Dia de los Padres en Copapayo

View from the dirt road leading to Copapayo.

I spent Father's Day weekend at Rosa's family house in Copapayo.  We rode the bus for an hour and arrived in her community that is still considered part of the Suchitoto.

Rosa's parents and nephews Father's Day morning.

 Early Sunday morning, Rosa's brother Juan walked half an hour to their small corn field in order to collect ears of corn. As a family we prepared the fresh food.  We used every part of the corn.

Corn is in season here.  We eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Usually in the Campo this time of year, all parts of the meal include corn as the main ingredient .  We'll eat corn tortillas with beans, corn tamales, corn on the cob, and a liquefied corn drink.  Even the coffee is made from corn (no coffee beans included).  Needless to say, I was happy to eat papaya this morning now that I have returned to Rosa's house closer to the town center.

Rosa's sister Morena, her son Samuel, and a half-eaten Pupusa.

Pupusas are typical here.  Rosa and I eat them for dinner three-ish nights a week.  They are basically thick corn tortillas filled with beans and/or cheese.  Salvadorans often eat them for both breakfast and dinner.

Turkeys roaming the streets on Copapayo. 

All types of animals wander the streets (pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, horses, goats, dogs etc).  They say everyone just knows whose animals belong to whom.

How could you not want to explore with views like this?

 After my third corn-heavy meal, I asked Rosa's two energetic nephews to go on a walk with me.  Spending time with Luis and Samuel sparked memories of my childhood in the woods and on the gravel road with my friends and siblings.

Samuel playing in the road/puddle.

Luis traversing a water pipe.

Samuel and Luis climbing the guava tree for a snack.

Oh the beauty!