18 weeks travelling my favourite continent have come to an end. I've been to 9 countries, plus seen the airports in another 5. Been robbed twice. Had several fantastic dives. In a wet-suit. Learned so many different spanish words for the same things that I'm not sure if I'll remember any of them. Learned to check that the clothes I pick up from the laundry is my clothes.
And I've met people from all over the globe. Sky-dived with aussies and israelis. Had spanish class with a corean nun. Learned tango from a woman with ancestors from Russia, Poland, Spain and Germany. Discussed european politics with a retired italian among Inca ruins. Shared lunch with an argentinian riding his bicycle around Bolivia. Been on a 4WD trip with a french astronom. To mention a few. In short: Met a lot of different people! And all these people is what makes it worth travelling. And they are the ones making the journey good or bad.
Tomorrow I'm heading back to Europe, ready for a new life and a new adventure in Oslo. I'm just unbelievable lucky!
-- Posted from my iPod
--> astridha.blogspot.com
søndag 3. januar 2010
Venezuela
Before I left home, I had just one country that was on my list of places I had to go: Venezuela. And it has disappointed me. Because of little time and christmas, I've hardly seen anything. But I've also had little time in other countries, which I want to go back to later so that I can explore more of them. With Venezuela it's different. At the moment I can't see myself going back here.
The valuta here is difficult for travellers. You have to bring cash and use the black market to change to the local currency. If you use your card, everything costs two to three times more. Meaning things reaches (and might pass) the norwegian price level. Insanely expensive to be on this continent. But even if you bring cash, it's expensive here. Worse than Chile, and a lot less developed and a lot less secure.
And security is another issue. I don't feel safe here. Bolivia felt more secure, which might say a lot if you've been there. It might just be the capital. I hope. But as Chavez has been doing some good things for the country, it is a fact that poverty and crime (they always come together) have increased. So maybe it's about time he starts acting more than talking?
-- Posted from my iPod
--> astridha.blogspot.com
The valuta here is difficult for travellers. You have to bring cash and use the black market to change to the local currency. If you use your card, everything costs two to three times more. Meaning things reaches (and might pass) the norwegian price level. Insanely expensive to be on this continent. But even if you bring cash, it's expensive here. Worse than Chile, and a lot less developed and a lot less secure.
And security is another issue. I don't feel safe here. Bolivia felt more secure, which might say a lot if you've been there. It might just be the capital. I hope. But as Chavez has been doing some good things for the country, it is a fact that poverty and crime (they always come together) have increased. So maybe it's about time he starts acting more than talking?
-- Posted from my iPod
--> astridha.blogspot.com
Caracas
Compared to the other capitals (and cities for that matter) I've visited this trip, Caracas is the least attractive. Just as expected, which is why we wanted to travel to other parts of the country. Unfortunately because of the christmas rush, it was impossible to go anywhere. So we've been stuck here an entire week.
Ok, that might sound worse than it is. We've had a nice week, with a wonderful new years eve. It's just that there is nothing special about the city. Apart from a lot of crime (seemingly more than elsewhere) I can't find any special characters about Caracas. Maybe a bit unfair, because of christmas a lot has been closed, especially since wednesday.
We've visited some museums and different parts of the city. And have gotten to know the crime aspect a bit too close, as we got robbed in broad daylight on tuesday.
Wanted to take a cable car up to a mountain peak today. As the entire city, it seemed. The line was crazy, we ended up just taking a taxi back and decided to visit a neighbourhood in the south. Which was actually quite nice.
On new years eve everything was closed. Our plan of a better dinner changed to a burger from a street stall enjoyed on a corner. But, accompanied with cold beer it was pretty good! We were lucky to have a small gourmet store next to the hotel that was open in the evening. So we had both beers, red wine, champagne and even a cigar for Roger. Everything we needed to celebrate with the entire neighbourhood on the Plaza. It was very nice! Entire families were sitting around, they had cooling bags, camping chairs, tables, real glasses, ice cubes. Everything!
-- Posted from my iPod
--> astridha.blogspot.com
Ok, that might sound worse than it is. We've had a nice week, with a wonderful new years eve. It's just that there is nothing special about the city. Apart from a lot of crime (seemingly more than elsewhere) I can't find any special characters about Caracas. Maybe a bit unfair, because of christmas a lot has been closed, especially since wednesday.
We've visited some museums and different parts of the city. And have gotten to know the crime aspect a bit too close, as we got robbed in broad daylight on tuesday.
Wanted to take a cable car up to a mountain peak today. As the entire city, it seemed. The line was crazy, we ended up just taking a taxi back and decided to visit a neighbourhood in the south. Which was actually quite nice.
On new years eve everything was closed. Our plan of a better dinner changed to a burger from a street stall enjoyed on a corner. But, accompanied with cold beer it was pretty good! We were lucky to have a small gourmet store next to the hotel that was open in the evening. So we had both beers, red wine, champagne and even a cigar for Roger. Everything we needed to celebrate with the entire neighbourhood on the Plaza. It was very nice! Entire families were sitting around, they had cooling bags, camping chairs, tables, real glasses, ice cubes. Everything!
-- Posted from my iPod
--> astridha.blogspot.com
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