Venezuela and "Los Roques": the queen islands of the Caribbeans

 

Arrival in Venezuela

Venezuela ... Venezuela is ?..... no?
How easy it is to guess the decision has resulted in the departure of June 28.
This year the goal of our trip / vacation was almost chosen just returned from the previous summer, but the indecision due to concerns "exhausting" as the danger of the country and then the stress of having to be careful every second of the trip to ourselves and our things, and money, it has blocked for a while 'time. I tried to steal as much information as possible on the internet and on various forums and has triumphed in the end a nice "Who cares" and is therefore the hunting of game ticket was cheaper, the search has been exhausting (as always) but l ' We checked with 648.00 euros at CTS, Airportugal Tap flight from Rome with a stopover in Lisbon, we bought the tickets 1 month and a half before departure, a period in which I have contacted several people who had and were about to make our own itinerary. A greeting and thanks to Linda di Trento and her boyfriend Simon of Rome!

The itinerary was as follows:

28 / 6: Rome - Caracas - Ciudad Bolivar
29 / 6: Ciudad Bolivar - Canaima
30 / 6: Canaima - Salto Angel
1 / 7: Salto Angel - Canaima
2 / 7: Canaima - Ciudad Bolivar - Puerto Ordaz - Caracas
3 / 7: Caracas - Los Roques until 11 / 7

After countless e-mails exchanged with his wife Beatriz and holder together with the Energy Cosimo tour, www.energytour.com, (Agency of Ciudad Bolivar) excursion, and we set prices on Canaima and Salto Angel, and I must say that we were satisfied and the reliability of them.
We then contacted Andrea della Laguna Posada in Los Roques and booked our 9 days in paradise!

At this point everything was ready, indeed, almost, we did one thousand tests in preparation for luggage, as for internal flights especially to Los Roques told us all to take a maximum of 10 kg and so we did.

Ti ti ti ti tiiiiiiiiii, svegliaaaa!
4.30 hrs in the morning, fly to 6.50, so say for alarm because I have not closed eyes unlike the ronfava my boy ... ....
We left on time and arrived on time in Caracas, we met a family who was returning by plane for a month in Venezuela to find the relatives, we chatted a bit with his mother in Venezuela we confirmed the dangers of Caracas inviting us to take away anything could attract attention as rings, bracelets, watches etc.. but we are from the good guys had already dressed, even the most sober as possible and without the "decorations" on him.
Arrived at the airport we made a long immigration queue medium where we handed the sheet filled with our data that is distributed by air, and we answered questions like "where to go? How long will you keep? What is the reason for the trip? "Outdated immigration we retrieved our luggage (which have received happiness!) To understand where they went out we saw were concentrated where the people who were in the air with us because there was no statement that indicated the tape delivery. After passing the customs we have finally come out and be in addition to the many taxi drivers in search of tourists chickens was also sympathetic Felix of Energy on foot accompanied us to the terminal for domestic flights which is 300 meters, have not yet built a passageway to go from one terminal to another, but we were told that they will ...
Felix helped us to check in, we paid the taxes Internal flights (you first check in and then you go to the cashier to pay) and changed to black at 300 Bolivar in 2600, but later we understood that the euro for them and that we could have very well just change U.S. dollars at the same exchange grrrrr!

The flight to Ciudad Bolivar was scheduled for 19:30 pm but there was a delay of two and a half hours and I assure you that with the time zone on the shoulders was very difficult to keep your eyes open until that hour, plus at 19.00 was the sun and it was dark outside pesto !
After not even a planned stopover in Puerto Ordaz, we arrived at CB 23.00. There was Cosimo to expect, we have to Laja Real, which is practically in front of the airport. This is one of the best hotels in the area (say a 4 stars, ahahaha) is fine for a night, especially when it becomes a director does not have even more forces to remove their shoes!

