Ruins Make for a Good Day.

Today was honestly one of my favorite days of the entire trip. After clinic this morning at the Orphanage for special needs children we went to Chalchuapa to see the Tazumal Mayan ruins.  It was absolutely amazing to FINALLY get to see first hand what I have been reading about for so many years. This particular site is not completely excavated yet.  Although they were not actively working today it was pretty cool to be on the site of an active archaeological dig. After spending a few hours at the ruins we went back to San Sal to  have clinic at the orphanage for children with HIV.  It was awesome to see them again and they all flocked to us as soon as we walked in the door. Luckily none of them had any medical complaints and we got to just play soccer with them for a bit. It was honestly a blast and I think all of us wish we could have stayed there longer.  Before heading home for the evening we went to the national artisan market to buy souvenirs.  That was honestly the last thing I truly HAD to do before I left the country so now it is just waiting until Friday morning.

I apologize for such a short post. I am absolutely killed tonight.  I have been working on translating that Children's book for our driver Don Hernan and finally finished but I still need to write the translation in the book and we have to be awake to head to Chalatenango, the mountain village, very early in the morning.  As of right now we have been told we will be making the long drive to Chalatenango both tomorrow and Thursday but I expect those plans will change.  I hope everyone is well and I look forward to being home in just a few short days.

 

Panoramic shot of the ruins. Pictures truly don't do it justice.

An area where they are actively excavating. 

 

Typical El Salvadorian grave yard adjacent to the ruins.  I know it is random but I think it is crazy how they use so much concrete.

 

It is difficult to make out but there is a Mayan man etched into this rock that was excavated from Tazumal.