The drive from the airport, along very good roads, took about 40 minutes, as elevation increased by about 2000 feet. We passed a dormant volcano and learned that the are more than 20 volcanos in El Salvador. The hotel (quite adequate) was in what was described as one of the safest neighborhoods in San Salvador, but the area was bleak, with razor wire atop most buildings and an armed guard at the hotel doorway. Nevertheless, we walked without incident to the square for pupusas and photos.

With the OAT group, we toured the downtown area of San Salvador by bus and on foot, then went on to the Joya de Cerén site where Mayan homes from about 600 AD had been covered with and preserved by volcanic ash. Lunch was at a restaurant overlooking Lake Coatepeque.