Day 3 (02/21/2009): El Salvador- R and J’s wedding day

We wake up late and saunter down for a ‘Desayuno Tipico’ (typical breakfast) at the hotel, which consists of an egg, refried beans, plantains, and toast with coffee. It is satisfying, and I learn that ‘estrellita’ means sunny-side up. We begin the long process of getting ready for the wedding, including struggling in vain to get our sari pleats to fall properly. The coaster bus (which turns out to be the big Toyota bus I went to school in) shows up, J’s younger cousin coming in to get us. We feel distinctly out of place in our ostentatious get-ups, seeing that people seem more simply dressed for the wedding. We pick up a family with a little old grandma, who very excitedly makes conversation with us, most of which is too fast for me to understand! We get to the ranch where we see J, and R’s sister H. We’re told there’s a mix-up and we were supposed to go to the church. We pile back in and get to the church. It is a meltingly hot day to be in a fancy outfit! We try to locate a fan to sit under, but are quickly shooed to the front like guests of honor. People are extremely friendly and excited about our foreign appearance, and we're overwhelmed to be treated so lovingly. J’s dad comes up and breathlessly welcomes us to El Salvador, which simple sentence I am unaware how to respond to and grin stupidly. B asks me how to say congratulations, I am lost, she asks ‘feliz something’, and I blurt out ‘Felicidades’! Sr. Coto seems confused but smiles graciously. The band strikes up with classical melodies. Soon enough, R walks in looking demure and lovely with a single red rose in her hair. She is handed over to J, beginning the mass. The priest is an awfully sweaty young guy, and B leans over to ask if I can understand him. I am not sure, because from what I can tell he is telling the lovers that their lives are wasted and marriage means nothing. R later tells me I understood right, and she was looking down in anger rather than being the blushing bride I supposed her! He also fumbles through the vows, making them say two or three versions, with the ‘sickness-health’ promises a couple of times. Ultimately though, he proclaims them wed, and a white cord of roses is placed around them, sealing them together in this lifetime and the next. We blow bubbles at the couple as they walk back. We are then taken back to the ranch for hors d’oeuvres, which are such a treat, and B and I sample the local beer, Pilsener. The guests are friendly and try to make broken conversation with us. The day is unbearably hot, so dinner is served only at sunset. A little old lady at our table asks if we like the guacamole, and tells us they make it at home with onions and eggs. Sounds yummy in a completely new way! T suggests we get our feet wet on the beach, which turns out to be a lovely idea. After dinner, there’s mad merengue dancing! B and I try our hand but have trouble keeping up. There’s a dash to catch the garter and bouquet, I make an attempt :-) The wedding cake has almond filling, which I prefer to the jammy stuff in other wedding cakes. J’s parents have a lot of energy on the dance floor, in light of which J’s dislike for dancing seems very surprising ;-) We are introduced to J’s best man, who we were firmly convinced was his brother..they look like twins! We meet H’s best friend D, who lives in New York. We promise to meet up again once we’re all back. We say our goodbyes, but J’s father wants to take one last photo with the ladies in costume! The photographer is totally enamored of us and tells R he wishes he could’ve been able to communicate with us. We are dropped back at Happy House, where the bus waits to make sure we are buzzed in safely. Tired, we begin packing for the bus trip to Nicaragua and take a short nap.