Family visit

So I am back in Santa Paula after a 10 day visit from my parents and brother. It was so nice to see them and get to spend the holidays with them. We started out our trip in San Vicente, where they got to try pan dulce, pupusas, and visit the market. They also made a trip up to Santa Paula to eat lunch with my host family (a mere 30 minutes after eating a lunch of pupusas in San V). 

San V clocktower and park lit up for Christmas

After San Vicente we headed down to Playa Sunzal, which is right next to Playa Tunco, on Christmas Eve. We spent a couple days in a BEAUTIFUL hotel right on the water, where we just relaxed and hung out. A couple of other volunteers came down and met us so we all got to spend some time in luxury.

not a bad way to spend Christmas Eve

Mom and I at Playa Tunco

After the beach we headed up the Route of Flowers, which is basically a path up the western side of the country that leads to some really cute artisan-y towns. We hit up Juayua, Ataco, and Apaneca, and did a canopy tour over a coffee plantation in Apaneca (most terrifying experience of my life). We also went to Santa Ana to see Tazumal, which is a Mayan pyramid. Very cool.

Tazumal

After seeing the west, we headed to San Salvador for a night, where we visited the Peace Corps office and the Artisan market. Then we headed up east to Suchitoto for the new year. 

Mom and Dad at Lago Suchitlan in Suchitoto

All in all, it was a great visit. It was so nice to see the family and get away from the campo and all of the stress that has surrounded Peace Corps recently. It was also great to see some really beautiful parts of El Salvador, since usually what I see isn't so nice. It was hard saying goodbye to them, but hopefully I will be getting home for a little bit this summer, so it won't be too long til I see them again.

Happy New Year!!