~ Fruits & Delights of Venezuela ~

After only being in my new homeland for going on two months, with a retreat back to the US after the first month for a well needed holiday break as most of you know, I’ve already embraced a few of the Venezuelan cooking traditions of preparing homemade 'arepas’ (corncake-like sandwich) and preparing the sweet smelling and zesty citrus taste of ‘parchita' (passion fruit)....next on my list is ‘guayaba’ (guava)!

Before uncovering the secret but so simple recipe to prepare ‘arepas’ you could count on finding me at the local neighborhood ‘Arepa’ restaurant/homefront (multipurpose uses of homes for business/residence is a common sight). I was told that Madonna made a special trip to Venezuela just to indulge in the ooohhh soooo tasty ‘arepas’ which are typically served for breakfast but there are many 24-hour ‘Arepa’ restaurants to satisfy ‘arepa’ desires at any hour! Vegetarians we have 4 choices eggs - chicken or quail, avocado, beans or cheese....everyone else select the meat of your delight!

While kicking back enjoying your ‘arepas’, tropical fruit juices, political discussions or just wandering the city, which are a few of my favorite pastimes :-D you will without doubt feel dwarfed by the majestic mountain ranges that surround most – if not all – the cities here…

You are peering into the city/mountain cascades of Maracay, Venezuela - my first home - which is 2.5 hours west of the capitol Caracas where I am currently living.

The farthest and darkest mountain range is the Henri Pittier National Rainforest which is known for its exotic and migratory birds…so get your bird watching eyes ready!!!

You can reach the foothills of the mountains by walking in 30 – 45 minutes…transcend the mountain by a car/bus or motorcycle if your fearless on the single road with roller-coaster curves in about 1 – 1.5 hours…but on the other side of the mountain a paradise of beaches await you…there are a countless number of beaches that you can explore or even be escorted to by a short boat ride for more secluded beach bathing or surfing…I’ll have to include these in my biweekly beach visits...

Since my photos were lost (beware of $10 pocket cameras) of the ‘Playa Grande’ (Big Beach) in Choroni, Venezuela I co-opted this pic from Google…and yes it is even more breath taking when your feet reach these sandy shores…..

Let me know when your ready to make your own footprints!!!

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Political Culture

Que Pasa?
~ Venezuelans from all walks of life are very vocal about their government regardless of affiliation - supporter, opponent, or partial supporter ~
~ Typically upper class against Chavez & poorer communities support Chavez but there is also sizable percentage of people that do not fit into these categories ~

Latest Issues
~ Recent Water & Electricity Rationings which vary greatly depending on the city or even the building u live in – debate if b/c environmental constraints and/or governmental negligence ~
~ T.V. channel switched from public to cable station – debate if b/c public station policies and/or anti-Chavez sentiment aired on station ~

Mo’ Info: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/ (pro-Chavez); http://english.eluniversal.com/ (maybe anti-Chavez)

Best sources are in Spanish let me know if your interested!***************************************************

~ Abrazos ~

Soljourner

p.s. Sorry pictures of the mini-dragon (aka - 4 foot iguana) that crossed my path and inflated its head and stared me down as if I was a predator did not come out...there may be other encounters and I'll be ready (1st thought won't be to run the next time around...hopefully)!!!