Back in El Salvador, Costa Del Sol, Surf City/Libertad, Puerta del Diablo and Boqueron Sept/Oct

PHOTOS HERE —>>. https://photos.app.goo.gl/R13sUCgwSGqUhfMq7

Back in El Salvador

Our plane arrived in El Salvador at 10:30am. Don and Andy met us at the airport in a rental car. They suggested we drive back via Libertad where we could have lunch and a look around. This suited us so we packed our luggage into the car and off we drove.

Libertad aka Surf city

is situated on the coast of El Salvador. It used to be an important port, but now is an important fishing town. It is also renowned for its surf and surfing and to the El Salvadorians as a fun holiday town with great sea food restaurants.

After a half hour drive from the airport we arrived in Libertad and were lucky to secure a parking bay along the shore front. I say lucky as it was so busy. As it was Sunday the town was packed with local holiday makers.

We walked a stretch of the front and chose to eat at one of the smaller, less crowded restaurants food was amazing! Fresh seafood – grilled spicy shrimp with rice and salad.

Afterwards we walked along the shoreline, looking out at the beach. I don’t think I would want to swim there. On the way back we walked through the fish market and passed the fishing fleet.

The fish drying on the sides of the boats plus the fresh catch were all being sold. Many of the fish being sold we weren’t familiar with.

The streets of Libertad were very busy, plus many were under construction so we were not able to wander far. John and I decided to return another day.

Off to Mac Donald’s

Don and Andy stayed a further day on Aeeshah and so we all set off in the dinghy to have lunch in the MacDonalds on stilts.

Once again the lunch was fabulous. I took a risk and ordered the Pescado entero a la Parrilla, they all ordered the Camarones a la Parrilla. My grilled fish was INCREDIBLE! Just so well cooked and flavorful. There was so much of it I was able to give everyone a sample.

City to shop, Libertad again and along the shoreline

When we need supplies, major groceries we drive into the city to a large grocery store and stock up. Plus we take advantage of being able to rent a car for only $25 day and go for a day of touring too.

Beyond Libertad

This time, for our tour day, we decided to return to Libertad, and to continue along the coast road to see where it led.

Unfortunately the day was gray and a bit rainy, off we went anyway. We found the shoreline changes to cliffs and rugged rocky stretches with very dark black beaches attractive in its own way.

The road winds along tree covered and shady with tunnels that cut through the cliffs. We stopped for a walk on a beach and a look around, again I found it difficult to love the black sand beaches.

We also stopped for lunch at a small restaurant that literally hangs over a cliff.

The food was excellent. Once again I ordered the same grilled fish, (cooked over an open wood fire), so did John. It was wonderful!

Boat chores, beach walks, John’s recovery

Most days have been filled with early morning beach walks followed by boat chores. The beach in front of the hotel is immense. It is wide, especially so during low tide and it is 15 kilometers long.

We cut through the hotel grounds which extend from the river where the marina is located across the road all the way to the beach on the other side. Watch the Macaws for a spell….

Then we have a choose to turn to our left and the river mouth or to the right and 15 kilometers….

Our favorite time is low tide, the sand is firm and I enjoy picking up the shells. I limit myself to only the perfect ones that I don’t have. Otherwise I would be laden with 100s.

John is feeling so much better he has taken to jogging along and then walking back. The beach is also nice and quiet, a few tourists, a few fishermen and some seabirds.

There are locals that have huts where they sell refreshments. Some of the locals have mobile refreshment stands. They ride them up or down the beach serving drinks and slush ices.

And yes, it is usually very hot! On a good morning we get a sea breeze, but most mornings are brilliant sunshine with little breeze. I love the reflections cast by the clouds into the pooling water of low tide. Also the marks left in the sands by the receding tide, the patterns are magnificent!

Our boat chores consisted of a very long list. We have smashed the list!! Yep, we have nearly finished all of what we need to do.

Puerto Del Diablo/The Devil’s door

Off on another 2 day driving adventure this time we started at the Puerta Del Diablo.

“The Devil’s Gate is a rock formation and tourist site located in the district of Panchimalco, department of San Salvador, El Salvador. Its main attraction is the crack formed by two rocks nestled on the El Chulo hill, from whose peaks a wide panorama of the surrounding territory can be observed. It is located one kilometer from Balboa Park .”

When we arrived unfortunately so did the clouds. It was obviously a very beautiful site, but with the clouds closing in we had trouble seeing the views. We walked about, being careful on the glass platforms as they are slippery.

Plus we were able to climb up one of the small overhangs which with my knee was a challenge. Again the view was there but not really clear due to cloud cover. We will definitely return, we need to see the area on a clearer day.

After leaving the park we drove into the city to do our grocery shopping. John indulged with his 1st hamburger since his surgery! He loved it! And had no issues.

El Boquerón

The San Salvador Volcano, also known as Quezaltepeque or El Boquerón. is a strato volcano situated northwest to the city of San Salvador. In a protected park area.

We had been told by many friends it was a wonderful area to visit…..so off we went for the day. Luckily the weather was good.

The drive up from the city was along a winding country road with some lovely views through the trees of the slopes and city below.

As we approached the final stretch the traffic became stalled and then stopped completely. We sat, waited, saw others getting out of cars. Then other cars trying to squeeze past, the situation did not look good. We could neither reverse, go ahead or even turn. John suggested I get out, walk uphill and find the problem and let him know.

Much to my amazement I found a huge 8 wheel trailer truck, flatbed and a large digger stuck at the park entrance. Nobody could go anywhere!

After watching the fiasco for a few minutes John appeared, his curiosity got the better of him. We watched, the driver was slowly maneuvering by reversing around a tight bend. The trailer became stuck against a ledge. The large digger was attached by chain to jack up the flatbed. Voila! The driver managed to free the flatbed and roll the whole lot into an entrance way, squeezing in next to a dozen cars.

We finally were able to return to the car, slowly approach the carpark and finally explore the park.

The parkland has marked trails, which you follow to the viewpoints of the crater. Once again while walking the trails I enjoyed the flowers!

There are three viewpoints all at different angles along the rim of the crater.

We walked from one to the other being able to look across and down into the crater. From above you can appreciate El Boqueroncito, the smaller crater at the bottom.

Looking across to the far sides you can see the slopes which are forested.

The Boqueron volcano has steep-walls of 500 m and is 1500 m wide at the summit crater, which was formed during a large eruption about 800 years ago. El Picacho, the most prominent peak at 1,960m.

It was a very enjoyable visit. Leaving was a lot easier as the traffic had abated. We chose to stop at a pizza place for lunch and had the most wonderful pizzas made in a proper pizza oven.

The pizza was amazing and all original. John had one with a ton of jalapeño peppers ….. I really don’t know how he managed with all that fire going inside him!

Overall it was a great day out.

National volleyball competition, more beach walking, a boat load of fish, and great inexpensive lunch, (which I don’t cook)

Back at the marina/hotel the weekend brought a national volleyball competition on the beach.

Somehow the competitors wee able to compete in the scorching sun on the roasting beach sand! Plus they were very good.

We also had our neighboring fishing boat return from a full day’s fishing with a boat load of fish, plus a huge Thrasher Shark! Chico was most impressed. Unfortunately for Chico they never shared any of the catch with him….He even begged looking on longingly as they cleaned the catch.

The next morning Chico was able to catch a flying fish which landed on the dock. I think he was very happy as he ate every scrape of that flying fish.

We have also found that we can walk about a mile down the road and buy a very nice lunch for $7.00 from a vendor. The food is excellent and too much for me to finish.