Pictures from my most recent escapades

Another random post full of pictures from the last two weeks (and earlier)...

The following two pictures are from the day I went with the group of missionaries from Lancaster, PA to Apopa to hold a medical clinic (July 5th, I think)-- this is "El Comedor," a kind of cafeteria that the Baptist pastor (of the church where we held the medical clinic) feeds lunch to local children almost every day. Gracia told me this is probably the best meal that the kids will have during the day and maybe even the only one. The kids' ages varied, ranging from toddlers to adolescents. 

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures at the clinic, so these few from El Comedor are all I have from that day.

Coloring and learning about Noah's ark: Paola y Valeria

 Skirt Sunday with Paty! (July 10th)

The next few pictures are from an afternoon excursion to Santa Ana (July 11th) with Gracia and Co. We visited the National Theatre (over 100 years old, the oldest in El Salvador I believe), the Cathedral of Santa Ana, and attempted to eat at La Torta Loca, but it wasn't open on Mondays. More or less translated to "the crazy sandwich," this restaurant is known for its huuuge sandwiches with "everything" in them. I'm sad I didn't get to try one.

Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana-- there was a group rehearsing on stage, so it was a little weird walking around. Picture taken from the 3rd floor balcony.

A ballroom of sorts, I think. View from the floor facing inwards towards the theatre.

View of same room from above and facing front of the church.

 View from 3rd floor of Teatro Nacional of surrounding city and mountains-- beautiful.

 Another rooftop view of Santa Ana

Inside the Catedral de Santa Ana

 Front facade of the cathedral-- I couldn't get the entire front in one picture, so this is the top half.

Bottom half

This past Sunday, I went to the beach with Paty, Dome, Brenda, Carol (their sister-in-law), Raquelita (Carol's daughter/Paty's granddaughter/Dome and Brenda's niece) and Charlie, a family friend (Dome and Brenda grew up with him and call him their cousin). We went to a beach called "El Tunco" (another word for "pig") and enjoyed a lunch of seafood and an afternoon spent next to the water. The sand was black (I'm still finding granules in my ears)-- I suppose it's from the volcanic activity in El Salvador-- and there were surfers! First time to legitimately see some in real life-- it looked like fun! But perhaps, a little difficult. :)

 Eating oysters for the first time-- delicious!

Roca Sunzal-- a restaurant/hotel for surfers, tourists, and the like. This is the restaurant right on the shore!

 The hotel behind the restaurant 

 El Tunco-- the rock for which the beach is named-- apparently, a long time ago, it used to be shaped like a pig. This picture doesn't really do it justice-- it's a lot bigger than it looks. People can climb to the top of it and jump off into the rocks below (the part to the right), or sit on the little cliff for a scenic view to the far left.

 La playa

This past Wednesday, the kids came to school dressed up as "princesas y guerreros" (princesses and warriors). It was the first time I'd ever seen the kids out of their normal tan uniforms which was a little bit weird. The majority of the girls came dressed in their Sunday best and the boys more or less wore t-shirts from their favorite super heroes or movie characters-- Cars, Iron Man, and Spiderman were all represented. Jorge (not pictured in these few photos) came sporting a Messi Barcelona jersey, a player/team which for many people here is equivalent to superhero status. 

 Fiorella

 Belén ("Bethlehem" in Spanish)

 David

Yesterday, I visited the recently finished Mormon Tabernacle in San Salvador-- a very interesting and enlightening visit concerning the beliefs and practices of the Mormon church. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but let me just say that it was definitely built with luxury in mind. The "templo" closes to the public after the 23rd and after that, only "really good" Mormons get to go in (or so I hear). Note the characteristic dark skies of a Salvadoran afternoon thunderstorm.

Templo de Mormon

And that's a wrap for pictures! I hope to post again soon-- it's weird to think that my time here is winding down fast-- I come back to the states on the 3rd of August! Hope you enjoy the pictures!