Wandering

El Salvador - June 3-7, 2026 - Part 2

Last day in El Salvador, we spent going up to the San Salvador Volcano and walking around the nice park there. Great views.

Had lunch at a totally "locals spot" called Panes Ticos and had their sandwich. Comfort food to the max.

Went to the Historic Center and walked around the National Palace. Didn't see the President on this trip.

Watched the Belmont horse race at our hotel and went for drinks and watched Stanley Cup Game 3. Time there is the same as Denver so a great start time of 6:00pm. Went to Fisheria for dinner. Very good.

Almost everything in El Salvador is less than half what you pay in the USA so you don't even pay attention to how much most things cost. A 45-minute Uber up the mountain was $8.25 ... you get the picture.

If you know a little Spanish or can use Google Translate, then you might consider a visit here.

Here are some photos of our last day and a few that stand out

El Salvador - June 3-7, 2026 - Part 2

A very nice last 2 days exploring the mountain areas of El Salvador. We drove a couple of hours in light traffic to Lake Coatepeque and had lunch overlooking the lake.

We proceeded on to Malacatiupán Waterfall. Got it feet wet in 100 degree water. Kinda cool. All the rocks were very slippery, The drive to and from the waterfall was on really rough dirt roads with huge water puddles and potholes. I'm guessing the brand new 2026 Hyundai Accent they gave us has never been there. LOL

We ended up in the little town of Ataco 4,000 feet up, and the hotel we reserved had no sign of anyone to open the door. We found a different place and it was great sleeping with windows open in cool air. Had dinner and drinks and watched Stanley Cup final game.

The next day, we walked around Ataco and saw lots of cool murals and then got back in the car and stopped in the town of Juayua for lunch. We drive to the Santa Ana volcano but it was a bit of a bust because the clouds were so low and there was no view.

2 hour drive and we ended up back in San Salvador, the capital. Lots of construction on the roads.

Found our hotel and ended up out for drinks and dinner. We'll have all day Saturday to explore the capital and we'll back in Florida on Sunday noon.

El Salvador - June 3-7, 2026 - Part 1

Landed in El Salvador 4:30pm yesterday (2 hour cheap flight from Miami) rented a car, drove 50 minutes to El Tunco Beach, found the hotel I booked while on the way to the airport and we were drinking an ice-cold $2 Salvadorian Pilsener beer at the beach by 6:45pm. Not bad!

Good ceviche last night in a beach/surfing town, a few drinks, and good sleep (we're on USA Mountain time). Pupusas and egg sandwich for breakfast with great coffee.

Didn't know much about El Salvador before this, but it is rated the safest country the Western hemisphere and has lots do so. Heard they serve margaritas to visitors too. LOL We're starting at the beach and moving to the mountains today.

Back to the US on Sunday morning.

Rome - April 14-16, 2026

Non-stop flight from Prague to Rome was $34!

I was here once 25 years ago for 2 days, but D has never been.

We dislike crowds and we hate lines, so a different plan other than the normal Roma tourist path will be necessary. 🤔

Booked an airBnb in the Monteverde neighborhood and first order of business was go to Bonci Pizzarium and grab a slice (slab) at one up the worlds most famous pizza places. They make dozens of kinds of pizza, all on a crust that has risen for 72 hours. They cut your "slab" with scissors and charge by the weight.  It was very good and you could taste the quality.

Stopped by the Vatican for some happy snaps at St Peter's. Didn't see the Pope so we didn't get to catch up on "da south side. " ☹️

For dinner, we went to a Roman restaurant ... Osteria dal 1931. It had rave reviews. We got one of the 4 Roman pastas ... Cacio e Pepe ... and Fried Artichoke. I live in Florida where almost no restaurant takes pride in fresh ingredients or high quality of cooking.  so Rome is a real treat. I'd stay a week of I could eat as well as I did today!

The 2nd day ....

Spent the last full day in Rome exploring. Visited 2,000 year old Largo di Torre Argentina ruins in the center of Rome. Very interesting, as was only discovered 100 years ago when Mussalini wanted to put up a building complex and they find these while digging. We had a great lunch on Tibor (the only island in Rome). Very good cod and Amatriciana pasta (the 2nd of 4 types of Roman pasta).

Everywhere you walk is 2000 year old ruins.

Saw a bit of the Forum, the Coliseum and the Baths. Got rained on. Took buses and a packed subway. Drinks at an underground bar called the Basement Bar and a fantastic dinner at il Sorpasso in Previ.

The food here is something special!

Prague - April 11-14, 2026

Took the 4 hour train from Berlin to Prague. 1 hour late (I thought everything in Germany was on time but my friend who lives here says that every stereotype about German efficiency is a complete myth).

