To break up the final segment of my journey, I stopped at the Santa Teresa Hot Springs, which sits on top of the largest geothermal geyser field in Central America. The resort features 30 thermal pools filled with natural volcanic waters of varying sizes and temperatures. I sampled most of them 🙂

I have generally been trying to bypass urban areas on this trip in favor of the natural beauty everywhere. Even so, I had to spend some time in Santa Ana as I passed through on my way to Juayau. Pictured above is the city’s gemgem of the city, the Catedral de Nuestra Señora Santa Ana. Below, a municipal building and small church.

Just outside Santa Ana is the Parque Arqueológico Tazumal, the best-preserved pre-Hispanic Mayan site in El Salvador. It was inhabited from 1200 BC until its definitive abandonment around 1200 AD. Its name, of Maya-Quiché origin, translates to “the place where the victims were burned.

Yesterday, I discovered what can be described as tree cups on a playground adjacent to a bistro overlooking Izalco. Each tree is fitted with a ladder, allowing you to climb up to a platform within the crown. I imagined the photo above, possible only with a drone, to take a selfie with Izalco in the background. I took the photo very early this morning for the light and to avoid flying over kids who were here in numbers yesterday. The composition turned out even better than I had imagined, and I much prefer it to the more traditional selfie below.

After spending the morning on the coast, I drove inland to the Cerro Verde National Park, arriving just ahead of the clouds. I don’t generally shoot a lot of video with my drone, but I wanted to share the awe I experienced as I flew up over the rim and down into the sulfur-venting caldera. When my attention returned to photography, I captured the image below with Lago de Coatepeque in the background.

Although it lacks an emerald cauldron inside its peak, Izalco offers a classic conic volcano shape that Santa Ana does not. Rain is forecast for the next two days, so I am very pleased that I got these photos in early.

My flight arrived in El Salvador last night, and I promptly rented a car and drove 50 minutes to the small surf town of El Tunco. Note to self: It’s best to make your first drive in a foreign country during daylight hours, especially if 75% of the headlights and taillights on cars and trucks in that country no longer function. I wish I had had the energy to go out and enjoy the bohemian nightlife when I arrived, but the long travel day had taken its toll, and I was asleep in five minutes. I did rise with the dawn patrol for some nice morning light photography.

I would have liked to have spent more time here, but it is the rainy season, and you have to make the most of the generally dry mornings. I stopped only once at Cueva El Zonte, a striking natural sea cave and large rock archway located along the scenic black-sand coast. It is accessible on foot only during low tide, which I missed, so I had to settle for an aerial photo.

For the next 9 days, I will be traveling in El Salvador and Guatemala. The trip was motivated by a desire to watch Nico compete in a couple of international friendly matches next weekend. Since I would be in the neighborhood, I decided to take a brief photography tour focused on volcanoes and waterfalls, both of which are abundant in this part of Central America. As is generally the case when I make such journeys, about 70% of my baggage volume is dedicated to photography gear. I will be doing a fair bit of strenuous hiking, including the 7 Waterfalls Hike, which involves a first for me: a 100-foot ascent up the face of a waterfall, clinging to a rope for safety. I have rappelled down a waterfall in Costa Rica, but I suspect going up will be a different experience altogether.

For years, we have seen more bald eagles than osprey on our stretch of the Sudbury River. This week, however, has seen an influx of the latter. I watched as the one pictured above snatched lunch from the river and flew off into the distance with his meal. Interestingly, this is a different bird than the one featured in a post from a few days ago. Check the eye color. Osprey eye color changes as they age. Today’s fisherman is a mature adult compared to Tuesday’s juvenile perched in a tree.

Jeanine and I have decided to transform our front yard into a Japanese-style garden. This evening we traveled to Westford to the studio of the landscape artist we have elected to work with. There we toured his studio and perused his on-site collection of boulders. What does it say about a couple who thinks boulder shopping is a great Friday night date? It should be added that we finished the evening with a visit to nearby Kimbal Farm to enjoy our favorite homemade ice cream.

Nicolai has overcome most obstacles unique to his limb difference. Carrying a laundry basket up and down winding stairs ranks among the most difficult challenges. Because of this, installing a washer and dryer in his unit of the Somer House was a priority, and I am pleased to report that the project is now complete.

This afternoon, I assembled the multi-driver tool I designed last week. Maya kindly printed the two parts needed to complete the project and delivered them this afternoon. I had planned for the first unit to be a prototype, but the dimensional accuracy and ergonomics were perfect, and I consider this to be a field-ready tool as it stands. This multi-driver is 1″ in diameter and 4.2″ in length with bits stowed, and 6.5″ long with a bit deployed. It holds six 3″ long standard 1/4″ bits. It has a magnetic base that holds the bits in place and holds the handle to the bit holder. It is also possible to use the handle without the bit holder as a bit extension.

While waiting for the 3D-printed parts, I put together a similar set of bits designed to fit in my existing camera bag. This kit is volumetrically more efficient at the expense of a proper handle and fully enclosed bit storage. Not pictured is the same configuration with 2″ long bits, which will cut space and weight even more at the expense of bit reach.

Jeanine spotted this Osprey as it landed in a tree overlooking the river adjacent to our house. I grabbed my camera and stepped onto the patio, where I had a perfect line of sight and favorable lighting. After briefly posing for me, our guest flew off in search of dinner.

I met with the kids today at their triplex in Somerville to discuss and formulate plans for the house. We have discovered a rather large cavity under a section of pavement, and it is not apparent how it came to be there. We all agreed that it would be best to determine the root cause before electing to fill it in or tear up the concrete first. Next, we turned our attention to the backyard to determine how many parking spaces might be accommodated: two for sure and possibly three. The foundation and surrounding concrete from a garage previously located there make the conversion to a parking area an obvious choice.

With Jeanine in Minnesota and no projects on tap, I decided to spend the afternoon in Quincy after learning about the August Moon Festival being celebrated there today. I arrived just as a group of performers began a Chinese Umbrella Dance on stage. In Chinese culture, the umbrella symbolizes prosperity, good luck, and protection from evil spirits, making it a perfect fit for a harvest festival. I regret having eaten lunch before arriving, as there were many yummy-looking foods at every turn.

Before succumbing to the temptation of fried dough and/or ice cream, I decided to make a brief walking tour of downtown Quincy, where I discovered Peace Field, a nearly 300-year-old residence that was home to two presidents.

Closer to the town center, one finds the very stately town hall building and an elegant statue of Abigail Adams.

The longer I studied the statue, the more apparent it became that the proportions were exaggerated. Unless Abigail is wearing 16-inch heels, the bottom half of her body has been elongated. The typical adult human head is 1/7 to 1/7.5 of total height for both men and women. I fear my head may be on the larger size to carry around such mundane facts.

On the drive home, I stopped at the Quincy Quarries Reservation to check out the latest graffiti art. I am not a fan of people defacing natural objects (or buildings, for that matter), but somehow, in this setting, I find the result to be quite captivating.

My nephew Mario and his wife Brooke were treated to a baby shower at my brother’s home in Minnetonka today. Representing the eastern contingent of the Calabria clan were Jeanine, Maya, and my sister Alissa, who took all of today’s photos. Jeanine and I gifted a car seat, and Maya knitted a pair of booties for her first cousin once removed. I have laid claim to this baby as a surrogate grandchild and will be asserting all applicable rights and privileges when he is born. Said surrogacy shall persist and all rights shall endure until such time as one of my children produces an offspring.

Jeanine is pictured here with my sister and sister-in-law.