Concepción de Ataco. El Salvador

So a couple of nights in Ataco as it is known for short, it is the main town on the Ruta de Las Flores.

Lots of free time to wander aimlessly, I did, I ran out of roads it was so small, but to me so very photogenic I went shutter crazy......again.

I try to limit my uploads to circa 30 or so images, as I feel any significant number greater than that and it can become overpowering and interest is lost, any thoughts on that?

Nestled in the Apaneca Mountains the streets in places are steep the pavements are designed to be raised from the road: when there is heavy rain all the runoff from the mountain could otherwise flood off the road, July is the wettest month and can see up to 13" in the month.

A really decent place to eat in the centre of town, first night a decent burger, fully loaded and the second night another bloody awesome burger.

Originally inhabited by the Pipil people who conversed in an ancient language, Ataco means "high place of springs.” in Nahuat

It was quite simple to navigate around the town as it is constructed in a grid style, so up one down the next

If you failed yesterday. Today you have the opportunity to start again.
I thought the mantra was " Right first time every time"

"There is a path that seems right to the man, but his end is the way of death."

There are a lot of gangs in El Salvador, a warning to snitches maybe?

In 1890 the city had 2,860 inhabitants. Today just under 20k, mostly employed in the coffee industry, more on that next time, when I lost the plot!!!

The town started to become popular in 2004 when it entered a government-sponsored competition whimsically called Towns Full of Life or Pueblos Vivos. Happy bunnies the residents, they got involved in giving the town a complete make over, with a huge no, humungous amounts of street art wherever you look, yes that will be uploaded into the wonderful Streetart community, if you have never visited, it is a great place to pop into.

Even though Ataco did not win first place in the contest it is now growing in popularity with locals and international tourists resulting in an upturn for enterprising local businesses.

The sun beats down, my bones are tired

So lets rest our weary souls, come lets tarry for awhile,

A cutesy little place hidden away, lots of Knick Knacks and stuff to enjoy

The seating was made out of scrapped rubber tyres, surprisingly comfy and a good use of the product. But for now.......

.......It's 5 o'clock somewhere

The full name of the city which was just a "town" until 1999 comes from the name of the parish church, the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It underwent complete renovation in 2003

I could find no history of note, guess it is just another place of worship for the locals

I know not why JC is wearing a cowboy hat

Are these two guys posing seductively, or is it just my weird and warped way of interpreting things?

Damn, the sunsets early, the fingers on the clock spin ever so fast out here.

Its Beer o'clock again.

Night night everyone