A Quick Visit to Las Mercedes and El Naranjito

In Tacuba with some initial tools needed for the work ahead.

Food and such that we will need up in the communities.

Looking out over the mountains toward the ocean.

The school where we installed a water catchment system.

Where the teachers live.

The roof line where we hung a gutter to collect rainwater.

The road to El Imposible National Park goes over that narrow ridge.

It was hot and wet.

The old road to El Imposible.  This used to be the main road.  After the national park was designated, this road was shut down.  Now it’s a walking path.

Relaxing in Aaron’s house.

This is Aaron’s house.

Tacuba below us.

Two geese that were living in the yard at the house we were renting.

Black Sand Beaches

The black sand beaches of El Salvador.

The water was cool but nice.

Business waits for no man.

At a small restaurant taking a break.

They had a chained up monkey at the restaurant.

Back on the beach soaking up some sun.

Izalco

Evan striking a pose as we ride up to Izalco in the back of a beat up pickup truck.  From San Salvador to the base of Izalco we had ridden on a normal bus but at the base we found that we had already missed the only bus to the mountain.  Walking up the hill, we quickly were able to hitch a lift with some workers headed up to pick up a load of coffee or other such product.

At a rest stop overlook of the lake.

We had to walk about two kilometers up another part of the road.  Evan struck a pose by an overlook of the lake as we tried to thumb another ride.

Luck was once again in our favor and soon we had a ride with another group headed up the mountain.

Santa Anna.  We would have climbed this mountain but it was still closed after having erupted a few years ago.  It killed a couple of tourists in the process.  No bueno.

Izalco, Lighthouse of the Pacific.

We trekked down the slopes of Santa Anna and across the lava field below Izalco.

Stopping for a rest break partway up the volcano.

This mountain was quite steep.

Aaron amongst the fumaroles.

The ground was steaming all around us.

I stuck my finger in a fumarole to keep the steam in the mountain.

Looking into the caldera of Izalco.

Santa Anna in the distance.

Volcano power!

Aaron in the mist.

It was a long way down to the lush farming areas below.

The three intrepid adventurers at the top of the volcano.

The metaphorical cork holding the lava in.

Starting our descent of Izalco.

The descent was mighty steep.

Evan running the scree.

Riding the Scree.

Climbing over the lava flow back to the flanks of Santa Anna.

Out descent path.

Climbing up through the jungle.

Riding on a bus back down to the main highway.