Navidad Salvadoreno - Part 3

Tazumal
There are only 3 archaeological sites in the country that are open to the public: Joya de Ceren, (the Pompeii of El Salvador,) San Andres, (a small, poorly-preserved pyramid,) and Tazumal.  Tazumal is at the northwest tip of the country right near the border with Guatemala.  It was a long drive for the baby, but we were rewarded with the largest and most interesting ruins in the country.

There were 2 pyramids that appeared to be connected by levels of stairs and walkways.  A small section of narrow, underground corridors had also been excavated.  We also saw what appeared to be shallow, narrow channels lined with smooth stones (rain gutters??) and stairways that led down into rectangular structures.  There were no maps to assist the uninformed tourist, and where there were signs they were too faded by the sun to read, and what you could read was frustratingly vague.  ("This is an important archaeological site used by the Maya.  It may have been ceremonial in nature.")

It was sweltering, and after a couple of hours I was soooo done.  Mario haggled for some beautiful jade pieces, and we were on our way home.

Ilobasco
The town of Ilobasco is the best place in the country aside from the airport, (no joke,) to find artisanal souvenirs.  We were on a mission to get a well-made, traditional but not-too-Catholic nativity.  I almost bought the one pictured here,  meanwhile Tio Jairo and Windham tried out a marimba in a gift shop.

We did find a perfect nativity, but unfortunately for Tia Xiomara, her perfect nativity had been bought by someone else while she browsed other stores.  Come to find out, WE had bought the nativity she had her eye on!  Oops.  We settled the awkward dilemma using "Finders, Keepers."

Pollo Campero
What trip to El Salvador would be complete without visiting Pollo Campero?  You may turn up your nose when I describe Pollo Campero as the Salvadoran KFC, but consider this:

1.  It's the only building in the department (like a county) with AC, and it was summer in El Salvador
2.  It's the only restaurant in the department you know won't make you sick
3.  It's the only restaurant in the department where you can actually get good service from kind, helpful servers

Not too shabby, right?  Plus they gave Windham a crown.