The rebar goes down nearly every single cinder block, but how do they get the cinder blocks onto the tall segments of re-bar?  You cannot reach the top, and there is no scaffolding in sight.  Hm.

The finished house next door is a Habitat house as well, so this is what they look like done.  The design is unique to this country, and varies among countries due to weather, availability and cost of materials, and the ability of the homeowner to help pay for it and take care of it.

The road to the Habitat project called Getsemani (local spelling).  This is a village of dozens of homes made with the help of Habitat.

The walls at the home build site are about half done.  The home is about the size of a large, 2-car garage.

The pineapple and cream-filled sweet empanadas made at the bakery.

A tray of empanadas await us on a table in the bakery.  This is a bakery where you can come in, sit down, and have a drink and a pastry.

A view from the top patio in Francis's house.  A dormant volcano is in the background.

Francis explains something to Jim on the roof.

 

Francisca Padilla.

Francis and her mother and one of the 3 family poodles.

A scene in the bakery we visited owned by Francis's mom, Francisca Padilla.  She is making a cake for our Friday going-away party.

A look inside the home of Francisca, where Francis grew up.  The garden area is open air, and when it rains, the garden is watered.  The home is neither heated, nor cooled, and has plumbing that only intermittently provides water.  They usually save water, when it's running, for when they need it later.  The bakery and home are attached.  Francisca's dress shop is right next door.

Outside our hotel in Ahuachapan in the western part of El Salvador.