New year in heaven

Travelogue NEW YEAR IN LOS ROQUES
(selenemazzei@libero.it)
The protagonists of this Archipelago affascinantissimo
SELENE LUCA & J Travel Period 30 December 2005 L-7 January 2006
Abstract: E 'stato un viaggio fully programmed by us .. though for two weeks ... the destination has been very uncertain for the thousands of ideas and continue to Selene, California, South Bay, St. Maarten, St. Thomas ... .. Cancun Antigua and then .. Bahamas ... in short ... you'll see who loves to read and look at multiple sites as possible .. regard to travel!
Only after days and days, gone to comment on the many travel diaries, LOS ROQUES, we have chosen to live a different holiday from the usual distance from the ice for New Year's Eve, but also and above all to live like Roquegni ... without the luxury but only of the sea!

 

the Alarm will sound for a second and a half hours to 4:45 am, as ever this time we wanted to hear your sound! The sky is white, it's very cold ... arrived at Linate we realize that the mileage files to check-in is huge ... So the only way out is to do your check-in desks reserved for the passengers with hand baggage . We booked the tickets with departure from Paris via LINATE CARACAS, led by Alitalia and Air France (the only one that would have enabled us to take the next flight to LOS ROQUES in time ... do not be 'just so'!) The excitement was now a thousand ... the memories of holidays past accompany us ... but we do not realize yet that our desire is to ... fulfills the warm New Year! Hours are 6:50 ... The party landed at Charles de Gaulle in Paris was not his best, very nice ... but it is immense and very disorganized. Starting with more than an hour's delay! Overcome the various problems boarding at 12:00 pm we lifted in the air. We arrive at the International Caracas at 16.30 expect to Luis's the boy who takes care of receiving the customers of dell'Acquamarina to transfer to / from the National Airport (approximately 3 km). Luis Posada was working for the Aquamarine for some years, very sociable, disponibilissimo to answer our questions ... and also very nice. But back to us ... It's time to bring back 5 hours of the clock. Unfortunately, as we had imagined, flew to LOS ROQUES the back up. A Gran Roque there is no lighting so the last part almost always air before 17.00 from Caracas ... between the delay of Air France, the Customs and lots of exit controls, we missed the plane. Then come together in a hotel in the Port Area of Caracas, an area infamous than ever, hotel miserable, our pension in Italy would be a luxury. The nervous ... it was now ... but the stars do? It was not our fault ... we expect rilassiamoci ... 6 days to LOS ROQUES! We did not lose heart ... we immediately called the uncles and cousins in Caracas, so passing a beautiful evening ... accepted between kisses and hugs (typical Italian environment!), Good red wine, cold cuts and various ... dinner ... Do not Venezuelan you can imagine our face when we stopped for a moment to make gasoline in Venezuela ... full of gasoline costs even 1 euro! So the water costs more than gasoline!

