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Last week, Elizabeth and I were planning our usual monthly trip to PriceSmart. At the beginning of each month, we typically travel to San Salvador to stock up on the things we’ll need. This time, however, we decided to head to Santa Ana instead.

We’ve been to the Santa Ana PriceSmart before, and with the ongoing roadwork toward San Salvador, the drive is noticeably quicker and easier. Since we were already changing our routine, we decided to go early and spend some time exploring the city’s historic center—something we hadn’t done before.

Santa Ana is the second-largest city in El Salvador and the capital of the country’s coffee-producing department that shares its name. The city is known for some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country and is located near several of El Salvador’s most important archaeological sites.

We arrived early and spent a few hours walking around and sightseeing. We went on Friday the 9th, which turned out not to be the ideal day. The city was in the process of dismantling the Christmas display in the central park, and there was quite a bit of equipment and activity underway. Still, we made the best of it. I took some photos and visited several sites around the historic area.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go inside the cathedral, as it was closed until 2:00 p.m. By then, hunger had set in, so we had lunch at Pizza Hut downtown. As the afternoon wore on, it was time to shift gears and head to PriceSmart to do our shopping.

Even with the limitations of time and circumstance, the visit gave us a good introduction to the city. We’re already planning to return with a more organized plan so we can explore more of Santa Ana—and the surrounding areas—at a slower pace.

Days like this often remind me why I pay attention. Traveling familiar roads, walking through a city for the first time, and adapting to what the day offers feels, to me, like a quiet conversation with the universe. Not one that announces itself, but one that unfolds through timing, chance encounters, and the small adjustments we make along the way.

My book, Harmony of the Cosmos, now listed on Amazon, grew out of this way of seeing. It isn’t a traditional memoir of dates and events, but a reflective life journey shaped by service, spirituality, and listening for the deeper rhythms that seem to guide a life. Living in El Salvador has sharpened that awareness for me, reminding me that meaning often reveals itself not in grand plans, but in ordinary days—shared meals, familiar roads, and places that slowly begin to feel like home.

We hope you enjoy the photos and these reflections. If our writing speaks to you, we invite you to subscribe and share your thoughts in the comments. Conversations, like journeys, are better when shared.

When the world faced COVID‑19, one lesson became painfully clear: global health emergencies don’t respect borders, and countries with fewer resources often wait the longest for vaccines, treatments, and supplies. In response, nations have now adopted a new Global Agreement on Pandemics, a framework designed to strengthen preparedness and ensure fairer access during future crises.

El Salvador supported the agreement, but what does that actually mean for Salvadorans?

1. What the Agreement Is — and Why It Exists

The Global Agreement on Pandemics is a legally binding international commitment focused on improving how countries prevent, detect, and respond to future outbreaks. It emphasizes:

• Equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tools
• Early detection of emerging threats
• Transparent information‑sharing
• Strengthening national health systems
• A “One Health” approach, recognizing the links between human, animal, and environmental health

The goal is simple: avoid repeating the global scramble and inequality seen during COVID‑19.

2. El Salvador’s Position

El Salvador voted in favor of the agreement, aligning itself with its core principles. The government’s support reflects several priorities:

• Preventing the vaccine shortages experienced in 2021
• Reducing dependence on late donations
• Building a more resilient national health system
• Ensuring the country has a voice in global health decisions

For a small nation, participation also means access to shared resources, training, and emergency support.

3. What the Agreement Does Not Do

A significant amount of misinformation has circulated globally about the agreement. It’s important to clarify what it does not allow:

• The WHO cannot impose lockdowns
• The WHO cannot mandate vaccines
• The WHO cannot override national laws
• The WHO cannot close borders or enforce restrictions

All decisions remain fully under the control of the Salvadoran government. The agreement provides guidance and coordination — not authority over domestic policy.

4. What Changes for Everyday Salvadorans

While the agreement won’t transform daily life overnight, Salvadorans may see several long‑term benefits:

Better access to vaccines and treatments

The agreement aims to prevent wealthier countries from monopolizing supplies during emergencies.

Earlier detection of outbreaks

Improved surveillance systems mean faster alerts and quicker responses.

More trained health personnel

Countries commit to building stronger emergency health workforces.

Improved hospital readiness

Supply chains, equipment, and emergency planning are part of the agreement’s requirements.

Clearer communication during crises

The agreement pushes for more transparency and timely information.

