Friday/Saturday, 9/13&14. Arrived late because someone who check their bag didn’t board the plane. They had to find the bag. The nicest, most efficient customs agent I have ever encountered. San Salvador’s airport is new, pretty and appears underutilized. The airport parking lot is dirt. Mixed messages regarding the country’s condition. Long drive to the city. Oddly, all the many many many billboards are unlit. In the city pizza ads dominate. Roads are excellent. The driver appeared to speak no English, but he played Credence Clearwater Revival music.

On Saturday I took a Viator Tour to climb the tallest volcano in the country and have lunch beside a very large caldera formed lake. Not a good time. The climb was about 1,700 feet, ending at 7,200 feet. I bailed at the halfway mark of the climb because 1) it was too difficult for my fitness level and/or 2) the mountain was in the clouds. Since the point was to take photos, I didn’t see the reason to wipe myself out. I had a pleasant descent alone while the others continued.

Unfortunately, someone else did go all the way, then spent hours going down. Lunch was at 2PM. The restaurant was several hundred feet above the huge lake. Nice view, but not remarkable. Overall, the day was disappointing. Had shrimp mac and cheese resting on top of a small lobster tail. With the obligatory french fries. Excellent. Met my companions. Very talkative, as is the Trip Leader.