Punta Blanca Coche Island

... since there are very few signposts on the island and we don&#8217;t have a map! Their maid is resident here, hence the Spanish only conversations, which we are just about managing, but I think she has enjoyed our company!<br><br>In touring the island we have noticed that there are, not surprisingly, some significant differences between the main areas. Some parts are crowded, such as Porlamar that is the most built up area, in complete contrast to other ...

... 8220;hola&#8221;; although to start with I thought he was saying &#8220;cola&#8221; (Spanish for queue), which I found quite entertaining considering that here in Venezuela there is a mammoth queue for just about everything.<br> <br>I&#8217;ve spent most of my time here on the beach, sunbathing and striking up conversations with the beach vendors to try and learn some new words and improve my language skills. Despite the large number of ...

I am here in Ciudad Bolivar trying to catch up with the blog entry that I have missed over the last few days. This was just a small trip to Isla de Margarita and I never knew that there was such a place, nothing happens and everything is happening. There is so much development here but the transport to the Island is appalling, at least the one we were on ...

... s chocolates and then frisked the guys. On the other side there was a sniffer dog and then our bags were searched again. Its a shame that we didn't spend longer in Venezuela to see the real effects of Chavez's rule. We did talk to people about it but there's obviously so much propaganda coming from both sides and those we talked to were either pro-chavez or con-chavez and wouldn't listen to another point of view. Still, I'm very excited now about T&amp;T.

... we could not go over. To cut it short the answer was that it is a local town law and that we should know we could not go over. They also asked to see our paperwork which we showed them and they then decided we should have had some more. Obviously we disagreed quite strongly and in the end they gave up with us and told us to drive on. We do not think they were trying to shake us down, we honestly think they really ...

... fix my hiking boot (a new one which found Roraima too tough), and - bliss! - to sufficiently understand the answer. Fifteen minutes later my shoe was fixed, and in another five we were on our way to Gato Negro. (I paid an outrageous price for it which I didn't bother to argue over since I couldn't change money anyway and thought that it might as well go to a tradesman than to some shop at the airport.) Caracas has a very user-friendly metro. Then we got straight on ...

... and received a full and well translated tour from the nephew Luis Mercedes Sanches who apparently pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays in the early 80s. Wow, I met a famous person, practically. The Fortress has survived many attacks by pirates as well as multiple earthquakes. On Friday Gaby and Leo took us to the Market to check out how the locals shop and live and then we went to a local beach. All in all a very fun day. The markets down here are something ...

... met the Institue director, Carlos, and made an arrangement were we get to come in in the morning and learn some Spanish, and in return we help with some of the English classes in the evening. So we went in yesterday morning and had our first 2 hour lesson with Seniora Delta Mote. Very nice lady, and a very useful session. We did some walking around town for the rest of the day, and came back for the English class at 7:15 ...

... were very friendly, but not pushy like in most resort towns we have been to. The locals mind their own business and do not try too hard to sell you something. Our Spanish is still weak so our conversations were limited but we are certainly getting by. I am considering a career change if I ever need work again. I think the Blue Jays need a local scout here. Nothing more culturally invoking than a bunch of young boys in uniforms playing baseball on a makeshift diamond ...

... for a small fishing village along the northwest carribean coast called Santa Fe. In Santa Fe we met our first other travellers, the Bungz aka Tanya and Byron. Not only were they fantastic pair of Kiwis and great company (all hail Rob and Zane there are more of you out there!) but they eased us into the whole South American thing.....Buying bread from the Panaderia, buying street food and most importantly polar ice ...