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Venezuela 2002

Andreas Mayer
2005-12-06 08:02:14

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falling down on you (luckily we were ahead of the other group at that stage). There was one tricky bit where we had to rope up and then a final steep 30 meters, again roped, up to the statue of Bolivar that marks the highest point in Venezuela. We stayed up there for about 30 minutes, having lunch & taking pictures and, in my case, developing abad headache, before we started our descent. The way down was a bit of a rush, as we had to make sure that we got to the cable car station before 2.30 p.m., and there is a tough uphill bit right at the end, but we managed OK.

Back in Merida, we got off the cable car and bought some beers to celebrate. This tunred into a bit of a session, as our guide knew most of the local people that were at the place, and soon there was about 10 of us drinking round after round of ice cold Polar, slowly getting pissed and my headache getting worse and worse. We decided to meet up with three of the guys later that night, for more beers and some clubbing, but headed back to our hostel for a few ours keep.

Oliver and Marc were up for a big Friday night, our last night before going home, I was more for slepping, but after a headache pill I was better and decided to join the others. They picked us up in their batterd car late in the evening, the three of them in the front, the three of us squashed in the back seat, and we went for a drive up into the mountains drinking beer and smoking grass. We eventually made it back to Merida and stopped at a bar for more drinks, but I called it a night pretty at around midnight while the others when on clubbing until the early ours of the morning.

Trip home & Reflections

Got up early the next day and caught a flight from Merida back to Caracas, tiny plane but actually a very scenic flight, with beautiful views of the mountain ranges around Merida. Flew back to the UK via Miami, again with American Airlines, again I was terrified, but again there were no terrorists, just a bumpy flight which meant I hardly slept despite valium.

Managed to forgot my passport on the plane at Heathrow, I only realised at the passport control, and it took some effort to find the right plane and get allowed back on board to pick it up (1 hour+), but I was so happy to be back safely that I did not really care.

Thinking back on the trip now, some two weeks after we returned, I think it was pretty cool holiday. Not many people I know have been to Venezuela, but I think it makes a great holiday destination. The beaches were amazing, as were the mountains, the people are friendly and the beer is cheap. My biggest regret was not speaking Spanish, but luckily Marc never grewtired of translating for us. It also inspired me to go to the mountains more back here in the UK, though it is tough when it is cold, rains all day and gets dark at 3:00 pm, and as yet I have not been.I would definitely go back, though I think I will wait to 1, learn some Spanish, and 2, save some money so I can go for a few months...October 2004 is the date I have in mind, but that is a long time away and a lot can happen...