Feliz Navidad

Typical Christmas dinner
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Christmas was not as boring as I expected.  I was invited to Nathaly's house for Christmas with her family.  Christmas for them consisted of sitting outside drinking Scotch, for the men (me and Grandpa) and a mixed rum drink with cream for the ladies.  Meanwhile on the streets loud hip-hop music is blasting from different cars and houses for people of all ages to enjoy.  No really, somehow all of the neighbors enjoy it and are socializing and dancing on the street.  I don't think that this would go over too well in my neighborhood. 

Heres Grandpa. Yes he loves Chavez and to drink Whiskey... at least we have one thing in common
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At midnight the family, a couple of cousins, mother, sister, and... ME, went inside to enjoy the some of the typical Christmas food, ham bread, arepa, chicken salad and some champagne.  Then Nathaly's mother gave out some small gifts... I got a bottle of wine!!!

I ended up staying there until maybe 4am listening and "talking", Spanglish.  Of course some of the conversation was about if I have a girlfriend, and because I don't, was I interested in Nathaly... they are not very shy.  And I am not sure, but I think that I understood that the grandfather helped Chavez in some revolution.  Not sure!... but everybody treated me really well, and I had a great time. 

Mom and Daughter
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Two days later, I left Cumana for Cuidad Bolivar where trips to Angels Falls can be booked.  It of course couldn't be just an easy bus ride.  10 minutes into the bus ride the bus broke down.  As you can see from the pictures we stopped right in front of some anti-american graffiti. 

Anyway next thing I realize I was being called... "HEY GRINGO"... by three girls who were also on the bus.  We jumped into the back of the pickup truck... somebodies brother or something, and headed back to the bus station. 

The bus broke down right next to this... :) Does this mean something?
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Instead of getting onto another bus they fought for me to get my bus money back... they were very persuasive... and then we all shared a taxi to the next big town a couple of hours away to pick up another bus from there.  It was me another guy and the taxi driver... and the girls who never stopped talking, laughing, screaming, and drinking the whole ride.  It was fun, but also a relief when it was over.