Punctual as a clock ... Luis comes to us at National is 2 km from the International. We pay the entry fee for Venezuela, the luggage weight (remember that in the case vs. the baggage weighs more than 10Kg will be paid a fee of $ 1 per kg in excess) and we board a small plane over the years' 60 ... better not talk about it ... I do not think too much ... ... the landscape below you will go all strange idea ...
The islands of the 'archipelago of LOS ROQUES are visible after 20 minutes flight from Caracas and' Time to turn on ... the cameras and video cameras to capture this wonderful scene that aims before our eyes UN PARADISO too hard to describe the crystal clear sea ... , tiny atolls tongues of white sand ... Atterrimo on the island, on a road full of holes, the hole from the front wheel during landing and fortunately we have not noticed anything ... JJ
The first thing that makes us laugh is the control tower ... a kind of cabin anchored on a pickup truck ...
The first to welcome us Ismael is the Manager of Posada that we are meeting with a small cart to carry luggage up to Posada, pay the entry fee of 29,000 Bolivar to the National Park of LOS ROQUES declared in 1972 for its beauty and importance ecological. We head towards the Posada. LOS ROQUES is an archipelago of Venezuela, located in the Caribbean Sea at 100 km from La Guaira, the port of Caracas. Gran Roque is the only inhabited island of the archipelago, the inhabitants of the place Roquegni are extraordinary people and a unique kindness, always a smile in spite of the shift is not very good from an economic point of view ... but despite all the their world. In the village are concentrated essential services the airport, a medical center, school, watermaker and tourist facilities (in addition to the posadas, a restaurant, several bars and shops), apart from the landing runway there is asphalt, the streets are all of sand and clay. The only way we will see the motor in the entire vacation is the one for waste collection and water distribution.
In addition to the typical Caribbean houses from very light pastel colors, there are the so-called Posada, a mixture of Bed & Breakfast and Mini Breakfast designed specifically for tourists. There are also facilities of any Italian, very neat and probably more suited to meet the expectations of customers coming from our country, in some cases have left the administration after a Venezuelan children who live on site. We head towards the posada. After months and months of waiting we finally arrived! We are in our Posada Aquamarine, nice, very simple rooms consist of a bed, a minibar, TV, mosquito net over the bed (very important!) And a simple bathroom with shower and hairdryer.
The owner of the Posada, named George, in our week in LOS ROQUES, we have never seen, but we have heard much. Mr. Giorgio said earlier as he left the entire management of a local boy Ismael, a great young man assisted by a team of incredibly brave people too all of the place. The air that you breathe in Posada is very familiar ... Joseph, another member of staff Joseph (Venezuelan Baresi but with parents), accompanies us in room for wearing the costume now ... ... It is only by thinking about sunscreen the usual recommendation read many ... times to give due attention to the sun in LOS ROQUES is fundamental, because they live outdoors all day and at the end of the day there could be surprises embarrassing) Ingrid Meanwhile, the cook preparing our lunch in plastic trays simple but tasty! From the first, second, fruit and afternoon snack .. that delight! All the staff people do this to make us feel good .. and especially do not miss anything! Gran Roque from the other islands are accessible by boat at a time between 5 minutes and more than two hours, depending on sea conditions and the type of boat used. The nearest equipped tourist and obviously more crowded - even if talk of overcrowding in LOS ROQUES is a big words! - Francisqui and are connected to the Madrizqui Cayo Pirata by a tongue of sand. As before we decide island under guidance of Joseph to go to the island Madrizquì visible from the port of Gran Roque, admire the beauty of this island ... go down and the one who accompanied us had the task to get off the "quarry" (refrigerator), to place the umbrella and to lay the spiaggine! Served and revered! The island? A performance and fine white sand ... long and tortuous, winding between the clear turquoise waters and fish of every color and size, ... with huge shells in the Paguro ...

Remained for about 20 minutes to capture the beautiful scenery with the best technology we could have in our hands, we relax in the sun. Of course we can not lose the scene ... that combines the island of Cayo Madrizquì al'isola Pirate reached on foot by a thin tongue of sand. This island is rich in vegetation, made purely from fishing shacks, not by chance while we walk we see the immense metallic immersed in water full of lobsters. Back on the sand Madrizquì give us a bit of relaxation at the end of the fatigue was beginning to be felt and before we had all night to spend New Year. Let's go back in the late afternoon on the island and here we notice another peculiarity of Aquamarine Posada, Ingrid Chef every evening around 18 hours produces a very good pizza and Pop Corn with butter! It also take advantage of getting to know other tourists in the posada will soon become a big family, because you are together from morning to night! At 19.00 hours we are ready to toast the New Year Italian eh gia! in moving the hands forward to 5 hours is the new year ... and then in Italian vacation in LOS ROQUES Celebrates 2 times! Dinner is at the door and the staff of the posada to better prepare the table and the food ... Ingrid exceed this time the best chef .. ravioli with sauce and shrimp, lobster, wine and fresh fruit will face ...! It is midnight and arrived as the best way to celebrate if not all together on the terrace above ... fireworks ... ... under a beautiful starry sky and a bright moon! Unfortunately, the eyes start to feel tired ... the batteries are drained and then good-hours go to bed.