Caracas - Canaima

Of the night I do not remember anything, only that we are literally fainted then rested enough to imagine ... ...
Ti ti ti ti tiiiiiiiiii, svegliaaaa! Ore 6.50, at 7:30 a.m. Meet at reception with Cosimo us back in the long route (100 meters) at the airport while waiting for the air .. ops, I meant the model of a plane, so small and light that was almost better as ornaments at home ... .. We do breakfast at the bar sitting at the table, an old woman takes us milk and coffee with a half turn straw after which Cosimo balance the residue of the cost of movement, and we embark on that "nice" trabiccolo.
In one hour we arrive at Canaima, the landscape that has slipped under our very eyes during the flight was beautiful and green, we had a lagoon and waterfalls, and we realize that we are truly in Venezuela!
Once landed and dropped from the model we see but not hear, at least I am temporarily deaf, the noise of the engine rimbambita me, but now we come to meet a guy who calls the name of the posada Wey Tepuy (in the distance but I have heard), SIII our posada, are we are we! And here to help by deafness which probably made us make the gestures and grimaces unspeakable: ERNESTO, our angel - a guide that first made us see how it regains hearing and then told us a little 'what do for two days.
There's been a change of program, we start immediately to the Salto Angel, the weather is good, so we have half an hour of time to prepare a backpack with the need for the night in a hammock, light clothing for the crossing the "bote" or the boat, and deliver our luggage to the posada. This event!
Together with other 3 girls and a pair of Norwegians are going between the lanes of the village land, and in turn we see a few people, silence reigns supreme in this remote corner of the country, the only way to reach Canaima is by air, tutt 'about nature, only nature is fantastic.

The rise on the river and then Carrao Churun is truly impressive, the landscape of countless tepuis us think of a primordial nature, the color is burgundy, clear in some places near the banks where the sand is pink, this triumph immortalized natural first in our souls and then in the camera. We have lost the knowledge of the time, no clock there raccapezziamo more, even the natural biological rhythms give nod of operation, so this is fine, and when we Ricapito a sense of gender ?!...
The navigation was about 3 hours, we arrived at camp a few minutes to prepare and share a walk "el mirador Salto Angel."
We beccati a lot 'of rain, the "escalation" to me that I was not coached was tiring, especially the last part where there is practically climbing, but I probably have the usual Imbranato because the group that had walked with us as goats wearing the slippers-shoes ... I had the boots trekking pensate un po '....
However, once you are up there by Jesus Christ, the waterfall is present in all its grandeur especially when the clouds moving from the top, the panorama is extraordinary and the mosquitoes take advantage of our distraction for us many samples of blood, cursed! Are vaccinated against Autan blue, nothing to stop!

Once back down, and do not pretend that making the path to the contrary (alone) we have been afraid to be wrong road, points of reference that I had taken to same, the return did not arrive maiiiiii and meanwhile the sun 's was more, there were moments of panic not manifested among us but in the end, the nose and the sense of orientation of my boys have brought us to the destination. I said, when they get back down we had a pseudo shower, the water does not come out, and then we eat by candlelight because the camp is not electricity, was also very relaxing chat with others with the substrate thunderous noise of the rain. The night passed in quiet hammock is needed are socks, a pair of long pants and a sweatshirt, and if you can take away the covers that give you even better in the air, we have been very useful.

Salto Angel - Canaima

Day 3

Are 7.00, we wake up ready for breakfast at the base arepitas (fried corn pancakes) from stuffing to taste with jam or with a preparation with egg, onion tuna maybe? mah ....
Return to bote, beautiful, beautiful, the pure pure were with us in a boat without a call, we have made the legs with polka dots, the itching has made us crazy, but you may still not have invented a chemical to kill these cursed insects?!
This day was devoted to the waterfalls of Canaima Lagoon, we were two of us with Ernesto, the others are parties to the posada and seems to Canaima there are foreign to us as well, this thing will impress.
The waterfalls are beautiful, walking behind the curtain of water that comes down with a force is incredibly exciting, tourists come here for an excursion day dall'isla maragarita, mostly Germans, and then to take a picture there is to do row ...
The day of sightseeing by boat and walk ended around 17:30, we have taken advantage to go into a souvenir of workshops in the village where you can buy various objects made of balsa wood, where the ladies who works these objects has kindly invited us to take place in front of the television to follow the world together!

