Last continuation of Day 2

In between hearing from our two speakers, we took a tour of San Salvador, the National Cathedral, and  El Rosario church.  Later that afternoon, we also visited the Monument for Truth.  It is very similar to the Vietnam Memorial.  It is engraved with 30,000 names in memory of the the dead and those who disappeared during the armed conflict of the 70's and 80's.  The wall is incomplete as 75,000 were killed but not all of the names were available when the wall was built. Names are still being added.

           The streets were packed. Traffic was crazy.  I would never have wanted to drive in it!

Piñatas were sold all over in the downtown area.  They definitely take them seriously as many were the size of a small child. They were the nicest looking piñatas I have every seen.

                                                                The Plaza Civica

Crypt of Archbishop Oscar Romero at the National Cathedral in San Salvador.  Archbishop Romero stood up for the people of El Salvador,  fighting for justice and human rights, and was killed in 1980 by a death squad assassin with a single bullet, while celebrating Holy Communion at a mass.

                                                    Close up of words from photo above.

                                                       Inside the National Cathedral

                                                           Inside National Cathedral

                                                            Inside National Cathedral

Inside El Rosario Church in San Salvador.  It is a very unique Catholic church made of concrete with beautiful stained glass.  The beauty definitely surprises you when you enter. The people of El Salvador often took refuge here during the violence in the 70's.  Also, inside the stations of the cross are depicted in iron and rebar.

                                                       One of the stations of the cross

Another view inside El Rosario Church. Cesar pointed out that this is an eye. While I am sure there is a significance for this, I am not sure what it is.

Here lie 21 citizens massacred on October 29, 1979 in the streets of San Salvador during the demonstrations held by grass-roots organizations.

                                              The Monument of Truth (explained above)

                                                             Monument of Truth