El Salvador, Latin America


Tazumal Ruins

El Salvador Latin America

God has a way of leading you in directions you never thought possible. I married my soccer playing husband when I was 19. I didn’t know what marrying a professional soccer player entailed, but I did know there would be a lot of traveling involved! So far, life has not disappointed me, as we have been living in El Salvador for the last 2 and a half years.

My husband and I visiting El Cerro Verde last year

We’re never lacking interesting places to visit, but one site I’ve been yearning to explore since we’ve been here are the Tazumal Ruins (Ruinas del Tazumal) in Chalchuapa (located in the department of Santa Ana). “Tazumal” translates to “the place where souls are consumed.” It’s one of the country’s ancient Mayan ruins which remains to be mostly vacant, as most travelers and tourists choose not to visit El Salvador for safety reasons.

Tazumal Ruins (Ruinas del Tazumal)

As I walked around this ancient landmark, I began to discern the atmosphere of this place. I couldn’t help but flash back hundreds and thousands of years ago to when the country’s ancestors brought their young atop the temple to sacrifice them to their god(s). It made me quite somber to realize the horrific things that took place here.

Tazumal Ruins (Ruinas del Tazumal)
Tazumal Ruins (Ruinas del Tazumal)

However, I was soon left in awe when I acknowledged the beauty of the structure instead. It’s quite humbling and inspiring to walk the grounds of a landmark where the only other place you’ve ever seen it is through a high school textbook. I remember day-dreaming in class about the day I’d be able to venture out + explore these ruins on my own. Dreams DO come true!

Me in front of the ruins

If there’s one thing I want to encourage you to do, it’s to travel as much as you can before time runs out. Many people shrink back at the thought of traveling because there’s a bad stigma behind it: too dangerous, too risky, too pricey, etc. However, had I listened to all those voices of fear + doubt, I’d never had been able to visit a place of my childhood dreams! Don’t knock it before you try it yourself.

I may have fully Sicilian blood and I may have been born in the United States of America, but none of that changes the fact that I am a citizen of the world, and a citizen of the world I will always be.

Me in front of the ruins
Contributed by Gessica Rodriguez