As soon as we'd finished our coffee tour we left Juayua to head to the coast. Considering how small El Salvador is it takes ages to get places as it's all on local buses that stop constantly. After about four hours and two very windy, bumpy and cramped bus rides to go about 50km, we arrived in Playa El Tunco (anyone who speaks Spanish will realise this also means beach of the pig!) on La Costa del Balsamo and probably the most famous beach in El Salvador. We felt shattered as we wondered around trying to find our accommodation but our moods were lifted instantly when we turned onto the beach and saw the most spectacular sunset. We were lucky enough to experience another two the following nights.

This will be a relatively short entry as the next two days were very lazy and mainly centred around long lie ins followed by a few hours on the beach. The El Salvador coastline is mainly known for its amazing surfing conditions rather than stunning beaches. One of the locals in Juayua had told us how the actor Paul Walker (Fast and Furious) always came down to surf in the area and had gone incognito for years as people just knew him as a regular (they only pieced together who he was when his death hit the news). So whilst others surfed we lazed around on the hot black sand beach for short bursts before jumping in the awesome pacific Ocean to mess around in the crazy waves (they were seriously strong)! We want to take surf lessons and thinking of doing that in Nicaragua. Well actually I want to take surf lessons and Keith thinks it's all really rather obvious so on day 2 hired a board and took himself out. I've never laughed so hard just watching him bob around in the water trying to catch a wave. So possibly the lessons might be for 2 of us after all!

Other highlights from our 2 days in El Tunco were hearing from Toddles that her and Pearco had just found out that Alex will be getting himself a brother, and also Keith shaving the monstrosity of a beard that had appeared on his face the last few weeks (no offence Nic and Si for putting this in the same sentence!). Ooh also seeing as I haven't mentioned any food in this entry I should mention pupusas as we've eaten loads in El Salvador (they are the most popular street food here). They are made fresh in front of you and are round cornmeal dough pockets stuffed with different combinations of cheese, refried beans, jalapeños and meat. They're slightly sloppy but bloody delicious. I said to Keith I might try and make them when I get home but he thinks everyone else would think they're disgusting and maybe one of those things just to enjoy whilst we're here. He's probably right!

Hasta luego chicos y chicas
SM