Posada Restaurante Rosa Montana Merida

... the first 10m waterfall, but I screwed up on the second 20m waterfall. By then I was all hyped up, and volunteered to go first, and to take the more difficult route straight down the falls instead of adjacent to it. If I can download the video I will. I did okay for the first 10m, but the power of the falls caused me to lose my grip on the ropes, and the falls thrashed me around like a ragdoll until my guide stopped laughing at me and swung me ...

... the national guard to show our passports (no bribes though) - The northern part of the Andes begins in Venezuela (jaw dropping mountain scenery) - Maracaibo and Merida are the safest cities Ive visited in Central/South America so far; no homeless, no annoying tourist ****; peace and quiet - The girls are pretty hot - For a country that is socialist there´s a lot of Chevy and McDonald's franchises, along with a lot of CNN and ESPN...hmm - Most people seemed to think ...

... there are in Merida, my other Spanish teacher, hip and cool Carolina, had asked me earlier: "Where do you think they get the money?" "Tourism?", I through a guess. Carolina smirks. "Corruption?" "That too, of course, but mostly drugs", she says. "Really?!", my eyes opened wide. "Yes, really. There are 3 cartels in town and a lot of people involved." "So you have, like, a lot of crime as well, or that's just between the cartels?" "Ah, no, the ...

... With this drama and relief I finally gave in to the waterworks which was brooding over the past 2 days. Feeling much better I went to have a pizza and coke - not in the mood for any cultural adventures and in bed by 7pm for another 12 hr sleep in a bed for the 1st time in 3 days with warm blankets and a cold night with a warm shower. I couldn´t be more content. I was supposed to join some Germans the next day on a canyoning experience and woke at 7am to find they already ...

... bit - actually letting go enough so that I was horizontal over the top of the fall with my back to the plunge pool. I then jumped a bit down the rock...and descended way too quickly down the fall as the water took me down rapidly. We then continued sliding, jumping and walking down the river to the second waterfall...13m. This was the painful one as you had to descend it like a tobogan, with my back to the rocks...and eventually feeling like I was in ...

... by 10pm at the latest, and then Big Momma starts at about 2.30 am, although very often it is much later than that, in an arc from the north east through to the east with the biggest activity typically in the east. This is the really spectacular stuff with massive bolts of lightning that singe the retina. It is thought to be caused by the warmth raising from lake Maracaibo and the cool air sinking from the Andes which surround the lake. They meet over ...

... and perfect flying conditions. We were not disappointed. Standing on the edge of the mountain looking down just before jumping off, Kev is very nervous. He goes first and nearly takes Rachel out as the strong wind takes his shute. But he is up and away. It is an amazing feeling for us both, although a little disappointing that the adrenelin rush does not last very long.. We are up for about 45 minutes, looking down both the valleys which make ...

... discovering America in 1492. After seeing the natives living on water, he called it ¨Little Venice,¨ a title that eventually became the name of the country of Venezuela. When laying eyes on Little Venice for the first time, I feel overwhelmed, almost overjoyed . Sara and I are in a separate boat from the rest of our group, so we ask our driver for an advanced screening of the town. There are pigs, chickens, dogs, cats ...

... fantasy of driving around the continent in a VW van with a cool paint job. I will have to see how hard it would be to get a license when I get to Chile. Finally Ricardo arrived and we checked into our room with Lea looking at me slightly strangely as I would occasionally make brmmm brmmm noises quietly to myself. Went to dinner where I explained to Lea that I fancied myself akin to Toad of Toad Hall and wished to purchase one of those wonderful automobile machines (Poot poot indeed). She ...

... whilst my micro fibre fleece, sleeping bag and silk sheet were all carefully packed away in the baggage compartment and eye up the Venezualans who were savvy enough to wear ski jackets and bring blankets. Luckily Andy had brought along his fleece jumper, large travel towel and his windstopper jacket which I found most useful, though I am not that mean and did leave him the windstopper :o) Within 10 minutes of leaving the station the driver started playing the movie ...