“Last week, Elizabeth and I had the pleasure of hosting family from the States. Spending quality time together was truly special. We even enjoyed a peaceful getaway, spending a couple of days at a charming Airbnb in La Libertad, nestled on a pristine, tranquil beach. It was the perfect retreat, and we enjoyed every moment. We’ve put together a slideshow capturing our stay, and we hope you like it! If you do, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share our posts—your support significantly boosts our visibility. Plus, your comments are invaluable in helping us grow and improve. Thank you for being part of our community!”
Easter, or Semana Santa, is one of the most cherished and vibrant celebrations in El Salvador. This week-long event is deeply rooted in Roman Catholic traditions and showcases the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Holy Week Highlights
The festivities begin on Palm Sunday and culminate on Easter Sunday. Each day holds special significance:
Palm Sunday: Marks Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, celebrated with blessed palm branches.
Holy Thursday: Commemorates the Last Supper, a day of reflection and communion.
Good Friday: Observes the crucifixion of Jesus with solemn processions and fasting.
Holy Saturday: A day of anticipation before the joyous Easter Sunday.
Unique Traditions
One of the most captivating aspects of Semana Santa in El Salvador is the creation of “alfombras,” or street carpets. These intricate designs, made from colored sawdust, rice, and flowers, adorn the streets for Good Friday processions. Towns like Suchitoto and Sensuntepeque are renowned for their stunning alfombras, which blend religious themes with artistic expression.
Community and Reflection
Semana Santa is a time for Salvadorans to strengthen their faith, spend time with family, and reflect on the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. While the week is solemn, it also brings communities together in celebration and creativity.
Exploring El Salvador During Easter
Easter is an excellent time for visitors to experience El Salvador’s culture. From the historic streets of Panchimalco to the serene beaches of La Libertad, the country offers a mix of spiritual and scenic experiences.
Elizabeth and I wish everyone a beautiful and Happy Easter week.
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Elizabeth and I decided that we needed a new refrigerator. We brought the one we have with us over here almost 14 years ago. It was 10 years old when we made the trip, making it 24 years old. We had been looking around and researching refrigerators for the last few months, so we had an idea of what we wanted. When we heard that Omnisport was having a sale, we decided to go to Sonsonate and check them out. We found the one that we liked and decided to buy it. The only problem was that it was in Chrome, and we had wanted a white one, but for the sale price, we could not pass it up. We then went and had lunch at Pizza Hut. Great Lunch!! The following day, we were in Cara Sucia and saw a stove with the Chrome front on sale for a very good price, so we bought that. We now have the Refrigerator and stove, and they cost us over $400.00 less than the Refrigerator alone would have cost us if it had not been on sale. So we feel Blessed.
I have added a slide show of our dinner. We hope that you enjoy our post. Please subscribe and leave us a like and comment; this helps our internet standing.
Here it is, March. I can not believe how fast time is moving. Last month was Elizabeth’s Birthday, and we went to San Salvador to a very lovely restaurant, the Hacienda Real. We enjoyed an excellent meal; Elizabeth had steak, shrimp, and vegetables, and I had steak, mashed potatoes, and salad. We had cheesecake for dessert; Elizabeth had the blueberry, and I had the strawberry. The meal was excellent. My Birthday was on December 28th, and I was very sick with the flu all through Christmas and until the first part of January, so I did not enjoy any of the holidays. Elizabeth’s birthday dinner was also my Birthday dinner. We enjoyed the day and had a great time. I have added a slide show of our dinner. We hope that you enjoy our post. Please subscribe and leave us a like and comment. This helps us on the internet.
Hello, everyone. We hope everyone is well. Elizabeth and I have been sick with the flu, and it is tough to get rid of it. We are better now.
We have not traveled much this year but hope to visit some of the country soon.
I have been researching the history of Cara Sucia and found it very interesting, so I am writing a post about it. This is a brief history of Cara Sucia.
Cara Sucia is a significant archaeological site located on the Pacific coastal plain of western El Salvador. Here’s a brief overview of its history:
Early Settlement
Middle Preclassic Period (900 BC—400 BC): Cara Sucia was first settled around 900 BC and was closely affiliated with other early Maya sites in western El Salvador.
