From Mérida, we took a night bus to Valencia. In
Colombia some people advised us not to do it but there is no dangerous at all.
In 2002 (we were told) that there was a signature list going on in order to get X signatures to be able to do a referendum with the aim of taking Chavez from the power. It was unsuccessful and the government chaged the ones who signed. The government had access to the list of signatures and fire every one or did not employ any people who were in that list. We met a professor who was without a job for an year because of that.
The dollar is everyday´s topic, the official Exchange rate is 1USD – 6,3 Bolivars and the black market dollar is 1 usd – 22 bolivars. It is interesting to visit this country, Chavez face is everywhere and politics are discussed everyday.
In Venezuela there are lot a Real Madrid and Barcelona fans, it is incredible how many jerseys you see.
First day in Valencia we went to see Real Madrid vs Manchester. We ended up in a Portuguese restaurant and we met a friend, 65 years old, 50 years in Venezuela from the north of Portugal (Vila nova de Gaia). Almost all Portuguese (internet tells that there are 400k Portuguese in Venezuela) I met in this country are from Madeira and the North of Portugal, and all went to Venezuela really young. They own restaurants and cake/bread business. and they are known to be all Manuel!
After the match we heard the news that Hugo Chávez was dead and decided to go home to see the news. On the way home, everybody was rushing, closing the businesses and the streets became empty. I asked the time and the lady replied "chavez murió, apurense! hay peligro!" (Chavez is dead, hurry up! is dangerous!)
After the match we heard the news that Hugo Chávez was dead and decided to go home to see the news. On the way home, everybody was rushing, closing the businesses and the streets became empty. I asked the time and the lady replied "chavez murió, apurense! hay peligro!" (Chavez is dead, hurry up! is dangerous!)
The day after Chavez died
March 7th, Paulo took a flight back to Brasil to enroll in a Masters program. Paulo left his brother in Socialism soil and I felt the
need of finding new backpackers to travel around Venezuela. First day, I ended up
staying in Valencia, watching Chavistas in Plaza Bolivar.
On the second day I decided, together with the couchsurfer friend to wake up at 6am and go to Caracas to see all the crowd (Paulo told me “you must see the amount of people in the streets, get a way of seeing this!”). There were no buses to Caracas so I went to Valencia´s terminal and check “where do I want to go?”. On the terminal I was, again, “attacked” by the Argentinean "wave" of backpackers. I was already 10 days in Venezuela and didnt see any backpackers, then I met 3 girls (Victoria, Cande y Paz) from Argentina that were travelling for 3 months. When I first met them I though they were level 5/6 on the “nível de viajero”.
On the second day I decided, together with the couchsurfer friend to wake up at 6am and go to Caracas to see all the crowd (Paulo told me “you must see the amount of people in the streets, get a way of seeing this!”). There were no buses to Caracas so I went to Valencia´s terminal and check “where do I want to go?”. On the terminal I was, again, “attacked” by the Argentinean "wave" of backpackers. I was already 10 days in Venezuela and didnt see any backpackers, then I met 3 girls (Victoria, Cande y Paz) from Argentina that were travelling for 3 months. When I first met them I though they were level 5/6 on the “nível de viajero”.
We decided to go to Chichirivichi, a place full of
beautiful islands, where we spent 2 days. Snorkling, swimming, reading, walking around - the best beach we saw in Venezuela.
In Venezuela there is the "body surgery culture". A lot of women do it.
We went back to Valencia to a couchsurfer they knew.
Ivan was really really nice and received us all (plus a Dutch guy on the
following day). We learned how to do Arepas, and did a trecking to a mountain where you could see the city.
