Largo de Coatepeque: 1st - 2nd September 2025
1st September – Monday
Feeling a little down today, not sure why, I suppose it’s just everything back home still looming large in my brain.
I’m now at Captain Morgans Hostel Lake Coatepeque. The morning went well, I even had time to go to the supermarket and I bought a roast chicken, 3 avocados and a litre carton of wine. That should keep me going for a couple of days. I’m feeling quite plump at the moment, too many carbs, so a keto diet for a few weeks will sort me out. On the way home I popped into one of the $1 second hand clothes shops, they are everywhere, and bought a pair of shorts for swimming in. My bikini skirt has finally given up the light of day and is thinning. No complaints, I have had it for many years.
I treated myself and got an Uber to the lake, it was only $15 including a tip. The chicken bus would have only been $1 but I really didn’t have the energy in me to lug my rucksack, laptop bag and shopping on a bus. The drive was fine, although leaving at midday meant the traffic out of Santa Ana was horrendous. The main road was smooth and fast but once we got to the lake the road was a dirt track and very bumpy and slow.
There are quite a few people here including 3 American girls who don’t seem too loud, one of them is called Ruth! My room is cosy and the shared bathroom/toilet clean, so I am happy. I kept myself to myself this afternoon and found a floating ‘ship’ deck to lounge on. I had to cross a plank to get to it and there were also some stairs that reminded me of the ones I fell down in Croatia. I drank wine, ate chicken and avocado and spent my time mindlessly scrolling on Facebook – a good waste of an afternoon.
Although prepped dress wise for a swim, I chickened out and the more wine I drank the less of a wise idea it became. However tomorrow I will swim. One of the American girls was in the water for ages with a life jacket on, and several of the other people here jumped in during the latter part of the day, so if they can do it I can too.
I sat in the restaurant area this evening and had a glass of wine – it was $5, the same price as the litre I bought this morning! So glad I have plenty left for tomorrow 
At first the reflection of the sunset, which is behind us, was quite beautiful, but then the clouds came in over the mountains and finally a dramatic storm hit. It was absolutely delightful sitting there watching the sky light up with thunder and lightning.
I can’t say I am that impressed with this lake, which is actually a volcanic lake. It is the least
stunning one yet even though it is surrounded by beautiful lush green mountains and supposedly home to a wealth of birds, fish and other wildlife. It is also supposed to be the favourite destinations for a lot of wealthy Salvadorians who have bought up most of the area, meaning there is no/little free public areas for visitors. However, most of the hotels and restaurants do day passes, but am here for 2 nights, with private access from the hostel, which I thought the better option to a day pass.
Although the lake is not so impressive I am loving this hostel, it is a pirate’s hostel – lol. And quite quirky with lots of places to chill out, and it seems quite well maintained and clean. I’m loving my little room, one wall is natural stone which is quite beautiful, there is also a table and a chair, so at least I don’t have to put my stuff on the floor. It is just a shame about the walk to the bathroom, which is upstairs to me – I’ll just have to hold my bladder during the night.
Oh, one last thing – I was droned. As I was chilling this afternoon a drone came over me, hovered a moment and then disappeared. I managed to see the owner, a young hippie looking guy, who just happens to be in the room next to me with his girlfriend. I really can’t be bothered to mention an invasion of privacy to him, but he should be careful, one day he could drone the wrong person!
2nd September – Tuesday
I’ve had a wonderfully chilled day. The water dispenser dishes out hot water so I had the obligatory 2 coffees in bed before heading, all of 100 yards, to the most expensive restaurant yet. One veggie omelette and a small glass of orange juice – $8! For lunch I had chicken and avocado and for dinner, I had an expensive glass of red wine and the vegetarian dish, which was an extremely delicious, a perfectly cooked plate of plantain and vegetables. Between bouts of eating I swam, added a few pages to my website and booked a rather expensive transfer to my next hotel. My justification for this expensive transfer – I have none bar the fact I really don’t want to get a chicken bus back to Santa Ana and then one to Sonsonate – this way I go directly to Sonsonate and get dropped off at my next hostel
I had a guy posing for me for a good ten minutes – lol. I was sitting far away from everyone else (there were a lot of day pass people here today) doing my website when I notice this guy, white, bald stocky and wearing sunglasses eyeballing me. He then went up to one of the viewpoints/waters jump areas and did a lot of posing while keeping half an eye on me. It did put a naughty smile on my face and I even managed to get a sneaky photo of him. He finally disappeared, so I went to top up my water bottle with wine and on my way I passed him as he was heading to where I was sitting. He said hello and I grunted back – lol – and that was the end of that. He looked quite handsome from a distance but close up a grunt was all I could muster. No wonder I am still single – lol – and happily so.
Other than that, we had an afternoon storm, which was rather pleasant, I do love watching the weather change. It is very stunning to see the clouds roll over and enshrine the hills opposite. There was not as much lightening as last night and it didn’t last as long, but it was still refreshing and awesome to watch.