The next morning the village is still under the residual alcohol and many people in very dangerous conditions ... ... trying to return to their homes. The Venezuelans generally drink as sponges ever seen before ... from morning to evening, rum, whiskey, beer without interruption!
The day after all is very good, we decide to go to Cayo Muerto, imagine 10 people on a long (full size) 30 meters wide and 10 steps, without a minimum of vegetation, only sand ... if not this is a paradise!
They looked like refugees .... But landed on a tiny dot of island! The evenings are very short for us there are 2 or 3 shops ... a few bars and clubs on the beach very chic ... only this offers LOS ROQUES by nigh!

A rare thing happens all over LOS ROQUES it RAINS...!
The afternoon, however, although the sky was covered, we started the same direction Cayo Fabian, so equal to Cayo Muerte who just arrived we thought that the Captain had been wrong. Unfortunately the sun was not even the shadow but the water had a particular point so that Luke did not hesitate even a minute to get a po 'snorkeling.

The next morning, 3 January 2006, the situation regarding the rain ... even worsens and more, Luke has had to turn up their sleeves to drag the water out on the road, practically everything was flooding ... luckily the doors of the rooms are protected by seals, at least had them ... safe!
An incredible sadness ... go to LOS ROQUES Caribbean pearl peck and rain for a day and a half!

Fortunately, January 4 2006 starts with a spectacular dawn! Selene with Giovanna and Edit also the guests of Posada decided ... to wake up to 6:20 to watch the rising of the sun but not from the beach as any person could do ... but 'through the back of a Montagnetta Faro! ... Unforgettable experience say it was a photograph from the continuous total darkness ... the rising of the sun! Admittedly it was very hard ... because having rained all night we met hundreds and hundreds of pure pure ... but we have done and 7:15 o'clock ... we have seen this scenario ...
Fortunately there is blue sky and a hot sun! Today we start to Noronquises, about 25 minutes away from Gran Roque, but they are worth all the gold in the world to see a scenario that by the end of the holiday will be in our opinion the most fascinating island of all those we visited. A cove full of corals, fish and sea, in the distance you see and feel the waves breaking on the reef ... but what strikes us most is the silence and relaxation, only the sound and light waves the wind ... The only negative pecca LOS ROQUES, are the mosquitos and the pure pure, transparent and tiny insects that bite like mosquitoes. These insects are found on islands with vegetation that is why we strongly suggest staying away from those islands if you do not want to spoil the holiday. The evening to the island we met people who seemed to see them ... they had chickenpox care not to get closer to the mangroves, you are literally assaulted.
The only remedy to all this is stay in the water! On the sand you can see glaring and numerous lizards black as coal, in addition to the usual small crabs ... also by pulling out a beautiful shell with inside a mollusk Paguro a huge ... ... we leave on the shoreline and anxiously await the its release ... unfortunately the wait is in vain, for only a few seconds came to our eyes! How come every night le17, 30 this means the arrival of Captain which is to recover ... let's go back to Gran Roque.

5 January 2006 Unfortunately, we go out by boat to Isola Saquisaqui direction towards the horizon but the sky was black ... not by chance, arrived the island the wind suddenly changed direction and the clouds that you saw in the distance, slowly approached to us that without thinking about it ... 2 times we decide to return to Gran Roque ... and here began another day of sunshine ...
But after lunch the sun back ... to stop! Yes again ... but without going far away again to accompany Madriski! Our stay in Gran Roque is playing at the end ...