Prague is a very picturesque place. Great photo opportunities everywhere, everything is half the price of Berlin. $2 pints of fresh Czech beer and hearty food. Ate in a restaurant in a medieval cellar.

We played pickleball with some very nice people (all Czech, no foreigners). Good competition.

Had a walk through the Jewish Quarter and watched tons of tourists wait in line to see gravestones. Saw the astronomical clock without getting pickpocketed . Had lunches (both outstanding) at local cafes with no tourists. Went to see the church with thousands of skulls and bones.

Took a bunch of trains and buses, getting off at the wrong stop a few times (all good).

Saw the John Lennon Freedom Wall and pub

Drank the freshest beer I've ever tasted..

Berlin April 9-11, 2026

We flew from Florida to Berlin via stops in Charlotte and London. We have lounge access everywhere for food and drink. Flights got delayed, rebooked, delayed again then moved earlier. Not AA best day but we landed in Berlin only 1.5 hours late.

We had a great couple of days exploring Berlin. Easy to get around, train, tram and bus system in Berlin are outstanding.

Went to a dive bar, an authentic German bar, a beer hall, and a cool market. Rode a few buses and and a bunch of trains, saw the Berlin Wall, ate currywurst and flammkuchen. At the Topography of Terror, we were told that Nazis were bad. We ate at at 350 year old restaurant and we drank German beer and also East German Coca-Cola (not bad).

We're headed to Europe!

We carved out 12 free days starting April 8 and decided to do:

2 nights - Berlin Germany

3 nights - Prague Czech Republic

2 nights - Rome Italy

2 nights - Chicago

2 nights -New Orleans for French Quarter Music Fest

We have not been to Berlin or Prague and I was in Rome only for Easter weekend about 25 years ago.

We had a great day in Cartagena. D went to Macia Dental for a teeth cleaning. She said it was very good (better than in the US) for 1/3 of the US price. Friends have been here for other dental work and gave rave reviews.

We walked into the walled city in the afternoon and went to La Cevicheria restaurant for lunch. This place (and Cartagena food in general) was put on the map by Anthony Bourdain at his peak back in 2008 (back when he went to cool, uncharted places and had no hidden agenda). The ceviche was outstanding, perfectly prepared and delicious.

We wandered around inside the walled city and just explored the sights and sounds. We ended up back near our Airbnb in the Getsemani neighborhood, which is a perfect location. We parked ourselves at a cafe overlooking the "town square" and took in the sights over numerous Aguila cold beers. Great people-watching.

We were able to get a 9:30 pm reservation at Celele Restaurant because of a late cancellation. This is rated one of the top 100 restaurants in the world. Once the 35 people are inside, they lock the doors to keep people from wandering in. Seven cooks prepared everything, and we ordered a crab arepa dish as well as a hen. Both were prepared in unique ways, and both were outstanding. Food prepared with this type of quality and care is simply not available at any price where we live. In Chicago, it would be five times the price and a two-month wait for a reservation. We left at about 11:30 pm, feeling it was a perfect end to the last day of our trip.

Flew 45 minutes from Medellin to Cartegena yesterday (for $24 - yes!) What a difference between these 2 places! Went from 70° to 85°, from large city in a valley to old city on the coast. From all Spanish language to plenty of English.

Cartegena is a photographer's dream, The central area is ancient, surrounded by walls and narrow streets. Definitely more colorful, with a distinctive Caribbean vibe. Food is very different here! Lots of seafood.

We've been walking around, eating like kings, drinking like sailors, and spending like peasants. So inexpensive here compared to the USA!

Having a blast here.

Started the morning with coffee and a croissant at Simón Coffee/

Then did a padel lesson — kind of a mix between pickleball and tennis, smaller court with glass walls you can play off. Really fun… and confirmed I’ve found another sport I’m not good at (yet).

Took a 40-minute DiDi (like Uber) for a few dollars (traffic wild) into central Medellín.

Lunch at Versalles — old school, classic spot.

Walked over to Botero Plaza after. His sculptures are everywhere — big, rounded, unmistakable.

Grabbed a couple beers and did some elite-level people watching.

Metro back (less than $1) for a quick nap.

Dinner at Carmen at 9pm — might be the best meal I've had so far this year! Pacific tuna ceviche and pork belly/tenderloin were both outstanding.

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D and I flew into Medellín Sunday morning after some last-minute planning. Never been here. First impression — this place is happening.

Started the afternoon with a beer at a rooftop bar with a pool. Ten hopped on the metro and took the cable cars up into the hills.

Views are incredible — you really see how the city spreads across the valley and climbs the mountains.

Wrapped it up with tacos and some top-tier people watching, along with watching World Baseball Classic at an outdoor bar.

Little to no English spoken so far… which honestly makes it even better.