Hola

Castle
see all photos »

I have finally arrived in South America.  I took a ferry from Trinidad to Guaria, Venezuela.  I got a bit worried when the guy before me was getting interrogated by the immigration officer.  He couldn´t speak Spanish... just like me.  And when she made him show her his plane ticket out of the country (which I don´t have) I was a bit nervous.  But when I got up to here she didn´t take a second look at me just stamped my passport and asked me how long I am staying.  I guess they like Americans! 

Just a plant
see all photos »

As I got off the boat I started speaking with 2 Venezuelan girls, Margith and Nicole (the 2 prettiest girls on the boat, I must say) who were studying english in Trinidad and were coming home for Christmas.  Come to find out they live in the city I am in now, Cumana, and were wicked nice to offer their help to get me there.  I ended up packing into a taxi with them a cousin or two and Nicole´s mothers. 

We were going for 2 hours to a city half way between Guaria and Cumana.  The trip was quiet an adventure driving on all over the road.  I didn´t know what the driver was saying, but the girls told me "he is crazy - like everyone else here".   

Castle again
see all photos »

When we got to the intermediate town we met up with Margith´s mother, father, sister and cousin to go the rest of the way.  At this point we were 8 packed into a Land Cruiser.  Another experience, just like Valencia with Christian´s family, where I wish I could speak Spanish... there was lots of animated conversation... I think mostly about me and what I was doing.

The 2 hour trip ended up being 6 hours as we stopped for food, Margith´s dad bought me dinner - THANKS!  We also had to stop in another town where they have some family to have a beer.  I am not sure what happened, but somehow we got some more people and split up into 2 cars.  We still weren´t there yet.  We stopped at an uncles house for coffee... and to meet some more people.  Margith´s family must be huge... she said something about her father having 55 brothers and sisters.  I am trying to do the math, but I have no idea. 

We made 1 more stop to switch the cars around again, then we dropped off Nicole and her mother.... and then finally to a hotel for me... which I promptly changed this morning.  It was the only one we could get into last night.  It was really dirty, which I know I am going to have to get used to, but I knew I could do better... which I did.  I found a place for maybe $7 a night.  Very nice!!! 

Today, I have just walked around, got some cash and spend almost 2 hours on the internet... which has only cost me around $2.  As opposed to the Caribbean where it was $4 for 15 minutes. 

That´s all I have for now.  I think that I will hang out here for Christmas, but I am not sure.  It seems like everything will shut down, so I don´t want to be moving around too much.

Take care and Merry Christmas

P.S.  I haven´t written about the boat trip yet.  I will soon... it will be under the first day in Barbados post.