Yesterday I also killed the biggest cockroach I've ever seen on the wall of our hotel room, thanks to Myra's shoe, and finally watched 'meet joe black' which was really long, by the way. Yay for movies in English! ( with Spanish subtitles if course.) I've also been reading an
Autobiography by Sidney
Poitier ' the measure if a man'.. It's pretty good. Im amazed by his strength to be true to himself and what He believes. He also refuses to let others dictate his life for him. I'm impressed with his courage, and it's his family's example that's helped shape so much of that conviction.
We also had lunch at Punta Roca where I had the cheeseburger I was craving and a
Handmade cookies and cream Popsicle which completely changed my bad mood. Jonathan, our server, didn't steer me wrong.. They are his favorite too. ( it's been a long trip and I'm feeling it. I'm missing home. It was more than a burger and Popsicle..it was home for a little while) after that we took pictures along the shore and I may have drooled a little over those wicked hot surfers. I love all the colors of central America. Definite mood changers. Who could be sad around hot pink and teal? No one I know!
I've been sheltered by the clean streets of Antigua, and La Libertad's raw feeling was new for me. I knew I'd be exposed to what third world was like, but part of me wasn't ready to see it. Garbage everywhere,
crumbling buildings, tired faces with carefully watching eyes. people fanning themselves from the heat, the laundry drying on the line. Dogs in the street, cows on the side of the road, and always the women carrying baskets on their heads. I wish I could capture it the way I see it in my mind.. This struggling tourist town. I wonder what they think of me... A tall, blond American. They struggle with not having enough, I struggle with having too much. All of this against a background of incredible ocean waves and the surfing community that plays here. Coming from a town built on tourism, I understand the love/hate relationship. Is my life necessarily better? It's certainly easier in a lot of ways, it's true. Part of me questions if progress is really progress at all.
As we left la libertad, we stopped in a town called 'cara sucia'..dirty face. Apparently it rains so much there, everything was covered in dirt, so that's how te town got its name. Again, the dirty streets, animals everywhere, a little girl begging for money, and the fumes from busses. I am a stranger here. As we drove, I saw the tropical come out.. Simple huts from grass and palm leaves, many variants of greenery, lots of cows. People waiting on steps, talking and laughing. The smell of fried corn tortillas and diesel mingling with livestock and the sweltering heat. ( i got an ice cream cone and i could see the cold radiating
Off if it. Crazy!)
At the border there were Little stores selling everything from salda..money for the prepaid phones.. Coconut milk , sodas and chips to using the bathroom. (it was three quetzals if anyone is interested. I got my money's worth.. They had real liquid soap!)
Things definitely go a lot slower here.. From waiting for our passports at immigration to waiting to drive down the street. This is definitely not the first class bus we came in when we arrived in el salvador! We were stuck in traffic trying to leave, and we waited for at least half an hour.. No air conditioning and very few people who seemed to know what was going on. They best part was watching the semi drivers hanging out on hammocks under their trucks at the border.. Apparently they were very familiar with the wait! There's something to be said for acceptance and finding positive alternatives to the situation!
Along with the 3 of us, we have two teachers from germany teaching at international german schools in egypt(Anita-music) and el Salvador
(Katherine-art). It's been fun to chat on the drive and get to know them better..especially since we talked about politics, music and teaching. I wish I knew more in these situations. Most Europeans I meet seem to have a grasp on American politics, but I know little about their country's. Did you know Germany's president was impeached on an ethics violation? Now I do!
It's also interesting to note the lack of restrictions for many things. For example: in the van I'm riding in right now, I would feel safer with a seatbelt on. But there aren't any. It's been a weird but common practice. No seatbelts. It's all part of the adventure!
As I was reading my book by the pool, ( because thats the most strenuous thing ive done today) a Younger woman came out in a dress and big, floppy hat. In her hand she carried a cup of roses. When she saw the waves and the pool, she smiled and said: "me gusta la vida buena" I like the good life. It is a good life. I have a good life. I couldn't agree more:)
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