The day has finally arrived!

Well, the day has finally arrived. I’m heading back to El Salvador. It’s been almost 2 years and that was long enough. I’m ready to get back down there. Also on the mission trip are Michelle and Maggy from church.

 

Now, it was Michelle’s job to pick the flights, and even though I agree it was a good idea to leave early, I still have a hard time with a 5:45am flight. I dragged my halfway asleep body out of bed at 4:00am and managed to be out of the house by 4:15am. My parents graciously took me the airport and didn’t even make smart remarks about how early they had to get up. However, I believe Maggy was up around 3:00am and got to Michelle’s house by 3:40am.

 

We all made it to the airport and got the bags checked with only minor difficulties. Then away we went. I have to admit, most of the plane ride from Des Moines to Houston is a complete blur. I did get myself a little snack box but after I ate that I promptly fell asleep. And about as soon as we stepped off the airplane in Houston we got back onto another departing for San Salvador. I also missed most of this flight because I was sleeping. Michelle and Maggy woke me up when we got to the gate. Customs was a breeze and Katherine, the mission co-worker, was there waiting for us. She called up Alfredo, the man who drives us around San Salvador, and we were off!

 

 

My delicious and healthy snack

 

 

At the airport in San Salvador

 

Pushing our heavy bags

 

The first place we went was the Military Museum. I was excited since I’ve never been to the Military Museum before. It was a different view than what we usually get when we travel to sites in El Salvador. Usually we see things from the guerilla/peasant/poverty stricken side of view. Going to the museum granted us an opportunity to see things from a different perspective: the military/government perspective.

 

To the best of my understanding, the museum has information, paintings, photos, and artifacts from the Spanish inquisition to El Salvador’s Independence to the Civil War (1980-1992) to present day.

 

 

Entrance to the Military Museum

 

 

 

 

 

Tourists!

 

 

Made in the USA

 

 

Used to transport personnel and logistical supplies

during the internal conflict

(p.s. When they say "internal conflict" they

actually mean the Salvadoran Civil War)

 

Made in the USA

 

Used by the army during the internal conflict of

1980-1992 to transport personnel

 

 

The infamous Popemobile

 

Used to transport John Paul on two different occasions

 

 

 

The Spanish Inquisition

 

 

 

 

 

The Cry for Independence

 

HUGE guns

 

Military ID

 

 

Painting of the 100-day Soccer War

between El Salvador and Honduras

 

 

 

 

Domingo Monterrosa Barrios

 Mastermind of a massacre that killed 1000 people

 

 

The Atlacatl Batallion

Salvadoran death squads trained by the USA

 

 

 

1992 Peace Accords that ended the Civil War

 

 

 

 

 

Giant map of El Salvador at the museum

 

The eastern part of El Salvador

 

#1102 is Berlin!

 

San Salvador

 

After the museum we retired to Los Pinos Guest House. After settling in we all immediately jumped onto our computers to let people know we’d arrived. Not long after arriving we walked a short ways down the road to the restaurant “El Sopon Tipico” I ordered a Suprema (Salvadoran beer) and shrimp. The food was delicious and the conversation was wonderful. Afterwards we treated ourselves to some Salvadoran ice cream then walked back to the hotel. It’s been a long day and we have a big week ahead of us.

 

Mmmm delicious!

 

Shrimp!

 

Happy Alisha

 

 

Happy Michelle

 

Happy Maggy

 

 

We scream for ice cream!

 

Yum!!