Santa Fe, Isla De Margarita, Cuidad Bolivar and the AMAZON!
Made my way to the beach in Santa Fe where I met an great English couple (Sam and Chez) who convinced me over a seafood meal and beers to go with them to Isla De Margarita. Woke at 3am to my first South American bout of gastro, cramps every 10 minutes for 3 hours! I think I know what pregnancy feels like now!!!
Isla De Margarita was a wash out, rained the whole time I was there.... Needless to say the bar was a dry option, many hours spent there drinking beers (Polar and Polar Ice) and Caipirinhas! Had a great night at Senor Frogs where we got trashed and ate a feast whilst singing and dancing with the staff. So much for the beach. Was beginning to wonder when this trip was going to start getting better...
After leaving the island I caught a 5.5 hour bus to Cuidad Bolivar further south, the only highlight being the Orinoco River. The busus in this continent are freezing, had to take my sleeping bag on board to keep warm. Left then next day after a 5 hour wait for my bus! Santa Elena was my final destination where I commenced my voluntary work. On the way our bus had a full search, everyone had to take their bags out and have them inspected for drugs. Being a gringo (white man) I had a FULL bag search! Whilst I was being inspected another officer inspect over 20 other people!!!
Santa Elena and trouble with the police....
Arrived at the volunteer grounds at 8.30am on a Saturday, by 9.30 I was aboard a 4WD on a day excursion to the Grand Sebana. Beautiful Tepui flat top mountains, waterfalls and scenery. The next day we did another tour to more waterfalls and 10 metre cliff diving - awesome!
Started working on Monday. We had a number of projects we could choose from like hospitals or teaching English or you could create your own. I opted to create my own project at a school for kids with Downe Syndrome. I didn't want to work directly with kids as I was only going to be there for a short period of time and didn't want to start relationships. As it turned out the work I did at the school had more of an impact than what they were learning at school. My project involved painting the school ground walls which resembled prison walls (tall and grey blocks), making and installing a toilet door as it had been doorless since it was made, making a huge wooden toybox and making and installing a huge sandbox.
At first the kids were distant wondering who this non Spanish speaking gringo was, within days they were curious and came closer to investigate what I was doing and say the occasional word. By the end of the first week I was receiving bear hugs and high five`s when I arrived to work in the morning. During the second week I had one of the more artisit volunteers paint an apple tree with the kids names in the apples, the kids loved it and began to help me! One kid in particular whos name was Francisco was always in the corner and not interacting with the other kids came out of his corner during the second week to help me carry sand to the sand box. This accomplishment alone was the highlight of my volunteering, i`ll never forget him clumsily filling up a bucket with sand and carrying it to the pit, truly and amazing experience. On my last day with the kids I had them dip their hands in paint and put their prints on the school ground walls, I also gave them a piece of wall where they could freestyle for a while. The grounds finally looked like a place for children. The last day was sad, it was hard to say goodbye to the kids and teachers after the time I spent with them.
I now have a greater understanding of the challenges kids with Downe Syndrome face. One in particular is community acceptance, in venezuela parents were locking their kids away with shame! The volunteer organisation i was with (Casa Abierta) has worked hard to move the kids from their homes and into the community. Firstly done by placing the care centre in the middle of town so kids were now seen in public and most impotantlt being accepted. Parents slowly realising it was not shameful to have a child with Downe Sydnrome.
The last night in Venezuela was VERY interesting. I went for drinks with a couple of the other volunteers at a local snooker place. We didn't know at the time, but it turns out the place was a brothel!! They couldn't be making too much money there as there wasn't a woman in sight. After a few beers, a few more beers and many games of pool I was having a shot and didn't realise the music had stopped and the place had gone quiet. I noticed a silhouette beside me as I played a shot and then voice advising he was a police officer! It was at the moment I raised my head to notice everbody had frozen. The police made us empty our pockets to find one of the American guys had a knife! They asked us for our passports which we did not have so we had to pay our tab and were escorted into the back of the police wagon! When we got to the station we were escorted into the offices and made to sit for 20 minutes without being told why we being held and what was to happen to us. I could see the officer who had taken us talking to the captain and could tell by the captains face that he was asking the officer why the hell he brought us all here. Soon afterwards the officer released us and told us to ensure we always had our passports on our possession. We went home, drank a bottle of rum and went out again!!! Crazy. Luckily for us it was the end of the night and we didn't have too much money on us, I believe they were looking for a bribe.
Hot Tips for Travellers:
(1) Hotel Tamaca in Isla De Margarita in Polamar- 0058295 261 1602
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