of various types of trees. We had the current pushing us and it looked like we would make it for the right time to cross the bar at a high slack tide. Unfortunately we were out by an hour. We had to anchor out in the open. No problem! We had a calm night with small swells and just enough breeze to keep us pointed in the right direction to keep the boat from rocking.
Twenty-three hours later we were crossing the bar into the most gorgeous estuary. We met our pilot at the point required and followed the seadoo over the bar. Surfing. Great fun.
The description of this place would be WOW! We awake to the back drop of two volcanoes, very lush vegetation and wild parrots. Colourful parrots, doves cooing ever so loudly but NO DISCOS, tranquil and quiet.
We have befriended the cook and food and bar manager. (Seems to be a trend with us) Maybe it’s the cookbook of our travels we plan to write that draw us to these people. Anyways, we have hired them to take us around El Salvador on Monday and Tuesday. They can use the extra money and it is less than a tour and we will learn through the eyes of the people that live here.
Last night we learnt a little about the history and politics of El Salvador.
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. It has the third largest economy, but growth has been minimal in recent years.
The people seem to be genuinely happy with the new President as he is trying to make life easier for the people; starting with the future, the children. Education has becoming a high priority. It has however a long ways to go as it is expensive to equip a child with uniforms and books. The average wage is $1.00 per hour. It was explained to us that when El Salvador took the US dollar in 2001 as its money, the people suffered. They have not yet caught up to the standard of living that they had before.
Money sent home from El Salvadorians that live abroad is creating a boom in everything from commerce to construction. New resorts are popping up along the coast with families returning home. Crime is prevalent but in the seedy tough neighborhoods. No different than any city in the US or Canada.
El Salvador has emerged from a decade long civil war, and various natural disasters. They had war, two major hurricanes and some earthquakes but the people are resilient. The US government pumped millions of dollars into the Salvadoran military when in 1985 it was concerned with the Nicaraguan social revolution. (Regan’s era)
The influence of the US is very apparent. No comment on how it is perceived. I am sure you can guess.
We met a Canadian couple and boarded a chicken bus to go to the nearby town of Zacatecaluca “Zacate” to the locals. This meant taking a bus to a stop, walking up over a hill over to another highway, catching a bus with actual chickens in ladies hand bags to the town. Once we were at the town we got off and proceeded to head to the local market. Always interesting. El Salvador has a national dish called Pupusas. This food is made by filling a mesa ball with beans, cheese, chicken, pork or fish then carefully shaping it into a tortilla. It is grilled and served with tomato sauce and cabbage. The cost for 4 of these and four bottles of pop was $3.00. It was a meal for the four of us.
The way back was the reverse. As we were ready to get off the bus, I notice the lady directly across from me bent over and she was either having a miscarriage or a baby. Tears were streaming from her. I asked if she needed a doctor. (In Spanish) I wanted to get a taxi for her but there was no way to call for one. She would have to climb onto another bus to get to the hospital. I felt helpless. A male was helping her stand and get to where she needed to be but it was frustrating to not be able to help.
The music on the bus, you guessed it Disco. I now just have to chuckle when I hear disco. I guess it will never die.
I now have a lot of editing to do with pictures, stay attuned for them on the blog in the photo albums within the next few weeks.