I Managed to Pry her from My Hip

It took a little convincing from her big sister, but Avalon finally agreed to leave my embrace and travel to El Salvador ahead of me by ten days. (So, I'm childless for 10 days? What will I do with myself?)
We left at 2am for the Toronto airport, handed her over to the escort and her flight took off on time at 6:30am.  For some reason they didn't charge me the $60.00 fee for the bags - perhaps because I was already paying the $100.00 unaccompanied minor charge?? Anyway, I certainly didn't point it out. She was flying in first to Atlanta, Georgia to get her connecting flight to San Salvador.

She arrived safe and sound - when she phoned me she said that she "was practically sitting in high class" because she was one row behind the 1st class passengers. They kept offering her food on the flight, which she kept declining and then finally relented and said she would have some "M&M's" - ha ha.

Daddy and Trinity (and Avalonka the II - Trinity's second Iguana - the first one died) were there to meet her.  After she doled out the envelopes filled with money (like a little Santa Claus), Trinity decided she really wanted to go to her favorite mall in San Salvador! (Now how is it that Avalon has a better tan than Trinity?)

Our Baby off on an Adventure!

Trinity left this morning for El Salvador.  She made it on the plane by the "skin of her teeth".  Her bags were all overweight (which we expected - $160.00 later), then the Flight Agent informed me I needed to pay an additional $123.00 for an "unaccompanied minor" charge (which ended up being great because they escorted her from security gate, extra attention on the plane and then handed directly to Douglas - he had to sign for her like the precious package that she is).

Now for the "cherry on top" - when I handed them the permission letter I had written, I was then informed that the rules changed 2 weeks ago with El Salvadoran immigration and it had to be notarized.  The desk agent phoned down to El Salvador and they informed her that if she arrived with the letter not notarized by a lawyer, they would deport her right back to Canada.  So, where do you find a lawyer at 8 in the morning in Toronto?  After much running around, a lawyer was found - he was 20 minutes away; he spent all of 3 minutes signing my letter and sealing it and then took my $160.00 CASH and slipped it in his pants pocket.  So, $430.00 later, Trinity was finally on her way. 

Douglas was of course over the moon to receive her in El Salvador.  She is tentatively booked to come back in September, but she may stay longer, we shall see!

Observations of El Salvador

It was like a second honeymoon with an incredibly sad, tearful (& I do mean tearful) ending. I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful it was to see my husband, Douglas and how heartrenching it was to leave him there.  I cried on the way down in the plane in anticipation and excitement and cried on the way back.  The darn flight attendant remembered me and just had to inquire about my visit - well, that was all I needed to burst into tears! Delays with the kids' paperwork continued, so I headed down by myself.  Ironically, their paperwork arrived on the second day I was in El Salvador.  We will be going down again in February, so now things are organized for them to fly.

I was prepared for a Latin American developing country and perhaps was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed it. We stayed primarily at his house in San Benito but did venture out to a few other places and stayed in beautiful resorts.

Some observations:

1.  I could never drive in this city. I could not get over how disrespectful and lawless the drivers were (& yet, the people are so friendly) - anything goes.  I don't know how it is possible that my husband has not had tons of accidents.  The brave vendors walking in between the cars selling fruits etc. was interesting!  The plumes of BLACK smoke from the busses was disgusting - environmentalism is not even on the radar down here.  I did enjoy not having those canvas grocery bags & .05cent plastic grocery bags forced down my throat at every supermarket though. No seat belt laws seem to exist as I saw so many families pile into the back of the truck beds! Many potholes - the only roads that seem to be looked after are the ones going to the Coast.  Almost killed ourselves on the way to Suchitoto - all of a sudden the highway seemed to turn into a two lane hwy - in looking at the video tape I still don't understand what happened.  We didn't see any signs, just all of a sudden a car was barrelling it's way towards us!  We also barely missed driving into concrete blocks that were set up on the hwy.  - again no signs anywhere - just happened to be following another car in front of us in the dark and all of a sudden we are driving on the other side of the highway!  Maybe someone could explain that to us - I feel we are missing something. Douglas has a great ride, but not for El Salvador.  The rims and tires are very expensive and has had five blow outs in 8 months - at $140.00 a tire - time to get a jeep.  Now, he is looking around for one.  It was an adventure driving up the Volcanoe in his sedan!

