Our 2nd wedding anniversary! Enjoyed the pool at Lucio's apartment whilst watching some kind of aircraft fly-by. Picked up and driven up the west coast to El Cocotera, an Eco-resort with 3 small thatched lodges, wedged in between the beach and the estuary. It was lovely, even in the rain - deserted beach, quiet (other than the parrots and the lapping waves), luxurious cabins - and we were the only guests. Sheltered from the rain in the pool, supped smoothies and ...

Whilst Amy opted for a leisurely sunday morning, Lucio and I hit the golf course (near Acajutla/Playa Los cabonos). Before you say anything, golf is not so leisurely when you are playing in the 'jungle' (at least the grass was due a cut), it is boiling hot, there are things that bite everywhere, and your golf is diabolical. Just when things looked like they were picking up with a birdie on a tricky par 5, the course (and its inhabitants) bit back when I stood on ...

After we all managed to shake off the effects of the previous night's rum fuelled activities, lunched near the top of a volcano with excellent views over the valley below. Went to the beach west of San Salvador, played in the waves (although bit painful as the beach was like Brighton as the rains had washed the sand away), and watched the surfers in action. Dined on el salvadorian style fish n chips and shrimp pizza in a restaurant above the sea. Lovely setting, ...

Minibus from Antigua to Guatemala city and bus to San Salvador, negotiating the Guatemala-El Salvador border. We managed not to pay any fees we shouldn't have and not get scammed by the money changers who all had fake calculators! Lucio met us and took us back to his pad - flat overlooking the bright lights of San Salvador. Fish restaurant for dinner, followed by a bar with live music, bow-tied waiters, indoor jungle, and the odd bottle of rum.

6.00 pick up (there's no slouching on this holiday) for the pacaya volcano trip. Pretty cool, walking over a hillside of previous lava trails, with lots of different reds and blacks in the loose lava rocks. Couldn't go right to the top due to activity last year, but got close enough to the heat to cook marshmallows and nuts, and go for a steam room (or hole). Spent remainder of day trundling around the markets, squares and cafes of Antigua, enjoying a bit of sun...