Hotel Grand Galaxie Caracas

... the surfaces consisted of rough and uneven rocky crags interspersed with trees and bushes. It was an elevated moonscape but with vegetation. Like nothing I had ever seen in my life. Added to that was the buffeting we experienced by the powerful vertical winds that swept up the sides of the tepuís and rocked the plane as we passed through them. On several occasions Spike turned white. Unless a plane flight was absolutely flat and level he was not a good passenger. Ha! Fat chance of ...

... enjoyed the views from our window and the great pool at the hotel. Not exactly the 5star experience we were used to but great in that Ems could use her new i-touch with the WLAN free service in the hotel. Monday we woke really ealry and watched the sunrise and then hit the gym and streets after cacthing up on a few emails. The gym was great as it reminded me of the one from school with very old but "proper body building kit". We took a stroll down the street to ...

... blurred that the source is unkown. But who am I to complain? (wink,wink) Along with all things superficial, Caracas is also known for its poverty. Driving in the evening from Simon Bolivar Airport to the city, I saw stars of light floating randomly along the mountain ranges that surround Caracas. It´s a beautiful display, to an unassuming tourist. But as the theater lights go down the lights slowly reveal themselves as ...

... It is hard to see this working. Roads are cursed by control points where soldiers armed with machine guns or police, watch you drive by but do nothing else. An example of public spending out of control, perhaps, but why not at least put them to work? Buses may be stopped for an hour or more while soldiers search bags (starting at midnight on the way to Santa Elena). Fair enough, but the searches are so half hearted ...

... had never seen a president or leader sing before. He seemed so human and real...like someone who doesn´t get embarassed, and doesn´t dress or conduct himself like the elites or corporates. I felt really hopeful for all these hundreds of thousands who had come to the streets wanting to build their socialist democracy. But I questioned how much of it was due to emotion and love for Chavez...and how much of it was because they really believed in this alternative ...

... a trip to the hair dressers. We returned back to the house where Homero's Mum had cooked up a storm with some delicious beans, rice, plantains and mince followed up with a delicious banana bread and butter pudding. It was great to have home cooked food again and we were both impressed with the Venezuelan food. Homero's Dad, Sergio was also very kind and offered to exchange some money for us at the unofficial exchange rate. There ...

... bunch of private school girls and indeed they are all rich kids. The march is like nothing I've ever seen and the opposition claims 1.4million in attendance although Chavez has a more conservative estimate of "oh only a few thousand". I'm sure both were exaggerating but there were definately hundreds of thousands. Despite having little personal attachment to the cause the feeling I got simply exiting the Metro station was incredible. With people cheering and yelling 'Atrevete!' music ...

... some friends), which gives me a very very interesting perspective of the Venezuelan life and mentality. From what I have experienced so far, I can tell Venezuelans like having parties, dancing and drinking beer. Unfortunately, a day after I arrived, there was a little accident in the family car and we have no means of transportation. Given we live in the outskirts of ...

... s (rum and coke). If you are ever in Venezuela before ordering one make sure you've mastered the phrase "Mas Coca Cola por favor" (more coca cola please) Politics No matter who you speak to everyone has something to say about the politics, how the country is run and President Chavez and you can't help but get wrapped up in it all, after all Chavez dominates the media with his own radio shows and his own TV show, both of which air for as long as he ...

... the *rmy cle*red the street briefly to escort * he*vily protected *rmoured c*r) or m*ybe not, I guess we'll never know. We *lso drove through * m*rket *nd I s*w * person with no legs, *nd no wheelch*ir, just going *long, doing his shopping using his h*nds to propel himself through the street. The sight of it re*lly shocked me, but I guess I'll h*ve to get used to sights like th*t during my tr*vels. It w*s s*d, his p*nts just dr*gged behind him *s he went, it w*s so shocking ...