This not-so-little friend was walking along the wall of the back patio one night, not long after I had first moved to El Salvador.  I called out to my husband, who immediately grabbed the broom.  In a dramatic moment, I saved Spidey’s life: “Run, Spider, Run!” I yelled.  He escaped just before the broom slammed [...]

Just one more discovery in the world of strange insects in El Salvador.  It was resting on the wall of our bedroom and apparently had died a quiet death.  Since it was so darn big, I decided to document it with my niece Carmen, taking out the tape measure to illustrate.  Nearly 3 inches long [...]

Two multi-horned spiders, red and white.   Seen in Los Planes de Renderos, El Salvador, October 9, 2010.  Looks like “Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)”  per photos on BugGuide.net. See more at the Wonderful World of Insects in El Salvador Photo Gallery. ( CLICK to enlarge )

Large orange and brown butterfly with white spot on each wing.   Los Planes de Renderos, El Salvador, September 24, 2010. See more at the Wonderful World of Insects in El Salvador Photo Gallery.

It all started on the patio in September 2010 during rainy season,  Los Planes de Renderos, El Salvador.    My friend was visiting when I noticed something on the floor. “Gee what is that?” I said to her.  “Wow, es un gran animal!” she said (it’s a big ‘animal’).    Holey Toledo, he IS big!   Look at [...]

Can you say COOL? The carpets / alfombras of Semana Santa (Holy Week) seen in El Salvador and Latin America are a wonderful creative expression of spirituality.   The carpets are made of pigment colored salt or sawdust and are  ‘painted’ by teams of people who start working on them as early as midnight on Good [...]

Here are photos of a few stations for the Way of the Cross processions on Good Friday in Los Planes de Renderos, San Salvador, El Salvador.  A morning procession took place, and in the evening, an even larger, more attended procession happened from 7:00pm – 10:00pm local time. Click any photo to enlarge it. Information [...]

A breath of fresh reason amidst the sweltering greed.   Thank you, Mr. Greenspan, for your words on Meet the Press, April 17, 2011.

The woman who lives on the other side the fence came by to ask last night if she could “buy” water from us.  I remembered the owner’s comments when we moved in about how they “gifted” water to the neighbors next door and “below” us (which I presumed last night, was her).   “Let me know [...]

Festivities for Semana Santa in El Salvador (Holy/Saint week) began yesterday morning, and it was lovely.   Friday marked the start with Viernes de Dolores,  “Friday of Sorrows” or night of the altars*.   About.com has a page from Spain naming each day and calendar date. I was at church without leaving the house.   I’ll explain:  [...]

According to Doug Short at the Wall Street Cheat sheet on April 12, 2011, Gas Prices Spring Higher Toward $4 Per Gallon in April Gas has been over $4 a gallon for at least 3 weeks in El Salvador.  We filled up at 4.19 a couple weeks ago, then it rose to 4.22…and 4.25…. and [...]

It occurred to me a couple days ago, when I was suddenly aware of dead silence.  Ah, that’s what it is, I thought – the Cicadas have stopped singing.  Initially only morning and later afternoon, but as time went on they sang all day long, deafening at times. They sing throughout El Salvador for about [...]

My neighbor Sabas may be poor, but he’s got the coolest flower and fauna around. Here are his digs, a humble house of corrugated metal.  He sells firewood for a living, a scarce commodity in this area.   But don’t feel sorry for him – he doesn’t want your sympathy.   He’s happy have his good [...]

We see new things every day in El Salvador.   Today’s lesson was on how to connect powerful 220v (volt) tools without using an outlet!    This “How To” is for HUMOR ONLY so please DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!! A welding/soldering team came by and cut a piece out of the large metal garage door [...]