5. What’s Still Being Finalized

One major component — the Pathogen Access and Benefit‑Sharing System (PABS) — is still under negotiation. This system will determine how countries share virus samples and how benefits (like vaccines) are distributed in return. It is expected to be completed later this year.

6. What Happens Next in El Salvador

For the agreement to take full effect domestically, El Salvador must complete its own national ratification process. This step will determine how the country implements the agreement’s commitments and timelines.

7. Why This Matters

For Salvadorans, the agreement represents an effort to avoid the vulnerabilities exposed during COVID‑19. It aims to ensure that in the next global health emergency, the country is not waiting at the end of the line for vaccines or information — and that its health system is better prepared to respond.

I hope that you find this informative and helpful.

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El Salvador is stepping into the upcoming cruise season with renewed confidence. According to CEPA and the Ministry of Tourism, the country is expecting a significant increase in cruise ship arrivals — a welcome boost for a tourism sector that has become one of the engines of the national economy.

A Season of Growth on the Horizon

Federico Anliker, president of CEPA, announced that El Salvador is preparing to receive around 20 cruise ships at the ports of Acajutla and La Unión. That number is nearly three times higher than the projection made earlier by Tourism Minister Morena Valdez.

Anliker emphasized that the Port of Acajutla has invested heavily in infrastructure and security to ensure that visitors experience a smooth, first‑class arrival from the moment they step off the ship. The expectation is simple: more ships, more visitors, and a direct economic benefit for local communities.

Still Catching Up to Regional Giants

Even with this growth, El Salvador remains far behind regional cruise hubs. Panama expects 195 cruise transits, and Guatemala anticipates 45 this season. But for a country still building its reputation as a cruise destination, the upward trend is meaningful.

What Cruise Passengers Will Experience

The season, running from late 2025 through spring 2026, already includes confirmed visits from well‑known international cruise lines. Passengers typically spend a day exploring nearby attractions — and El Salvador is preparing to showcase its best.

Minister Valdez highlighted a diverse set of experiences designed for cruise visitors:

• Cultural Routes: Historic Center of San Salvador, Joya de Cerén, San Andrés
• Nature & Adventure: Ruta de las Flores, Cerro Verde, Santa Ana Volcano, coastal beaches
• Local Crafts & Markets: Artisan workshops, small‑business marketplaces

Her goal is simple: that each visitor leaves as an ambassador for El Salvador, encouraging others to return for longer stays.

A Look Back — and Forward

Last season, only four cruise ships arrived between January and May, with passengers taking short excursions to iconic sites like Santa Ana Volcano and the Historic Center. This year’s projection marks a dramatic shift.

The government expects 4.2 million international visitors in 2025, surpassing earlier goals and including Salvadorans returning home to visit family.

Security and Logistics: A Coordinated Effort

CEPA, the National Civil Police, and other institutions have strengthened security protocols at ports and along tourist routes. Improvements in migration and customs processes aim to make the arrival experience faster and more comfortable for visitors.

Why This Matters

For a country where tourism is becoming a key economic driver, a strong cruise season isn’t just about numbers. It’s about:

• More income for local guides, artisans, and small businesses
• Greater visibility for El Salvador as a safe, welcoming destination
• Momentum toward becoming a regular stop on international cruise itineraries

El Salvador may not yet match Panama or Guatemala in cruise traffic, but the direction is clear — and promising.

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A Personal Note to Begin

Living in El Salvador teaches you to pay attention to the small shifts in global news that eventually ripple into daily life here. Fuel prices are one of those things — they touch everything from the cost of a bus ride to the price of a tomato at the market. So when Diario El Salvador reported that Venezuela’s political changes could eventually influence what we pay at the pump, it felt worth taking a closer look.

What’s Happening in Venezuela

The United States has signaled interest in helping rebuild Venezuela’s long‑damaged oil industry, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the appointment of interim president Delcy Rodríguez. Markets reacted immediately. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) — the benchmark that determines fuel prices in El Salvador — rose slightly to $58.32 per barrel, while Brent slipped to $61.76.

Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, yet years of political turmoil and underinvestment have pushed production down to about one million barrels per day. Rebuilding that capacity will take time, money, and stability.

Short‑Term Impact: Not Much

Economists quoted in the article say that in the next 1–3 years, the impact on global oil prices — and therefore on El Salvador — will be limited. Even if Venezuela increases production slightly, the global market is already well supplied.

For now, WTI is expected to stay in the $50–60 range.