This is a "comedor socialista". 10Bolivar (5x cheaper)
The next stop was Isla Margarita, a well known place
for holidays. I was there 4 days and I have to say that what it is nice but we had
the idea of being much much better. In Isla Margarita the adventure started during
the ferry-boat to the Island when we met a lady that was behaving
like drunk or drugged. She started telling us that she hadn't slept in 4 days and that
she had been attacked. We dont know why, but we ended up accepting a ride and
sleep in her apartment We met her son and daughter and daughter´s boyfriend,
really really nice people but she continued behaving really weird, like someone
really energetic. On the second day we went to Parguitos,
a beach that was empty due to the season. Apparently this political issue had
consequences in the number of foreigner turists visiting the Island.
Mary carmen and his son decided to camp with us. On
the following day Mary Carmen had a crisis attack and started behaving really
aggressive and shouting for 45m without stop. We know that now she is better because we left her with her family in an hospital but we felt really sorry for
their sons who were really worried.
Last days we camped in El Yaque, a kitesurf/winsurf
small village. One of the girls was bitten by a dog on the beach. After Chavez´s death,
“ley seca” did not allow supermarkets restaurants/bars to sell alcohol for 10
days.
After travelling 10 days with these girls I raised
them to level 9.why? they really demonstrated they can take care of themselves
while hitchhiking camping, etc. and I was proud of them, when they realized
they were almost out of money and the flight tickets to Buenos Aires doubled.
Instead of asking their parents to send money, they found a job and they are
now all working in Isla margarita for the next 2 weeks. Suerte chicas, que
tenga una buena semana santa!
After 18 days in Venezuela I must say in this country
there is a lot to see and is a country to be visited again. The dangerous everybody
talks about in communication channels is not the true reality. Of course
there is dangerous but you can take nigh bus safely, you can hitchhiking easily and safety (depends on the cities). The only thing you should avoid, is to
talk about politics with strange people. Venezuela is the only country in South
America where people talk more about Politics than Football (By the way,
Beiseball and basket are more popular than football).
Politics in Venezuela is like belonging to a footall club, for me was impressive to see how people talk about their party like it was his football team, the passion they put in it is sickness. In my opinion it is too much the hate they have to capitalismo (chavistas) or antichavistas against chavistas.
Politics in Venezuela is like belonging to a footall club, for me was impressive to see how people talk about their party like it was his football team, the passion they put in it is sickness. In my opinion it is too much the hate they have to capitalismo (chavistas) or antichavistas against chavistas.
Venezuela is really cheap if you have dollars in your
pocket, if not it is expensive compared to other south american countries. Everybody wants dólar and is really easy to find a buyer. The inflation in the country is around 20% and prices change
constantly.
Imported goods are expensive (they import a lot). During these days you hear a lot of political comments. This government nationalized a lot of companies including Telecom companies and a hotel chain. In Maracaibo and Isla Margaratita, 80% of the cars are 20 years old.
Imported goods are expensive (they import a lot). During these days you hear a lot of political comments. This government nationalized a lot of companies including Telecom companies and a hotel chain. In Maracaibo and Isla Margaratita, 80% of the cars are 20 years old.
On the other hand, this government build thousands of
new equipped houses for lower income class (finance by external debt – China lent
and is paid in more 20 years with oil), created “comedor popular” where you can
eat a menu for 10 bolivars (5x cheaper).
Venezuelans are really friendly and nice. One time we
were hitchhiking without day light, a car left us half way to our destination
point. After 5m he showed up again saying “hm.. I will take you guys”.
While traveling you see that the world is
really small. On the airport of Caracas (by the way, the way from the bus
terminal to the airport is really nice. I didnt visit Caracas, but on the way
you get to see all the hills with lights, beautiful!) I recognized a girl, who
is friend of our french frind Thomas, and who we met in Taganga, Colombia. In
Barranquilla (Carnival in Colombia) we met an argentinean friend who ended up
to be sister of Catarina´s boyfriend (Catarina was with us in Chile). The
argentineans I traveled with in Venezuela had friends in common with me, one
argentinean we met in Ecuador and the other a Colombian I met in Atacama while
traveling with my mother.