2.  The poverty intertwined with the wealthy and the poverty in the outlying villages was very sad to see. The glue sniffers on the street disturbing.  Of course, there is no social safety net to help these people. Toronto has it's share of homeless, windshield washers and addicts on the street even with shelters and social programs aplenty, but what was disturbing was seeing the children.  I kept thinking - "these kids should be in school getting an education, and here they are with no shoes trying to sell us a pen, gum or windshield wash!"  Even with the free education that has been introduced last month with the new President, the financially challenged families still need the income that their children can bring in.

A young girl, probably about 11 yrs. of age, approached us one day in the MetroCentro Mall and handed my husband a slip of paper that said she was "deaf and mute" looking for money. She then turned to me, stared at me, and then turned to my husband and asked him "are her eyes real?"  Ha Ha.  Yes, it was quite funny. I did not see many blue eyes down there nor blondes - I don't know where all the "gringos" were hiding!

3.  It is not a pet culture.  I saw one other person with a dog on a leash and I saw many running about. I saw two cats the entire time I was there. This is the newest member of our family - everywhere Douglas goes, this doggie goes - everyone would point and say "I, chee waa waa" - Yes, just like that! It was hilarious! He carries him in a little bag and he just sits in there all day.  His name is Tequila!  A cross between a rat, a bat and a gremlin I think. He is such a cutie petutie!!

4.  No tourist infrastructure and severly lacking in cultural activities.  There is not much else to do in the city other than going to the Malls, but they are fabulous Malls - equivelant to a high end Mall in any other big city.La Gran Via was a great place (Mall and restaurants with outdoor patios - something like a Yorkville in Toronto.)

5.  Amazing meals (I had many different fish dinners) at amazing prices.  We had meals equivalent to a "Keg Steakhouse" meal for just under $50.00 - (I should note: we don't drink alcohol.)

6.  Electronics very pricey.  I would say 50% more than what I would pay in Canada.

7.  Salvadoran people very friendly and polite, very sweet people!

8.  Ocean was of course fantastic - again not Americanized - very raw and quaint. The below pics are from the resort we stayed at in Playa El Tunco - Rocha Sunzal - it was a bargain at $65.00 per night (breakfasts included).

9.  Loved the "cheezy" cemetaries!  (Looks like "The Dollar Store" vomited all over them.)

10.  Homegirl, Mary, was everywhere! Love it! (Even at the Gas Station!)

11.  Came across a Christmas Parade in Escalon.  It was better than any Canadian parade I have attended. I loved the costumes, dancing and the interactiveness of it all.

12.  The high crime rate keeps you sequestered in the gated communities and away from downtown and other areas, keeps you indoors at night.  I didn't have the freedom to just go for a walk without thinking first of my safety and where I was heading.  Also, it was so darned hot, I wouldn't want to walk more than a block or two!  There is no lake or nice vista to really go for a walk to - just really the Malls.  You really have to get out of the city to see the beautiful volcanoes and other spots, but you absolutely cannot live without a car.  I would never ride the bus there - too dangerous and too packed! It seemed that just the poor would use the bus system.  I had my jewellery on and felt safe with my "bling bling" - but again, we stayed in the upscale areas  - if I stuck the camcorder out the window, Douglas would be quick to tell me to get my arm back in the vehicle.  I wanted to see the downtown - particularly the mercado - but he has only ventured down there a couple of times and is leary about going down there.  There is a lot of crime and being "foreigners", we are a target for petty theft/muggings.  Maybe next time I can convince him!

On the day of my departure (Monday), Immigration phoned Douglas to advise him of a package he needed to pick up at the Embassy. Inside it contained his "B" number (Permanent Canadian Resident Number) - so YAY - one step closer to him returning back home to us! I fear though, it will be another 8-12 months from this point on - their online stats show anywhere from 8 months to 22 months from point of receiving application in Guatemala City to point of completion of application.

I'm now back in the balmy temperatures of -3, while Douglas slugs it out in 31 degree weather! We will unfortunately be apart for Christmas this year thanks to Canadian Immigration red tape. :(