Abandonment and Resettlement
540 AD: The eruption of Ilopango led to the site’s abandonment.
600 AD: A few decades later, the site was resettled, marking a complete break from its Maya past and identifying it as a Cotzumalhuapa settlement.
Cotzumalhuapa Influence
Late Classic Period (600 AD—900 AD): During this period, the site’s main structures were built, including an acropolis, two enclosed ballcourts, and a 14-meter-high pyramid. The site’s material culture included pottery, mold-made figurines, and evidence of textile manufacture.
Postclassic Period
900 AD—1500 AD: Cara Sucia prospered during the Postclassic period, likely due to its involvement in trading cacao and obsidian. The site featured a U-shaped ball court, Balsam Coast-style sculpture, and ceramics.
Modern Times
Present Day: Cara Sucia remains an important archaeological site, offering valuable insights into the region’s history and culture. Today, It is a growing small town with many farms in the surrounding villages. It is a site of national pride and continues to attract researchers and tourists alike.
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On January 5th, El Salvador experienced an earthquake. Different news agencies reported the magnitude to be 6.1 to 6.4. I live in Cara Sucia, close to the Guatemalan border, and I felt the strong shimmer in my home. The government has reported that there were no human losses or material damage. Authorities ruled that there was no tsunami threat to El Salvador. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 33 kilometers off the coast of La Paz, 29 kilometers southwest of Costa del Sol Beach. A seismologist explained that the tremor resulted from the subduction process, in which the Cocos plate submerged into the Caribbean plate.
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According to news sources in an interview, Minister of Tourism Morena Valdez stated that El Salvador welcomed 3,956,790 international visitors between January and December 2024.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s international tourism sector has steadily recovered. In 2024, visitor numbers exceeded 3.9 million, marking the second consecutive year surpassing the 2019 pre-pandemic level of over 2.6 million. This follows a significant rebound from 1.4 million visitors in 2021 to over 2.5 million in 2022 and over 3.3 million in 2023.
The Historic Center of San Salvador is the number one attraction, with the National Library of El Salvador (Binaes) as the main attraction. It is followed by the Puerto de La Libertad Tourist Complex, Sunset Park, Cerro Verde Natural Park, and Balboa Natural Park.
Local tourism also thrived, with 1.7 million Salvadorans visiting national parks and beaches by January 1st. The Historic Center of San Salvador remained the most popular destination, attracting over 745,000 visitors, with the National Library of El Salvador (Binaes) as a significant draw. Other top attractions included the Puerto de La Libertad Tourist Complex, Sunset Park, Cerro Verde Natural Park, and Balboa Natural Park.
Tourist arrivals in El Salvador are primarily driven by visitors from Guatemala and the United States, representing 34% of the total. Hondurans constitute 18%, while the remaining 14% comprise travelers from various countries in the Americas.
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Elizabeth and I were very sick over the Christmas holidays. Elizabeth recovered much faster than I did. I finally started feeling better on New Year’s Eve, so we had a very nice dinner on New Year’s Day. We hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. We wish everyone much happiness and prosperity in 2025. I have added some pictures from our New Year’s Day.
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We are closing out another year, another chapter in our lives. Elizabeth and I thank everyone who has followed and read our blog posts over the past year. We enjoy writing about our lives and the lives we have here in El Salvador. We have to make a decision by January 4th on whether to renew our blog site. It takes a lot of time and expense to have this site. We must renew our web hosting provider and domain name yearly for $300. When we visit restaurants and tourist sites, this is at our expense. I am in no way complaining about this. However, we have yet to receive the following that we had thought we would over the last year. What helps is when people subscribe and comment on our posts. This encourages us and lets us know your likes and dislikes so we can improve our posts.
We would like to get your feedback on our post in the next couple of weeks, and you can let us know if you would like us to continue with our site, https//ourlifeinelsalvador.com. If you find our content helpful and informative and would like us to continue for another year, please subscribe and leave a comment. We have put together a slide show from over the past year. See Below.
Our daughter Marisol returned with two sons, Daniel and Jacob, for a week’s visit. They arrived on Tuesday, 22 October, and we went to the beach near our home for the day on Wednesday. It was a very enjoyable day. We spent the day swimming, playing, and enjoying good food. I have added a slide show of the day below.
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