JUAYUA," SEMANA SANTA" (Easter week)

ALFOMBRA (street painting)

PALM SUNDAY MORNING

CHILDREN PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION

ALFOMBRAS DOWN THE STREETS

CHRIST IN PROCESSION

    Juayua is a beautiful Colonial Village in the cooler mountains of Western El Salvador.  It used to be a major coffee producing area until prices decreased in the 1990s, and the creative people started a popular food & artisan festival on weekends.  A friend & I had a 10 day Easter break from Language School so we decided to travel by local buses through the "Ruta de Las Flores" (the flower route).  I will talk about other villages on the Flower Route in the next couple weeks.  On Palm Sunday morning,(the Sunday before Easter) the children line up on each side of the streets holding palm fronds. We saw fantastic street paintings called "Alfombras." which are made from all natural materials.  People stayed up all night Saturday to create them.  Then on Sunday evening there was a large Procession of men carrying a very heavy carved wood platform with Jesus and the cross from the main Cathedral walking all over the "Alfombras".  It is truly a fleeting and living art form.  I have never seen anything like this in all my travels.  The Procession included ladies carrying candles, a band, and most people in the village (including us..the only 2 Gringas(foreigners) in town) walking until late at night.

LOS CHORROS DE LA CALERA

TOP OF WATERFALL

     We also hiked with a guide to awesome waterfalls called "Los Chorros de la Calera".  It was a difficult hike with slippery rocks and steep ravines, and I was very happy to have our guide's young nephew and friend to help.  We dived in the water, and had fun swimming & playing with the kids.

     Wishing you all a Blessed and Peaceful SPRINGTIME!!!!  with a picture of Beauty here in Western El Salvador.