Parque del Este

Armed with a google map, the instructions to "not go towards Propatria", and 12 bolivares in our pocket for the metro fare we decided to head out for the day to Parque del Este. I mean- what could possibly go wrong?

 Of course I also had Wilder along as navigator so nothing could really go too wrong. I know I can't get too naive living here- Caracas is a dangerous city- but as Luca said to me the other day walking to school: "I haven't met any mean people here, everyone is really nice."
I thought about this as we walked to the metro and rode it three stops to the parque. We were the only gringos on the train (and it really cost 30 cents for all 4 of us to ride) but instead of feeling uncomfortable or on edge I felt just a part of the picture- saying my "buenos tardes" to anyone who would listen. I was also fully aware that a change of a few hours could make all the difference and to ride this metro late at night would be foolish- but in the middle of the day- it was all "chevre".

The parque:
What a treat- this place is amazing- people everywhere, most just strolling around but a fair amount are involved in some type of activity. Could be a game of soccer or baseball, could be yoga, we saw salsa dancers, and we saw these chaps- some form of martial arts that involved huge kicks followed by falling flat on the ground- somehow they wouldn't hurt themselves- rather just pop up and continue- Wilder and Luca were amazed.

This will be me some day... the dancers not the martial artists

 I have never been a huge fan of cages but there were quite a few birds on display... and reptiles, and monkeys, and otters, and a beautiful jaguar. All fun to see so close up.

Was trying to catch how loud these birds are- but they must have got stage fright when I started filming

 And who doesn't love a good ship? Luca couldn't believe we were not able to go climb around on it. Nice view of the Avila in the background too don't you think?

In the metro on the way home- Lisa sees her new favorite snack- plantain chips- hey when you can't eat wheat you gotta get creative.

RUM! (beer tasting part 2)

In life when one has the opportunity arise to learn more about different cultures and world history then one must really make sure to seize that opportunity and learn something. 

It was with this in mind (the bettering thru education of myself) that I agreed to join Lisa at the Rum Education night- put on by the very knowledgeable Captain Aland. Think of the homework this man has had to do to know so much about rum!

It seemed simple enough: we would hear about the history of sugar, sample some bottom shelf varieties, learn the history of rum, sample some middle shelf varieties, hear something about pirates and the British navy, sample some top shelf... you know I kind of lost the thread there- where were we?

The set list.

 So what did I learn: well this won't make me sound like much of a connoisseur but I learned Rum tastes pretty good mixed with coke. The rest of my nights education fit more into the Fact vs. Not really so much a fact Categories (and yes I did take notes)

Here you go: (try to read this in Dwight Schrute's voice)
Fact: Muslims invented sugar
Fact: Christians made it popular. Advertising! you know, the crusades and all.
Fact: Sugar is sweet- and you need lots of it to make Rum.
Not really so much a fact: If you like sugar you are a bad person. Well considering the stories of one armed sugar workers and it's influence on the slave trade... I guess you are a bad person- sorry.
Fact: Columbus was just looking for a patch of land to grow some cane.
Fact: The Caribbean is a great patch of land for growing cane.
Fact: One of the byproducts of sugar is Molasses. Some choose to use this to make cookies, some to make Rum- you guess who makes more money.
Fact: Rum makes more money than molasses cookies.
Fact: Rum used to be used as currency (cookies were never used as currency)
Fact: The word comes from pirates who were always being "rumbunctious" when they went into town. (okay so that was not really a fact... but funny- thanks mike s)
Fact: bottom shelf rum is not for sipping- yeeow!
Fact: The American Revolution was caused by rum. (okay I might not have heard that one exactly right)
Fact: If you put a little good rum on your hands and rub them together they will catch on fire.

Okay at this point I realised my notes were becoming less than accurate- Lisa corrected me that what was actually said was your hands will smell of butterscotch or something.

But it was nevertheless a wonderful evening of rum tasting, continuing to get to know the eclectic fun staff here in Caracas.

Thanks Captain

this was my tables clear favorite- both for taste and cool label.

Before the night begins- when there is order on the ship!

and after- another group of teachers have been taught by captain Aland

Venezuelan beer.

More variety than Wal Mart.

well a very small, poorly stocked Wal Mart... in a dry county.

I recently had the pleasure of being a participant in a truly educational weekend. Friday night: a guide to the beers of Venezuela. Saturday night: a history of Rum. Before moving here I was made aware of some enlightening writing about living in Venezuela. The Blog is called Fino Cambur- cool banana, and you really should check it out. I attached the post I had first come across before moving here.

fino cambur beer review

As you can imagine- I was quite excited to be invited to the second showing of this beer tasting- having taken part in a few Colorado microbrew tastings I did consider myself somewhat an expert on beer. Well that is to say I really like beer.

We gathered up multiple cans of each of the countries finest-and here are the results:

So much good beer you just have to close your eyes to keep from getting too excited.

These are not faces that are exactly looking forward to drinking so much high quality beer.

