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*all travel pics*
my travel route: mapped
en espanol
en portugues
xml'ed
:recent posts:
- Move along now, nothing to see here... [30/10/03]
- Fear and Leaving in America [30/10/03]
- No More Titles [27/10/03]
- Fair and Balanced Facts
- Hotel Cali? [20/10/03]
- Cali Dreaming [13/10/03]
- Requiem for New York [07/10/03]
- Parking centrally [01/10/03]
- Yankees suck? [29/09/03]
:archives:
- September 2003
- October 2003
- November 2003
- December 2003
- January 2004
- February 2004
- March 2004
- April 2004
- May 2004
- June 2004
- July 2004
- August 2004
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- boots n all - travel site
- backpacking tips
- unelectable
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This is my blogchalk:
United Kingdom, London, English, German,
Male, 21-25, Travel, Writing.
Travel blog of a year-long round the world trip.
Currently in London, UK.
(the first leg of my trip in a nutshell -- route as originally planned).
Nice [02/11/03]
I am safe and sound in Ciudad Bolívar on the Orinoco River, South East of Caracas.
It is muy muy beautiful here: a dreamy town with colonial style houses in bright colours, always sunshine and always a hammock to hang around in (ha!). (see pics)
I arrived two days ago but time seems to have stopped for me (no watch) but probably also helped by the cathedral clocktower which chimes hourly but is always off by several (I haven't yet been able to figure out by how many).
From here it is also possible to cross the Orinoco by 'ferry' to get to the tiny but very cute village of Soledad, mostly sustained by fishing and people hanging around on the streets it seems. The main (only?) attraction is a ruined mansion overlooking the river, making it a great, atmospheric picnic place. My personal highlight was of course the incredible fish restaurant, serving delicious grilled fish, straight out of the river and posthumously laden with garlic, herbs and butter. Mmmmm... It almost made me cry when I ate it, it was so good, no kidding. And like everything in Venezuela, it is very cheap - if you have US dollars in cash. Every since the exchange rate of the Bolívare has been frozen recently there has been a thriving black market in cash dollars, going at up to 2/3 on top of the official rate. Like every other foreigner here I'm hitting myself for not bringing more $$$ - if only we had known...
But anyway, life is good, I am staying at a wonderfully laid back hostel with a great owner (plug: 'Amor Patria' if you're in the area).
So the current plan involves possibly staying here until Friday and then heading down the Rio Caura into the deep rainforest for 5 days with a couple of others and the hotel owner guy guiding us.
Until then time will be passed with reading, writing, eating fish, moderate amounts of partying and general hammocking around.
Nice.
ps: I forgot to mention previously that, in its favour, Caracas has a great, great Metro system.
pps: I have managed to upload random pictures and added a picture of LA to an earlier one. For those who want more pics there are all the pictures I took with the digital camera here, no sign up required.
It is muy muy beautiful here: a dreamy town with colonial style houses in bright colours, always sunshine and always a hammock to hang around in (ha!). (see pics)
I arrived two days ago but time seems to have stopped for me (no watch) but probably also helped by the cathedral clocktower which chimes hourly but is always off by several (I haven't yet been able to figure out by how many).
From here it is also possible to cross the Orinoco by 'ferry' to get to the tiny but very cute village of Soledad, mostly sustained by fishing and people hanging around on the streets it seems. The main (only?) attraction is a ruined mansion overlooking the river, making it a great, atmospheric picnic place. My personal highlight was of course the incredible fish restaurant, serving delicious grilled fish, straight out of the river and posthumously laden with garlic, herbs and butter. Mmmmm... It almost made me cry when I ate it, it was so good, no kidding. And like everything in Venezuela, it is very cheap - if you have US dollars in cash. Every since the exchange rate of the Bolívare has been frozen recently there has been a thriving black market in cash dollars, going at up to 2/3 on top of the official rate. Like every other foreigner here I'm hitting myself for not bringing more $$$ - if only we had known...
But anyway, life is good, I am staying at a wonderfully laid back hostel with a great owner (plug: 'Amor Patria' if you're in the area).
So the current plan involves possibly staying here until Friday and then heading down the Rio Caura into the deep rainforest for 5 days with a couple of others and the hotel owner guy guiding us.
Until then time will be passed with reading, writing, eating fish, moderate amounts of partying and general hammocking around.
Nice.
ps: I forgot to mention previously that, in its favour, Caracas has a great, great Metro system.
pps: I have managed to upload random pictures and added a picture of LA to an earlier one. For those who want more pics there are all the pictures I took with the digital camera here, no sign up required.