Canaima - Caracas

The morning before leaving we took a last walk in the streets of the land of Canaima and at 10.00 we were sull'aeroplanino of Trasmandu direction Ciudad Bolivar.
Canaima leave with a heart filled with emotions, it would have been nice to stay still ...
In Ciudad B. we came to take a person of Energy that we have at Puerto Ordaz where we spent about 2 hours waiting for the departure of our plane to Caracas, the expectation was for fun, nothing heavy, we made friends with the children of one cafe in the waiting room of the small airport, there was more in the match Portugal - England, passengers and crew in a single chorus tifavano Portugal, we have also thrown us in the middle, but then the game is over and all are gone! But not our friends: Jefferson and Marielvis. We talked a lot of them and of our reality, their and our country, was an interesting exchange of thoughts that once again we have confirmed that travel is necessary to make the mind flexible and open to new things.
I ask all those who pass for that airport at least to try to communicate with these two guys who really do have a great desire to know what is different from their way of life even through the words.


Once in Caracas we are happy to review Felix!
The goal to spend the night is Macuto, a former seaside resort of the "Central litoral" a few kilometers from Caracas. The horrible stretch of road that goes towards Macuto, this part has been destroyed and the flooding of 1999, everything has remained as then, the sides of the road there are many huts or the ranchitos and pululare of people ... I do not know what to do, maybe just a walk or wait for buses overflowing linking various centers along the coast. The vehicles are in circulation means Scassa indeed ancient and old and most have a plaque on the top which says "taxi" but that taxi, I tell myself, do not taxi!, I am bewildered by what I see, I do not know if I should be What I imagined to find? I had a vision of poverty tangible, rationally but emotionally you know what is devastatane. The buildings crumbling one after another, many hotels were where caraqueños once spent their holidays. This is what one sees by scrolling windows of the car, we can not really imagine the damage that these people live.

The lady who accompanied us to told us that the area is quiet even though we do not make a good impression.
Finally in the room! It makes a terrible heat, after the shower we went there for dinner, choosing to eat in the restaurant across the street looking a little 'the local fauna in their old machines and decorated with a thousand lucette passed on the road with the music full volume.

Caracas - Los Roques

In the morning we see with Felix that brings us back to Maiquetía, then: check in with the company that Andrea della Laguna we had booked and again sitting waiting to leave for Los Roques!

We pulled in the second trabiccolo holiday, behind us there is an Italian family, mom dad and daughter, they heard it would seem to be the second time that they return to Los Roques, but frankly we have no interest in socializing, at least so far.
Home at last! We also nap despite the noise of engines and the open window where the co-pilot sometimes supports a hand.
Have gone almost 40 minutes, comes news, I hear the pilot talking to my colleague (we were seated immediately after them) I hope that you have not understood ... and instead, one of them turns around and says in English that a plane crashed on the runway of Los Roques to the airport is temporarily closed-porca miseria, I understood correctly? Ask confirmation to our fellow seated behind, yes, we understand it, turns around and returns back.
A thousand thoughts, but that plane is dropped? Is anyone hurt? And what we do? And we .. we have been waiting to open their eyes and find the clear sea of the Caribbean .... Hic hic!

Well, well, another landing, I would say great, eh eh it seems a good joke!
We come together with the assistance of Miss Jamaica, which has enabled us to check in, in another air at Maiquetía waiting for news (I must say that "the wait" was a constant in this holiday) and that is to kill the time? We do prepare a Arep very good but we have to swallow almost as we were again called for the departure, we run ... e.. Another joke, you have forgotten to do is fill the plane, that joke guys .... and you? It clearly FORWARD.