Michael, Adam, Sean, and Nadjib were the returning veterans from the first years tasting- they had the grim look of men who knew they had a hard job ahead of them- like coal miners on an elevator. Mike Simpson and I were the fresh newcomers (conveniently not photographed) who after both coming from Qatar were quite frankly just happy to be at a table covered in beer cans.

If one didn't know any better one might say "hey one of those looks to be the color of pee" .
Sometimes it is good to not know any better.

The results: After each type the comments would pour forth and here is where this post really just wrote itself. I also included the Adam Fox litmus test.

1. Regional Lite aka- cerveza ligera (translated: beer of the liger). "this looks at home served in a porceline cup" " simian urine"                                              Adam: "I liked it"
2. Polar Lite- "oh- super watery- no discernable taste" "really no difference to regional" "it's like you took budweiser and added 8 cups of water"                  Adam: "I liked it"
3. Solera Lite- "better (of the lites) as it is the least offensive"   Adam: "Like it"
4. Polar Ice aka cerveza suave (translated beer that will make you appear to be very smooth)- "its fruitier" "delightful" "it gets me on the middle of the tongue" Adam- did not like it.              Authors note- at this point of the tasting we were still not swirling the beer and spitting it out- Michael wouldn't let us do that on his dining room floor. So we were drinking most of it (all of it)
5. Polar Pilsner -"smells skunky... tastes like shit" "it is a bit chewy" "almost made me puke"                                  Adam: "I did not like it"
6. Regional Pilsner- "funky" "mmmmm, unnnnh for the first 3 seconds then its dissapointing" "I kind of like this cause it actually has some flavor"                     Adam: "I like it"
7. Zulio- "its like sunshine in my mouth!" "favorite can" "the can makes my hand look massive" for the record- the zulio can is the best looking and smallest.             Adam: "liked it"
8. Solera- (green can) "hangover waiting to happen" "questionable foam"   Adam: "I love it- my go to beer!"
9. Polar Lite with Lupelo- purple can (we think this is beer mixed with energy drink) "it smells like a fart" "that is creamy, bubbly, and disgusting" "superflat" "don't swill it" "I feel like I have a furball"           Adam: "I might like it if it makes me dance all night"
10. Destillo- cerveza ultra premium- "it actually has flavor- isn't that amazing" " not urine colored" " I wouldn't have a session on that but I would drink 2-3 pints.... actually I would have a session on that"                       Adam: "Love it"

We also tried 2 other beers but as they were not Venezuelan I didn't include- overall consensus was varied but Zulio and Destillo were clear favorites. To sum up the whole experience MSR put it well: It's all relative. Quite true- if this is all you have available then this is what you drink- just don't expect me to be bringing any home to replace my Dales Pale Ale.- next post will be on the other half of the educational weekend- the rum tasting!

and what does one do with leftover crappy beer? that's right: beer pong.

1000 bolivares, a backpack, and a vegetable market.

My friend Gary and I decided to walk to the Chacao market a few weeks ago because: a) we had a rough map printed out from google maps, b) it didn't look that far away, c) he figured if we ran into trouble they would go for me, d) I figured if we ran into trouble I could outrun Gary, and e) really- how hard could it be?

Well due to a significant navigational error on my part we got lost rather quickly- but somehow found ourselves in a major shopping mall. Being the savvy street wise world travellers we were... we took a cab to Chacao market- pretty smart eh.

This place was amazing- fruit fruit and more fruit- then vegetables, and I didn't even get into the pirated DVD's. Here is what I found for my 1000 bolivares (26ish $)

Asparagus, Bananas, Kale, Apples, Brocoli, Coconut, Eggplant, Carrots, Peas, Garlic, Potatos, Tomatos, Mangos, Pineapple, Mint, Chorizo, Hot peppers, Sweet peppers, Sweet potato, something I didn't know the name of, Coffee, Mushrooms, and ...wait for it- a bouquet of flowers for Lisa!

I was quite proud of myself- and yes we took a cab home too.

El Siete Mares- which is spanish for... The 7 Mares

After our initial beach trip we were ready for some more and the school was nice enough to provide a 3 day weekend at the end of our first month teaching. The fun part of being a part of an international teaching community is that the other teachers are an incredible resource when it comes to knowing places to go. After asking around and hearing the name Siete Mares a few times we figured "Done- lets go." 

What a treat- After a drive to and along the coast we swung into the mountains and then down a small canyon to the beach. The cabins all have hammocks and the beers are included- Innes was muy contento. We also had the bonus of going with our downstair neighbors Diane and Shane and their two boys Ryan and Justin- so good to get to know more good people from the Caracas hood.

Big plant or tiny children?

At first I thought these were Avacados, but alas they were just some unknown tropical fruit...and no I didn't eat any.

There was this statue up on a point a short walk away- so we had to investigate.

he seemed to be looking for something

found it

Justin, Diane, Shane and Innes

 Siete Mares is of course spanish for the 7 mares. Here below is the first one- it is just as nice as the other 6

The first of the Mares

Found this guy on the walk

 

Wilder- the jaguar whisperer

Not a shabby pool either

 

Lisa thought I really really liked the hammock as I stayed in this one for hours at a time- truth is- I couldn't get out and was too embarrassed to say so