Uh, ah! Chavez no se va!

Greetings from Day 4 of our delegation entitled Democracy, Development and Regional Integration. The purpose of the delegation is to explore the social changes that are taking place in Venezuela as a result of the Bolivarian Revolution headed up by George Bush's nemesis Hugo Chavez. Even though I do not consider myself a Chavista, I think Huguito has some ambitious and interesting programs: community-based healthcare missions, literacy campaigns, land reform, and alternatives to free trade. (sigh) Viva la revolucion! Having said that, I am not convinced that he will be the savior of the Americas that many hope he will be. While I don't think Venezuela is under a dictatorship, the authoritarian features, concentration of power and the security concern if you are anti-Chavez raise a red flag for me. In my next blog, I will expound. Stay tuned. This revolution will not be televised.

Los Llanos is Spanish for "the Llanos"

Here are some photos from Los Llanos. Despite the heat, relentless bugs, frogs that surprise you while you're on the toilet, and the noisy resident pig tied to the side of our sleeping quarters I LOVED Los Llanos. See why!

Capybara - the largest rodent in the world. That is its actual distinction. I didnt make that up. I actually thought Mickey had that honor.






Oso Hormiguero AKA Ant Eater.








Our sleeping accommodations








Anaconda hunting. They found two little ones but I didnt want to post their pictures because my mom hates snakes.







Our guide has lived in the area for 20 years. He found this lizard while they were anaconda hunting.







Caiman - reptile found only in this region of Venezuela.
Filipina - found traipsing around South America







Matamata








River safari

Our river side accommodations and resident piglet.

In defense of piranhas

I write this blog entry in defense of our vilified animal brethren, the piranha. While I was in los llanos (the plains) I had the opportunity to learn that the threat posed to humans by the piranha has been highly exaggerated. Movies set in the Amazon showing ferocious schools of piranhas devouring cows and swimmers have propagated an unfortunate and unsavory reputation. Zoologists have found that piranhas travel in schools not to hunt, but for protection from their natural predators, primarily the river dolphin. That's right, while the general public buys the benevolent dolphin stereotype, Flipper is out preying on the significantly smaller and slower piranha. It is true that piranhas have highly specialized dentition designed for rapid puncturing and shearing, but wouldn't you want to have this defense mechanism if Flipper was cornering you?
I lobby for the piranha to be reclassified under the same taxonomy as less maligned marine life such as the baby seal and guppy. Please consider my request to stop the slander of this cherubic fish.
By the way, we fished piranhas for dinner. They are delicious...and cherubic.
The piranha - our friend, our freshwater brethren.

Check out my professional piranha fishing stance.

Whoaaaa, Nelly!

Yesterday morning I overcame my unreasonable and unpublicized fear of horses. As part of my 4 day trip to the Venezuelan plains (los llanos) the locals took us on a 3 hour horse ride. Here in los llanos horses are the primary form of transportation; so as the old adage goes - When in Rome, ride horses.
When the llaneros assigned us to our equine equivalents, everyone ran over to pet, coo and speak sweetly to their new partners in crime. I, on the other hand, stared my horse down (from 5 feet away), one hand on hip, the other one fiercely pointing at him and articulated my rules...
1) No galloping
2) No trotting
3) No leaping over things
4) No copulating
5) and no horseplay!!!
My horse's name was Borracho which loosely translates into Drunkard, a moniker appropriately assigned to him for his slow unpredictable gait. Before we began riding, the llaneros gave us an orientation and crash course on horseback riding - how to direct the horse, how to get it to walk faster, how to sit properly. They talked for about 15 minutes but all I wanted to know was this one thing - how to stop.
Turns out that the next 3 hours were absolutely delightful. Like in old western movies Borracho and I ambled down dirt roads, across marshly plains, and through rivers...and into the sunset.

In a wet suit down by the river

I'm not scared. Really.

Canyoning is a relatively new diversion in the Venezuelan highlands. As I walked around Merida the other day I ogled sexy ads in front of adventure tour agencies splashed with photos of smiling adventurers dangling from ropes and words like "exhilirating", "adrenaline", "heart-stopping." Sign me up please!
The very next day I was pimped out in a neoprene wet suit, harness, and helmet- a combination that singlehandedly ruined my mojo (I now understand why Indiana Jones was primarily a land adventurer). The next six hours we rappelled down waterfalls, jumped into slow rapids (an oxymoron I know), and swam/plodded/crawled/slid down the river.
Enjoy the following images of said canyoning journey. If my lips look purple, do not adjust your monitor. I think I was hypothermic.

Travelers Diarrhea down the toilet

My GI and I are proud to say that I have not gotten travelers diarrhea or any stomach malady for that matter in over 5 years, not even in Guatemala where you order your beans with a side of stomach parasites. Last night as I was eating a cachapa at a street kitchen I pondered this great mystery of how Ive escaped the maligned runs while other wayworn travelers with rumbling tummies are ubiquitous. I have unraveled this mystery. The trick is to avoid like a (stomach) plague the places where all the other backpackers eat. Instead, eat from street vendors where all the locals are chowing. Disregard how many blatant violations of food safety practices you observe. They are inconsequential. I´ve taken to corner food carts and steered clear of gringo haunts. Think about it, everyone has heard of travelers diarrhea but have you ever heard of locals diarrhea? Enjoy your meal.

My encore in Venezuela

Greetings from Parte 2 of my South American sojourn, Venezuela. I spent about 24 hours in Caracas then quickly escaped to the Andean town of Merida where I am now. Caracas is more chaotic than ever. In my book, it now shares with Guatemala City the distinction of ¨Most Obnoxious Capital City.¨I would recommend these two destinations to all your worst enemies.
Conversely, at over 3000 feet above sea level, Merida is an alpine wonderland: snowy Andean mountain peaks, azure skies, colonial architecture, cheap food and accommodations. The only thing that could make it better would be unicorns. Why can't I ever find unicorns?!
I'll post pictures later. I can't find my USB cable. Maybe the unicorns ate it.

When I lived in Merida, this was the apartment building where I lived!

If only it had unicorns. (sigh)

R.I.P.

HAIKU for a Very Special Tarantula

Sorry they stunned you

with the broom then lit you on

fire. That must have hurt.

McGyver with a Glue Gun

As all (four of) my loyal readers know, my GLA students and I have spent the last three weeks working at Polo Timbo which is akin to a Boys and Girls Club in the States. Tomorrow will be our last day as the GLA program ends this weekend.
Over the past few weeks weve given conversational English classes, played volleyball/ultimate frisbee/soccer/duckduckgoose/musical slipper, and taught arts & crafts. Armed usually with just yarn, glue, glitter and popsiscle sticks we came up with an impossible number of art projects. Think McGyver with a glue gun. We also had Polo kids design a mural that we are now in the process of painting.

Making yarn bracelets

Popsicle stick project #57

Yarn Art

Move over Diego Rivera

Team Timbo - See you at the World Cup in South Africa 2010
Would I need to declare him at Customs?