2+ weeks in VENEZUELA

We are millionaires! These Bolivas are equal to US$1. Alas, currency has just changed officially this month..knocking 3 zeros off the end. Both currencies are still in circulation and the bank exchange rate is only half as good as that on the black market...all too confusing!
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January is in the dry season and we arrived just before Carinvale.... 

First Stop...Puerto la Cruz, dubbed the Venice of Venezuela with boats aplenty.

All is great...weather, friendly locals,interesting food, cheap, oodles of atmosphere- especially now it is "Carnavale"!

Lots of: extreme wealth, extreme poverty.

Arepas...local snack of cornmeal bread stuffed with goodies. Even MacDonalds serves arepas.
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Very little: safety in the streets in some 'burbs..but isn't that everywhere? We did not have any bad experiences, only good. Hide the jewels,stay away from dodgy looking areas (there are quite a few) catch a $2 taxi and all was ok for us!

Worth metioning though, Caracas wasn't on our 'must see' list. It is considered to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

Second Stop...Merida in the Andes. A 20hr bus trip across the country gave us a good bird's eye view of Venezuela from the top deck of our bus.  This university city is the most visited tourist destination in Venezuela. Unfortunately the cable car(longest in the world) was closed for maintenance. This really i s a lovely location so all was not lost, we still saw heaps, took hundreds of pics and got high enough by car to experience altitude sickness (oh joy!).

Venice of Venezuela..extremes in wealth and poverty at Puerto la Cruz
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Lots of: mountains, water,university buildings, street parades,old churches, town squares, dryness.

Very little: poverty in Merida, considered to be a "middle income" city, crime.

Tip: Coming to Venezuela? Bring the 'greenback' (US$) as street exchange is double that of the bank!

Low Point: food poisoning.

Even in the dry season there is plenty of water in Venezuela
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Litter makes us sad and I think Venezuela has had the most litter of all the places we have been to date... interestingly enough the litter didn't seem to bother us here.

We enjoyed our stop in Venezuela and wished we had seen more...but I guess we have a good reason to come back one day...maybe in the wet season next time.

Click on 'view more photos' to see more of Steve & Maria's photos.