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Trip Start Nov 05, 2007

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

Tortuga Surf Lodge

Flag of El Salvador Playa El Tunco, El Salvador
Thursday, January 31, 2008

We gathered all our belongings from our heavenly room in Roatan and stuffed them into our backpacks and readied ourselves to begin the backpacking yet again. It was kind of exciting to start taking chicken buses and eating in markets again. We contemplated heading right down to Panama from Roatan, as we need to get our passports restamped the first week of February, but our hearts kept pulling us back to El Salvador as we loved it so very much there. Rustin was dying to get in the waves again, and through travels in Nicaragua has found El Tunco to be his favourite wave so far. So the decision was made to head to El Salvador for a few weeks and then from there we will head down to Panama to check out Bocas Del Toro.
The arrival back in El Tunco was a nice feeling. It felt comfortable and a bit homey. We decided to stay at a new hotel that is being built beside Tortuga Surf Lodge (where we stayed last time). It is a great spot with a fabulous piece of land that is slowly being developed into a rustic, charming backpackers hotel and bar

Diegos Baptism

. The owners are a lovely couple that are the same age as us. Gille is a Belgian guy married to Patricia, an El Salvadorian and they have a gorgeous son who is 6 months named Diego. They have become great friends of ours and made life at El Tunco feel comfortable.
We have been able to create a comfortable space for ourselves at the beach town, and make trips into the local town to get groceries on the chicken buses every few days, buy fresh fruit and vegetables from the markets or the trucks that drive through the villages, and buy fresh seafood off the docks in town. Surfing in the morning is kinda the daily ritual, with Rustin attacking the bigger waves and myself attemping to catch the smaller waves. Life is nice and simple.
We have taken a few day trips on the local buses to a few other beaches up the coast and have discovered unspoiled, pristine sand beaches with beautiful rocks, cliffs and volcanic overflow!!! A very beautiful country that has yet to be over run by tourists. Something that we are not taking forgranted. The local people of the village are friendly and welcoming and do not pass you by without a smile or a "buens dias". It feels really nice. Tomorrow we have been invited to join Gille and Patricia in the baptism of there son Diego at the local church. All of their family will be there, aswell as Rustin and I. We feel quite honoured to have been invited to such a special occasion.
Anyways, that is our life up until now. Travels are interesting, challenging, fabulous, relaxing and inspiring.
We hope this note finds you all in great health and happiness!!!

Rustin and Jenn

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