After a great first year in Venezuela we decided to tour around a bit before heading home. The first part of the trip was inspired by the Griswold family vacation- We left Caracas with surfboards (instead of grandma) strapped to the roof of the car. We stopped at Colonia Tovar, Choroni, Chuao, the Henri Pittier National forest and El Limon, Morrocoy, Bejuma, and back to Caracas. The second part was Inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle's book "the Lost World". To see if there really were dinosaurs living on the Tepui's we flew to Ciudad Bolivar and then Kavak. We explored canyons, journeyed by indigenous canoe, and slept in hammocks at the base of Angel Falls- didn't find Conan Doyle's creatures but had an amazing time. Will try to do justice to each of the legs of the journey- enjoy!
Choroni and Chuao
There are many cool things about Choroni: The devil dancers, the chocolate of chuao, playa grande, etc. But first you have to get there! The road is this amazing snake of a thing that casually goes from two lanes to one around the blindest of corners. We were told that busses do not slow down on these corners- they just honk to let you know they are coming- it was awesome (but I'm thankful we were driving in on a wednesday and were missing the weekend heavy traffic.)
This is a two lane highway!
Choroni was groovy but a bit rough: most of their business is weekend beach goers so not a lot was open. We tried surfing at Playa Grande but the waves were a bit too big for our first try and Wilder and I got pounded.
The in town taxis were cool though- do it yourself additions to old cars that now fit more people- Wilder wants one for her first car.
It was in Choroni that we first saw the PAN shorts- more on these later.
Probably the highlight of this section of the trip was our walk to Chuao. You hire a boat in Choroni to take you over to the port of Chuao- (the actual town was 5k back because pirates would rob it otherwise- chocolate was once more valuable than gold). You can jump in a truck and get there in 10 minutes or walk- and we Isoms always can do with a good walk.
Big bugs along the way,
and fresh mangos falling out of the trees- they were delicious!
This is the church where they have been drying the cacao beans for... well a really long time. Word is the big chocolatiers in Europe try to get Chuao cacao for their bars.
Dare I say- this is one artistic photo I snapped of the fishing boats in Chuao.
Choroni and Chuao
There are many cool things about Choroni: The devil dancers, the chocolate of chuao, playa grande, etc. But first you have to get there! The road is this amazing snake of a thing that casually goes from two lanes to one around the blindest of corners. We were told that busses do not slow down on these corners- they just honk to let you know they are coming- it was awesome (but I'm thankful we were driving in on a wednesday and were missing the weekend heavy traffic.)
This is a two lane highway!
We stopped for a pee break and I kid you not this was perched on the side of the road by a stream- and I always thought it was in Paris!
Choroni was groovy but a bit rough: most of their business is weekend beach goers so not a lot was open. We tried surfing at Playa Grande but the waves were a bit too big for our first try and Wilder and I got pounded.
The in town taxis were cool though- do it yourself additions to old cars that now fit more people- Wilder wants one for her first car.
Probably the highlight of this section of the trip was our walk to Chuao. You hire a boat in Choroni to take you over to the port of Chuao- (the actual town was 5k back because pirates would rob it otherwise- chocolate was once more valuable than gold). You can jump in a truck and get there in 10 minutes or walk- and we Isoms always can do with a good walk.
Big bugs along the way,
and fresh mangos falling out of the trees- they were delicious!
This is the church where they have been drying the cacao beans for... well a really long time. Word is the big chocolatiers in Europe try to get Chuao cacao for their bars.
Dare I say- this is one artistic photo I snapped of the fishing boats in Chuao.
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