Long‑Term Impact: A Quiet but Important Possibility

The more interesting story is the long view. If Venezuela eventually restores its oil industry and exports more crude, global supply would increase. Analysts say this could create downward pressure on WTI prices over 5–10 years.

For El Salvador — a country that imports all of its fuel — that could mean:

• more stable prices
• fewer sudden spikes
• possibly lower costs at the pump

Luis Barrios of the Salvadoran Association of Petroleum Products Distributors puts it simply: El Salvador is a price taker. We don’t influence global prices; we just live with them.

Why This Matters Here

Anyone who has lived in El Salvador for a while knows how quickly fuel prices ripple through the economy. A few cents up or down can change the cost of transportation, food, and even electricity. So while Venezuela’s recovery won’t change anything overnight, it adds a new variable to the long‑term outlook — one that leans toward stability rather than volatility.

A Closing Reflection

Life here teaches you patience. Change rarely arrives all at once; it comes in slow, steady shifts that only make sense when you look back. Venezuela’s story is one of those shifts. It may take years to unfold, but it’s a reminder that even distant events can eventually touch our daily routines in small but meaningful ways.

For now, we watch, we wait, and we hope for a future where the price at the pump brings a little more ease into everyday life.

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A new year has arrived, and tomorrow will be 2026.

Not with a trumpet blast or a grand announcement, but quietly — the way most meaningful things enter our lives. Softly. Almost unnoticed, unless we pause long enough to listen.

As the calendar turns, the world encourages us to make resolutions, set goals, and measure our worth by how much we plan to accomplish. This year, however, I find myself drawn to a different rhythm—one that values awareness over urgency, and presence over performance.

Over the years — from childhood nights beneath Virginia skies, to years of service far from home, to the slower, gentler life I now share with Elizabeth in our home in El Salvador — I’ve learned that the most essential moments rarely announce themselves. They arrive as whispers: a moment of stillness, a quiet realization, an unexpected sense of gratitude.

Recently, I was permanently removed from Facebook. No explanation was given, no specific policy cited, and no opportunity for meaningful appeal. I can only assume that expressing views outside the prevailing narrative made some uncomfortable.

I share this not out of bitterness, but clarity.

It is a reminder that platforms come and go, voices are filtered, and the spaces we rely on to communicate can disappear without warning. What matters most is not where we speak, but that we continue to speak — thoughtfully, honestly, and with respect.

The universe does not rush. Nature does not demand perfection. And truth does not require permission to exist.

This new year, rather than resolving to become someone else, I am choosing to listen more closely — to the body when it asks for rest, to the heart when it leans toward kindness, and to the quiet inner voice that knows when to move forward and when to simply be.

If there is a hope I carry into this year, it is not for certainty, but for awareness. Not for control, but for harmony. A willingness to walk gently through the days, attentive to the small miracles we too often overlook.

Because meaningful conversations still matter.
Independent thought still matters.
And connection — real connection — still matters.

If you would like to continue walking this path with me, I invite you to subscribe to this blog so you can receive future posts directly. No algorithms. No filters. Just shared reflections, delivered quietly, as they are written.

May this year invite us to slow down.
May it remind us that we are not separate from the world around us, but woven into it.
And may we learn — again and again — to trust the rhythm that carries us forward.

If you enjoy following our journey, leave us a comment, and we would be grateful if you would like and subscribe to our blog. Your support means so much to us.

Wishing you peace and Blessings in the year 2026,

Elizabeth & I wish you a very Happy New Year.

On December 28th, I marked another trip around the sun—my 76th Birthday.

There were no big plans, no grand gestures — just something far better: good food, familiar faces, and the quiet comfort of being surrounded by people who feel like family.

We spent the evening with our close friends Luz and Adia and their children. They arrived carrying laughter, stories, and a beautiful cake — the kind made not just to be admired, but to be shared. It was a gift that carried warmth far beyond its candles.

At home, Elizabeth had been preparing a beef brisket, slow-cooked and ready for the final touch. We slathered it generously with my homemade barbecue sauce, then brought it to the table alongside homemade coleslaw and potato salad—simple food, made with care — the kind that brings people together without trying to impress.

As we sat together, talking and laughing, I found myself reflecting on how much my understanding of celebration has changed over the years. Once, birthdays were about milestones, expectations, and counting accomplishments. Now, they feel more like pauses — gentle moments to notice what truly matters.

Time slows when shared this way. Gratitude rises naturally. And joy doesn’t announce itself — it settles in quietly, like a friend pulling up a chair.

