Sometimes You Just To Have To Wait

Early morning view of the volcano from our hotel's rooftop

Well, not every day was going to be a storybook one, was it? Today began beautifully (a very early morning walk to see Antigua and find a bakery) and ended beautifully (I'm writing this on a hammock, next to the room where the kids are grinning, sprawled-out-asleep, with an enormous beer in my hand, and Dan seated next to me, plotting tomorrow.) In between, was a little... tiresome.

See? Exceedingly charming. In Antigua, this morning.

We were led to believe (through our own research) that the border crossing between Guatemala and El Salvador would be easy-peasy; it was not. My plan is to get the kids to write you their perspectives tomorrow (and hopefully Dan will too.) For now, I just want to say that there is no one I would rather have crossed that border with. It took nearly four hours; we had run out of good snacks; it was very hot (so hot that the cards had stuck together meaning we couldn't play crib - but could still play uno); the surroundings were hard - dogs and people rummaging through garbage piles or just standing, waiting around (for what?); we knew we wouldn't make it to our intended destination. But, throughout, everyone was calm, even good natured. We all read or played games, Maeve sketched awhile, we made a few Costa Rica plans, we played too many rounds of 20 questions, and finished all the peanut butter. No one complained (well, except me, who, being all for workers' rights, was still annoyed that one of the offices was closed for a two-hour lunch.)

Our car may not be perfect, but at least we're not driving this???!!!

It was very late afternoon by the time we officially entered El Salvador, so we made the solid decision to stay not far down the road, in Santa Ana, rather than risk driving at night. The town is refreshingly not exceedingly charming (more garbage and gentle leering, less cobblestone and quaint crafts.) We're staying in a place I'd recommend to everyone - Casa Verde, run by a sweet couple, and boasting a small pool, rooftop garden, aforementioned hammock, and board games! The kids were thrilled to arrive and jump straight into the pool. We then joined throngs of Salvadorians at a terrific restaurant on the main square and have enough leftovers for breakfast. Phew, as we'll be leaving even earlier tomorrow, hoping for smoother border crossings (into Honduras and hopefully also Nicaragua) and to make up some distance.

Almost there! In two or three days we'll be in our home-for-awhile, Nosara, Costa Rica. Unless, that was the clutch burning we smelled as we pulled into this hotel... I'm sure it wasn't :)