El Salvador!

This past weekend a large group of teachers went to El Salvador! It was a blast! I'll try to give you a 'few' highlights...

Thursday:
We had to get up at an insane hour to be on our way...I think it took us about an hour to realize we were awake! On the way there we travelled in a double-decker bus with leather seats and foot rests, it was all a part of the package deal or I may have felt guilty - it was so comfortable! There were 11 of us all told, though two teachers were going to visit friends and wouldn't hang out with us during the weekend. Because we were travelling on Thursday, which was a national holiday, we passed parades every time we entered a town! That was fun to watch.

When we arrived at El Salvador we signed in to El Presidente, the most beautiful hotel ever! Posh lounges, a swanky restaurant at the back and a pool with its own waterfall! We had some good times at that pool! Joseph had been to El Salvador before so he took us to a fantastic eatery called "Shaw's". It had impressive food, a chocolate store (great trouffles!) and gelato (Italian icecream). Melodee was in heaven!

Thursday night, after swimming in the pool and relaxing, we sat under a shaded open room by the pool with a thatched roof. We played Dutch Blitz (Kyle's new favourite game) and ate lobster and shrimp! I know...what a weird combination...but hey, it's vacation! The hammocks in this area were huge, we could (and did) fit three people in one!

Friday:
We decided to go to the beach. All the beaches in El Salvador are black sand...which you'd think would be rough and hurtful to your feet...but not so! It was silky! ;) Though, you did end up looking dirtier if you lay on it! We went at high tide, so there wasn't a dry spot on the shore! The waves kept on taking us out...Heidi was swept right into a pole...not so fun! The waves were HUGE - higher than our heads! Especially to a Northern Ontario girl who is used to lake waters! The force of those waves made a few of us wonder if we were ever going to breathe fresh air again! I ended up being dragged down too hard and scraped the skin off of my knee. Good times ;)

We were exhausted when we got back to the hotel, so of course...we went to the pool! :) Kyle gave Melodee one of her presents - an appointment for a manicure at the health centre in the hotel. She loved it! All of us got dressed up for Melodee's birthday dinner! We went to an Argentinian Grill that had the best beef I've ever tasted!! I just can't look at beef the same way! Afterwards we hung out in the hammocks and talked the night away...that's what I call true relaxation and great times!

Saturday:
Melodee's actual birthday started off with breakfast in bed. She then relaxed by the pool for as long as she wanted. The others went to the market and saw the real El Salvador. They were going to buy me a little chick! (then I could let it run around the apartment with a diaper on ;) ) Afterwards we met together at the pool and enjoyed our last moments in El Salvador together. You can see that Heidi wanted to swim until the last moment possible!

On the way back to Honduras we got to see one of our students - he sat right behind us on the bus...truly, they are everywhere! When we got home we ate together (again) and Melodee received another present.


Sunday:
Today is Melodee's real party. We are having a lunch party together with apartment A2 - seeing as Jen's birthday was also this past week, we're combining the party to include her as well. After we eat we're putting up a pinata and having cake. What a great way to end a weekend of relaxation!!

Hope this gives you a little bit of an idea of our trip! ;)

Photo of the day: Jen and Melodee receiving their birthday cake after smashing the pinata into little bits!

In Him,
-Amy-