12-DAY COMPADRES/COMADRES EL SALVADOR EXPERIENCE

Here is the final schedule for our trip in July.   There are all sorts of new activities in here for this year's participants including a trip to El Boquerón National Park, a prolonged stay in Cinquera, Cabañas and visits to a variety of eco-tourism resorts.

This promises to be an excellent trip!

We will return to the cashew plant in the Bajo Lempa area

PROGRAM

FOR 12-DAY COMPADRES/COMADRES EL SALVADOR EXPERIENCE

(2-13 July 2014)

Wednesday, July 2

Travel to and arrival in El Salvador (Archbishop Oscar Romero International Airport) with transfer to San Salvador

guesthouse (Hostal San José) and brief introduction/orientation by SalvAide El Salvador Representative, Miguel

Thursday, July 3

8 AM: Breakfast

8:45 AM: Meeting with CRIPDES and CORDES executive members

10:30 AM: San Salvador Volcano (El Boquerón National Park)

El Boquerón National Park

12:30 PM: Lunch

2-4 PM: Meeting with the National Association of Salvadoran Educators – 21 June (ANDES 21 de Junio, El

Salvador’s teachers union)

Evening: Dinner at guesthouse

Friday, July 4

7:30AM: Breakfast

8:15 AM: Introduction to the socio-political history of El Salvador with popular education experts, Equipo Maiz

10:30 AM: Monument to the civilian civil war dead in Cuscatlán Park and visit Tomb of Archbishop Oscar Romero in

National Cathedral

12:30 PM: Lunch

2-4 PM: Visit Divine Providence Chapel and Romero Centre – site of Archbishop Romero’s assassination in 1980 by a Salvadoran government supported right-wing death squad

Divine Providence Chapel

Evening: Dinner at guesthouse

Saturday, July 5

7 AM: Breakfast

All day: The Mayan Route – a visit to the Zapotitán Valley and its impressive Classic Period Mayan archeological sites

9-11 AM: Joya de Cerén archeological site (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – Mayan village from 650 AD buried and

preserved under volcanic ash

Lunch: Lake Coatepeque

1:30-3 PM: San Andres archeological site – Classic Period Mayan ceremonial/political/commercial centre

La Palma, Chalatenango

3:30 PM: Depart for La Palma, Chalatenango

Evening: Dinner in La Palma

(overnight in La Palma)

Sunday, July 6

7:30 AM: Breakfast

8:30 AM: Visit to ACOPROARTE artisans cooperative (started by SalvAide sister organization, CORDES)

11 AM: Possible trip to Miramundo (weather and transportation dependent)

Late PM: Travel to San José Las Flores, Chalatenango

Evening: Settle at Pastoral Centre accommodations and dinner at Women’s Cooperative Kitchen

(overnight in San José Las Flores)

Monday, July 7

7:30 AM: Breakfast

AM: Visit town primary/secondary school

Early PM: Oral histories of San José Las Flores repopulation during popular insurrection and of recent anti-mining

struggle against Canadian mining companies

Late PM: Visit Lempa River Eco-Tourist Park

(overnight in San José Las Flores)

*OPTION: work in school garden

Tuesday, July 8

7 AM: Breakfast

7:45 AM : Depart for Suchitoto, Cuscatlán

9 AM: An introduction to the work of SalvAide sister organizations, CRIPDES and CORDES, in the region

11 AM: Walking tour and history of Suchitoto

Lunch: Women’s community kitchen

PM: Visit artisan’s cooperative, free time

Evening: Dinner

(overnight in Suchitoto)

Wednesday, July 9

8 AM: Breakfast

8:45 AM: Depart for Cinquera, Cabañas (settle in eco-tourist cabins upon arrival)

9:30 AM: Meeting with ARDM community association for a brief history of Cinquera along with tour of community

Lunch at eco-tourist centre

1-4 PM: Hike in Cinquera Park (site of conflict during armed insurrection) and swim in natural pool

Evening: Dinner at eco-tourist centre

(overnight in Cinquera)

Thursday, July 10

7:30 AM: Breakfast

All day: “Yes to Water, No to Mining Tour” – a trip to Cabañas, site of protracted struggles against Canadian gold

mining with a workshop on the issue with local activists

10AM - 12:30PM: Meeting with ADES in San Isidro

12:30 – 1:30PM Lunch

2PM: Brief discussion with MUFRAS in San Isidro and a tour of the village to see the murals dedicated to Marcel Rivera (murdered environmentalist leader) plus a visit to the library

Afternoon: Return to Cinquera or to ADES for overnight stay

Friday, July 11

6:30 AM: Breakfast

9 AM: A meeting with CORDES San Vicente Coordinator, Mauricio Orellana – CORDES’ work in the region, exposure to the effects of climate change, and the possible consequences of “tourism” investment

- Visit cooperative cashew seed processing plant in San Carlos Lempa

- Visit the Lower Lempa River Region (Bajo Lempa) for an eco-tourist boat tour through the Bajo Lempa river estuary, its mangrove forest, and the cooperative cashew orchards on Montecristo Island

(overnight stay in Bajo Lempa Tehuacán ecotourist centre)

Saturday, July 12

7:30AM: Breakfast

Beach outing (Costa del Sol)

3PM: Return to San Salvador guesthouse

Farewell dinner (pupusas)

Sunday, July 13

Travel to and arrival back in Ottawa (depart guesthouse at 5AM)

Related articles

• The road to La Palma, El Salvador
• Interesting Facts About El Salvador
• Ex-rebel becomes El Salvador leader

Day by Day in El Salvador - Day Five

street in Suchitoto

On Day five, we get out of San Salvador for the first time.  We will travel to Suchitoto, a cultural center in El Salvador. This is a beautiful town with a great deal to see and do.



