The shores of the Rio Lempa, dividing Honduran from Salvadoran border, then on to the Pacific ocean cutting across El Salvador. R. Lempa was the site of the first hydroelectric dam in El Salvador, and it was sabotaged many times by the FMLN guerrillas during the 1979-94 civil war, plunging much of the country into darkness. Further north the Lempa was the scene of one of the bloodiest massacres of same civil war, as the military gunned down hoards of peasants fleeing to Honduras. The last episode in the life of this historic river was when some of the peasant survivors crossed back into El Salvador from the United Nations refugee camps in Honduras after the signing of the peace accords in 1994, recreating new communities again.

In Metapon

On the road half-way up to El Boqueron, the crater of the volcano San Salvador. The scene looking down is the city of San Salvador, but going further up the hill was not recommended as dangerous gangs were said to be active on this mountain. It was also a guerilla stronghold during the civil war and close enough to the capital.

La Libertad, main seaport close to the capital. The fishermen's wharf in the late afternoon, when all the boats are hoisted up and fish sold from the side of the boats.

La Libertad

We only spent a few minutes at this beach, but it was long enough for me to jump out of my church clothes and into the ocean.  Betsy was elated as she went from beloved Boqueron to favorite beach at La Libertad all in one day, even though it was not possible to go to the top of the mountain or have a serious swim in the sea this time.