I enjoyed my birthday very much. Not because it was elaborate, but because it was real. Because it was rooted in friendship, love, and the simple blessing of being present in a place that has become home.

Another year has been added. And with it, a deeper appreciation for small gatherings, shared meals, and the people who walk this path alongside us.

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We have added a slideshow of pictures below.

Now that Christmas has passed and the quiet of December 27th has settled in, I’ve been thinking back on our Christmas Eve gathering with a grateful heart. Elizabeth and I were blessed to have family and friends join us here at our home in El Salvador. The house was filled with conversation, laughter, and the wonderful aroma of the traditional Salvadoran chicken sandwiches we prepare every year. It’s a simple tradition, but it brings so much joy and connection.

This Christmas also held something very special for me. After nearly a year of steady work and reflection, my book Harmony of the Cosmos was officially released on Amazon on Christmas Eve morning. Seeing it available in both e‑book and paperback was a beautiful surprise — a gift I will remember for a long time.

And tomorrow, on December 28th, I’ll be celebrating my 76th birthday. Reaching this milestone right after the release of my book feels like a blessing layered on top of an already meaningful season. I’m grateful for the journey, the lessons, and the people who have walked alongside me.

As we move through these last days of the year, I’m carrying a deep sense of gratitude for family, for creativity, and for the small blessings that show up when we least expect them.

Elizabeth and I hope your Christmas was filled with peace and warmth. If you enjoy following our journey, we would be grateful if you would like and subscribe to our blog. Your support means so much to us.

Wishing you continued blessings as we approach the New Year.

Elizabeth and I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas. This season always brings a special kind of warmth, and we’re grateful to share a little of that with all of you.

Tonight, we’re preparing a Christmas Eve meal with the traditional Salvadoran chicken sandwiches—a family favorite— and welcoming friends and loved ones into our home. It’s one of those simple traditions that fills the house with joy, good food, and good company.

I also want to share some personal news that has made this Christmas especially meaningful for me. After almost a year of work, my book Harmony of the Cosmos went on sale on Amazon this morning. It’s available in both e‑book and paperback, and seeing it published today has been a wonderful Christmas surprise.

Thank you for being part of our little corner of the world. If you enjoy our posts, we’d be grateful if you could like and subscribe to the blog—it helps us stay connected and continue sharing our journey with you.

Wishing you all peace, joy, and blessings this Christmas.

On sale on Amazon in Paperback or ebook.

Thanksgiving this year was quiet and tender, a day of gratitude under the warm El Salvador sun. I rose early, walked two miles, jogged another half, and then settled beneath the big tree in our upper yard. The clear blue sky stretched above me, flowers bloomed around, and the chatter of birds and squirrels filled the air. In that stillness, I meditated on the blessings that shape my life.

I am thankful for Elizabeth, my companion in all things. For our health, which is good at this time. For our beautiful home in this beautiful country. For our children, who visit often and bring joy into our days. And for the retirement income that allows us to live comfortably. These are the highlights, though there is so much more. Above all, I am grateful to our Creator for the life we have been given.

This year, we chose ham instead of turkey for dinner, saving the tradition of turkey for Christmas. Our meal—ham, vegetables, and mashed potatoes, with pumpkin pie for dessert, it was simple, hearty, and shared in peace. It was a nice, quiet, enjoyable time, a reminder that gratitude is not found in feasts or gatherings alone, but in the daily gifts of health, love, and the simple joy of being.

How did you celebrate Thanksgiving this year? What blessings are you most grateful for? We would love to hear from you. Please let us know in the comments below.

We have added some pictures in a slideshow below.

If you enjoy our content, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share our posts—it helps increase our visibility and reach. Additionally, your comments mean the world to us and help us continue to improve our services. Thank you for being part of our community!

Yesterday, Elizabeth and I celebrated 22 years together. It was a beautiful day of memories, from the workplace at Titan America, in Northern Virginia where we met, to El Salvador, where we are retired and are living a joyful life.
Elizabeth, her sister Anna, and I went to Sonsonate and had a lovely meal at La Pampa restaurant. We had fried shrimp for an appetizer, steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables for the main course. The meal was very enjoyable.
We went to Ban Ban to pick up our special-order cake, which we took home and enjoyed with some wine—a very nice ending to a wonderful day.
I have added pictures below in a slideshow. We hope you enjoy.

If you enjoy our content, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share our posts—it helps increase our visibility and reach. Additionally, your comments mean the world to us and help us continue to improve our services. Thank you for being part of our community!