The night I lost my virginity. El Salvador.

I have been told you never forget your first time, sweet memories? bitter memories? bitter-sweet memories? But you never forget your first time. I need to experience that feeling.

Tonight was the night for me, I had read books and watched videos and how to get it right, I was confident that the night would be enjoyable.

A perfectly wonderful and romantic back drop. I can't bring you thunder and roses, but I can bring you a sunset and seeing the clouds below us.

Welcome to glamping Salvadoran style

So yes my first night ever under canvas.

I was sure I would survive, have hip flask (tanqueray flor de sevilla gin, if you are asking) will travel.

Tomorrow its getting up that

Good morning one and all, was the night memorable?

Dunno, I slept all the way through.

Interlude

Just time to snap some of the local flora before a 2 hr scramble up and down Saint Anne

Commonly known as the gout plant, a succulent allegedly used as an aphrodisiac, but also a laxative, now that could be quite embarrassing.

Just an ornamental plant which will neither wake up your little soldier, nor give you the runs

The Egyptian star, just for looking pretty it gets a vote from me

Ok its a variety of Bougainvillea.

The red ginger plant, sometimes, called "graveyard flowers" in the Americas they are often placed at gravesides, lasting for quite a while thanks to their long shelf-life as a cut flower

Torch Ginger of no particular use other than it looks nice.

Did I mention I am an Emeritus Professor of horticulture and also good on using google!!!!!

Now time to burn off some calories

Volcán de Santa Ana

A 2hr scramble quickly was turning into a 4 hr route march.....No one mentioned we had to actually walk to the route from base camp to the summit at 7800 ft above sea level, the highest point in the country.

So after a safety briefing from the mandatory walk guide (steep drops, loose shale, steep inclines, half the campsters pooped their pants and dropped out, leaving just 4 of us to scale the dizzy heights).

The volcano last erupted in 2005, causing the authorities to set up a 2 mile radius exclusion zone and evacuate the residents within it, two people were killed and several injured as car sized rocks were spewed out and thrown nearly a mile away

With the dropouts returning to base camp a good pace was set up, I love the challenge of pushing myself, testing that good old pumper in the chest, and what strength I still have in my knees. My kids say I am reckless, ho hum, but you don't try, you will never know.

Not much to see on the trail, a couple of decent points to get some shots of Izalco, another volcano in the distance.

Izalco was only formed in 1770 and earned the nickname of "Lighthouse of the Pacific" erupted almost continuously from 1770 to 1958.

They say it is dormant now...but never say never.

and an agave plant thriving close by

Half way up, yup another pants pooper, the guide wanted to halt the ascent, but was kindly informed by the last three standing.

"NO SENOR, not gonna happen"

The wimpy kid had to sit on a rock and wait for us to return.

He was concerned about the clouds closing in and not seeing were he was going, but the clouds came and went, just floated by like clouds do.

In the achievements of man this has got to rank with the best, the summit reached, yes my chest burning my heart pumping, couple of minutes it will return to a resting beat, it always does.....One day it won't, but hey I wont know about it.

But kudos to a far bigger achievement... these two guys one selling drinks, one selling tat souveniers, daily they climb to the summit carrying their load on their backs.

The changing striations of the volcano wall

The stunning sulphurous crater lake , a beautiful green/blue colour, there was no over powering smell of bad eggs that I could detect, just a gentle scent, like when someone blows one off in a lift.
Memorable

Ain't nature wonderful?