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This is I, Aaron Redman, Peace Corps Volunteer, El Salvador
November 2nd-20th, 2007: Many Partings...Homeward Bound
As you witnessed in the last entry, I have been saying many goodbyes and now I must bid a fond farewell to you, my faithful reader. It has been a real pleasure sharing my experiences with you for the last two years and I hope that I have entertained and maybe even informed you. I was in LC on Nov. 3,4,18,19 and left for the US on the 20th. There for I shall begin with my last days in THE COMMUNITY and finish with a photo show of my vacation in Guatemala.
On the 2nd we took the scholarship kids, a parent each and some teachers up to Perquin. The trip served a two fold purpose, one to reward them for the great job they have done this year and secondly as an educational opportunity for learning outside of the classroom (a very rare opportunity for them, most of which have never been anywhere except maybe the capital)
We visited the war museum where, a former guerrilla who joined the war at 13 after his family was massacred by government forces, took us around.
For some lighter fare, we headed to the "cleanest" river in El Salvador for some refreshment after lunch.
I bought 5 pinatas and candy and the ADESCO sold food and raffled off a clothes iron to raise money as we invited the community to come out and enjoy themselves on Sunday afternoon.
The battle for candy is all fun and games until a girl's face gets opened up by some one's nails. Boy, that will kill the mood.
There was even one for us older folks to try our hand at, there is still a child who wants to bash the shit out of a pinata in all of us.
When I got back from Guatemala, the ADESCO made Tamales de Elote for me (one of my top 3 Salvadoran dishes) and I shared a presentation about the work we have done together as we bid each other a very fond farewell.
The ADESCO commissioned this sign while I was in Guat. commemorating the work we did to improve the community spring.
Spring Inauguration
In my final public even in LC, we officially opened the new public facilities at the Spring on the afternoon of the 19th. 
We had a good turn-out, with lots of community members, the Priest to christian the facility, Dr. Barillas representing the Peace Corps as well as the Alcalde to represent the local government.
Everyone got a chance to say a few words (there was food at the end to keep the audience captive). I explained the project and for the trillionth time thanked everyone and bid the adieu.
A Bus was hired and filled up with folks to take me and drop me off at the airport, leaving at 5am, wow! (now they were going to the beach afterwards ;)
Guatemala
I could go on endlessly about my trip but I think I will mainly let the pictures do the talking, also my journal writing has just plain run out of steam after 27 months on the job...
Mayan Funeral Urn
After traveling from El Salvador I had to spend a night in the capital, so I took advantage the next morning to see a couple museums and the national palace.
Next I headed to Antigua, the old capital of Guatemala, and probably the single largest concentration of tourists this side of Costa Rica. Above is what is claimed to be the most photographed monument in Guatemala, an arch across which nuns used to use to cross the street without being seen.
As many hotels and restaurants as there were in this tourist haunt, Antigua had nearly as many ruined monasteries and churches, when all active, the clergy must have far out numbered the poor lay folk!
While in Antigua I shelled out $12 to go on a trip to visit one of the three currently active volcanoes in Guatemala, Pacaya.
After climbing for over an hour approached the tall cone, clambering over an enormous field of freshly dried lava until we reached....
The Fresh stuff!!
Wow!
Unreal!!
As we began descending at nightfall we caught this glimpse of one of Guat's other active fiends.
Lago Atitlan, called a jewel by Huxley and millions of others who have washed up upon her shores was indeed an impressive sight!
I set one night aside and treated myself to this wonderful little hotel perched all up the face of a cliff over looking the lake, with plenty of hammocks, good food and a hot tub at night to cap it all!
Oh yea, can't forget swimming!
Wow, I'll bet the view is so good, that some of them don't even want to go to Heaven!
Guat has 40% of its population calling itself Mayan and in most rural areas they hold on strongly to many of their traditions from language, to modes of dress, which are both quite beautiful!
In a very few villages one can still seem some of the men out and about in traditional garb.
Chichichastango
An enormously famous market, although visited by buses of gringos is still dominated by mayans in search of everything from brightly colored dresses to tomorrows bacon.
Quirigua
When the ruler of this small Mayan city-state finally broke free of Copan by capturing and decapitating its king, he decided that there is only one way to truly show his dominance: take Copan's famous stella and build ones 5 times as high. The tallest carved stones in the New World will forever persevere his memory.
Rio Dulce
I reached the Caribbean coast where after a short break by the seashore I headed by boat up the Rio Dulce river canyon; whose jungle has been partially settled by highland Maya fleeing government repression over the last century.
This Spanish fort was seemingly more often in the hands of the very pirates that is was supposed to be protecting the Spanish traders from then in the hand of the royal government.
I stayed at a couple of places nestled into the jungle, one of which featured this bridge high up in the canopy.
And to top it off...
A 100 degree waterfall pouring into a clear, cool mountain stream.