decide, well, pass it to the board of Catamaran Levante fortunately time is on our side. This fantastic experience that everyone should have a price of $ 50 per person, includes three islands + lunch at the restaurant! The first step is Noronquises wow's our favorite, the catamaran stops off and allows us to immerse ourselves in the crystal clear waters ... beautiful!
After about an hour Sailing time to another island: Crasqui ... an island of serenity and solitude where the sea is particularly transparent. Fresh fish, salad and the mythical (and typical) EPAN croquettes for lunch!
The ristornante is very special, is only 2 meters from the beach and offers lobster, fish at will ... and finally ... relax ... on the beautiful colorful hammocks! But the main protagonists over the fish are very good ... the parrots! The afternoon is drawing to a close ... ... you climb back on board all of the catamaran ... During the voyage towards the island of Rabusquì on the transparent bottom is beginning to see the starfish! fitted with masks we dive to explore the seabed, the feeling was more beautiful touch ... and be photographed with a huge starfish in his hand!
A heavy heart we, in return posada ... accompanied by a beautiful sunset that will remain forever in our hearts like the whole holiday. In the evening as the last dinner on the island, we regard the ultimate luxury ... still eat lobster!

Unfortunately, the morning of January 7 with tears in his eyes ... salute our fellow adventure ... The legendary family of Lugano - Giovanna, Carmine and their beautiful children and Tilua Zoe - and Edit (Hungaria Grande .. Manager of wonderful chocolates! !) and the whole staff of Posada. The memories of LOS ROQUES will live forever in our hearts ...! We get up in the air at 10 Caracas direction ... we have the time to review from all the beautiful islands of that show ... ... with polished eyes and sad ... we were able to laugh ... to the fact that the pilots photographed from islands with their digital cameras and even mobile phones!
Once in Caracas, sadness takes possession of us ... a very long silence accompanies us throughout the journey. Selene can not hold the tears would stay ... it is thought to have returned to the office, traffic, and above all Milanese to the temperatures of 0 ° rigid! We start from Caracas after numerous checks ... always with Air France flight with about 40 minutes late. We will remember forever the sea of silence ... that has accompanied us throughout the week, the warmth of the people and the beauty of all the islands, the sunsets of unparalleled ... the diving pelicans that hit as air, water rushed to eat fish transparent ... just the fact that they returned again with jeans, sweaters, scarves and shoes were once synonymous with sadness. The flight path runs quiet even if arrived in Paris late we notice that they have lost their connection with the return flight to Milan - Linate (note that the check-in had the gia 'fatto in Caracas, and nobody has even made an announcement !) as the airline Air France want to just leave! Fortunately, a gracious hostess Italian we can embark on an Alitalia flight direct to Malpensa at 11.00, over the Alps and see the snowy mountains, it's a bad feeling when you consider the fact that only 12 hours before he had to Caribbean, 30 degrees, the sun. This unfortunately is the life, the important thing is to be aware that he spent 8 beautiful days in a beautiful paradise, and fortunately still untouched. Photos and videos made in the time used to dust the memory of LOS ROQUES ... a wonderful memory of some worth to visit and who knows ... maybe one day return!
Expenses incurred for travel
We have spent $ 120 a day and had everything we say and all inclusive, breakfast, dinner, fridge with lunch when we went to the islands, New Year Eve dinner with a bottle of champagne per couple. Not to mention dinner! Ingrid Chef, has worked for many years at a renowned Italian restaurant in Caracas and is a true magician of the stove every night we ate fish almost strictly fresh daily, simple but very good dishes, spaghetti with seafood, lobster, tuna. After dinner we had available Rhum, fruits ((dall'anguria mango, passion fruit ...)) and then the wine and wine ...! Mmm a good Chilean wine is white that the red!
$ 50 a head for the day catamaran
€ 1200.00 to head for the flight, A / R Paris-Milan-Caracas $ 120 + A / R to Caracas LOS ROQUES
Recommendations
Protective cream very high 40-60 --- Flip-flops and no heels (((like someone ... in posada!)) --- Pareos and costumes at will ---- Camera and camera to immortalize the paradise!