The Los Tercios Waterfall is just a 1.5 km walk from the city center. Its uniqueness and beauty lies in the vertical wall behind the water that is composed of large hexagonal columns of rock. This very rare rock formation is the result of nearby volcanic activity, although numerous folkloric legends also claim to explain the origins of the shape of the rocks.

Los Tercios has water between May and November, although it is worth a visit between December and April too in order to see the stones most clearly.

There is a great amount to see in this town.  There are wonderful old buildings to visit and the history of Suchitoto stretches back to the 1700's.  There are lovely restaurants and a Spanish school for those who are able to return to become more fluent.

cigar making in Suchitoto

Suchitoto was also a major conflict area during the war and you can still visit some of the insurgent bases that were located in the area.  Suchitoto was also the site of a more recent confrontation between members of CRIPDES and the the military.  The Suchitoto 13 were detained during a protest on the outskirts of the town.  The group were eventually freed after international pressure came to bear on the government of the time. CRIPDES is our host while we are in El Salvador and we have met some of the people who were detained.

For more information on tourism in El Salvador, please take a look at Tim's Blog - he has over 50 posts on this topic.

Related articles

• Suchitoto
• Legends and Art in Suchitoto
• Interesting Facts About El Salvador
• Twenty destinations for 2014: El Salvador
• Latin America on a budget: Suchitoto, El Salvador

News from student group in El Salvador

The next few entries are reposts from the blog: ElSalExperience - they have been recording their experiences daily on their trip latest trip.  The group left Ottawa February 7.

A wonderful post - thanks Maureen and Stephanie for this!


We got an early start to our day with a 7am wake up call followed shortly after with a breakfast consisting of eggs, toast, pineapple and watermelons!

Our interpreter Roberto gives a passionate recounting 

of the history of El Salvador at the memorial to the civilian

 victims of the Civil War.

Here is a section of the wall relief sculpture commemorating
the struggles of the people of El Salvador during the Civil War.

.

Reflection on Day 1

The first day here in El Salvador was amazing. I am incredibly humbled to be here considering all the welcoming people. Everyone is so friendly and hospitable. We have only been here for about 24 hours and I already feel like I have a new outlook. It is amazing to hear stories from people that cherish education more than anything. People leave their families to go to school in San Salvador to provide a better life for their spouses and children. This impresses and amazes me. I have never felt so fortune to live and go to school where I do. And I am so happy that the government here in El Salvador is making steps towards providing a better education for children, youth, and adults. My favorite part of today was meeting Sister Bernadette. She was the smallest and most charming woman I have ever met. She showed us through Monsieur Romeros home. She was incredibly knowledgeable and told us some amazing things about him and his life. She has never met him, and she has an unbelievable amount of faith in him, which is an amazing demonstration of the power of faith. Being here for only 24 hours and I already feel so different and excited. Cant wait to go to San Jose Las Flores. - Emma Jackson

Outside of Oscar Romero´s home. Sister Bernadette 
giving an introduction to the life of Romero.

Inside the Divine Providence chapel where Romero was 

assassinated when he was celebrating mass.

Sister Bernadette captivating our students.

        

Posing with Sister Bernadette at the grotto where 

Romero´s heart is buried. This was the end of a moving tour 

of Romero´s home and museum, which students found inspirational.

 Lunch!!!

                                                                           

Stopping for a delicious lunch at a typical Salvadoran restaurant.

                                                                                                                                                                     Second Reflection on Day 1

It is a whole other world out here, and oh my, is it magnificent. I have already learned and seen so much, and I have only been here two days. I have travelled out of the country before, but the language barrier has always prevented me from getting involved as much as I want to. El Salvador is an exception, as I can speak enough Spanish to communicate with the local people. I am also not only staying in resorts or tourist areas. As a result, I have been able to immerse myself in this culture, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Perhaps the most striking thing that I have noticed is the contrasting values of my society, and this one. Our guide and translator, Roberto, speaks about the people of El Salvador and their values. These people want healthcare, education, a strong economy. In my society, I have all those things. Though I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have, I have become aware that I do not cherish them as much as I should. Roberto said that the people of El Salvador have had struggle ceaselessly, simply to have basic school supplies. Our sister school in San Jose Las Flores only gets $1500 per year of education funds. Where I am from, school supplies are an under $10 purchase, and only a short car ride away. Not to mention, the government of Ontario provides around $6000 per year, per student. I find the difference between those two figures staggering. Overall, I am struck by the beauty of El Salvador, that I see in its geography, and its people, and I cannot wait for the days to come. - Julia Moran

Students reflecting in the Jesuit chapel at the University of Central America.

Meeting with Salvadorans who work tirelessly to promote peace and social justice.

Julia contemplating a Salvadoran version of the stations of the cross.

Imagining

a

more

just

world...