Va bè, I make it short, we arrived in Los Roques at 11.30, more or less. We saw the airplane fell, bisposto to a propeller of an imbecile who left Caracas has decided to try to land in Gran Roque, but he said bad, fortunately nobody was injured.

9 days in Los Roques

"THE ROQUE" (as they say) 9 DAYS.

What story there? the diaries that I read on the various travel sites are very descriptive and well made on this goal, then a little 'I will be repetitive but it is inevitable, Los Roques is so wonderfully repetitive!

The arrangement to Posada Laguna was very good, bravo Andrea and all his collaborators (bravo CICCIO!). We were all newcomers to the family companion in adventure, look at the coincidence, we have socialized bè for 9 days and intense, not only with them!

Francisque 'was the first beach touched by our feet ....

The most beautiful islands in our opinion between those views:

CARENERO
Cayo DE AGUA
Crasqui '
NORONQUI '

The 10 DAYS OF SEA PIU 'BELLI and DIVERTENTI THAT WE NEVER PAST, among friends and wonderful places found.

Our typical day in Los Roques:
breakfast together more or less the same now with the definition of the goal on time that day was different from that decided the night before, often shooting un po 'di cavolate about the wind, the sea etc.. but honestly for me was worth the other island!
At 9.30 am all ready to go to the pier, most days we have made the transfers with the boat "the furious" Bravo is the captain that the marinero "el Chino".
From 10.30/11 (depending on the distance from Gran Roque) on resting our weary limbs on the island up to 16.30/17 time when we came to shoot.
Of course, we abandoned all the equipment: pasta or rice, fruit, and the mythical "mordisquitos" wafers or chocolate or vanilla and water, coca cola and beer.
After a day "tiring" under the sun back into a beautiful posada where tiella pizza de hot no more waiting to be eaten by us poor hungry castaways!
Then, shower and meet around 19:30 on the terrace infested by mosquitoes to consume a drink made of "ron" and not only, at 20.00, the dinner took place after dinner again on the terrace for coffee and then started chatting with Output evening accompanied by super ciccio to drink (again!) on the beach.

And every day for 9 days was the case.
The islands are beautiful and deserted (apart from when we was there). I said before, Carenero is what we have appreciated more but because there is an addition to the beauty of the place .. THE MEAL prepared by local fishermen, fish caught and served just for the pleasure of our palates. Here we spent more time chatting and sipping of a stare that ron spaparazzati the sand. People who live there were initially suspicious, then with a little 'confidence very generous enough to show the newly-weds Tuscan perhaps rethink their house to return to Los Roques a room is available for them!

Crasqui talk about '?
Other island other lunch. Oh yes, I like the blend nature and food, up to a holiday godereccia!
"By Juanita" we had lunch the day when it was played the long-awaited match Italy - France, (we have the table in front of the tv!) Have joined our group and marinero the captain of the boat (that of posada) , Andrea Lagoon and of course could not miss that tifava ciccio France, alas.

Here we have reached the apotheosis: FISH (excellent) - pennica in hammock (and not only me!) - The ITALY HAS WON and we celebrated in this wonderful paradise of sea and sand!

Continue to fill pages and pages describing places and people there are really in the heart. Children, colorful houses and music, quiet and easy and informal atmosphere, Los Roques is so EVEN NOW.
We believe that the harmony created by other people who were with us at the posada has helped make the holiday as well as relaxing MOOLTO also FUN.

Just a note for anyone thinking of starting a closed box and then find themselves complaining that is sick to walk on their paths of sand in flip flops because the shower water comes out hot, and what comes out is small, because the lagoon is not an issue good smell, because the dirt is there and you see, because there is not a cabbage to be done if not go to sea on the day and sit on a puff on the beach in the evening ... in short, is not a place that everyone can appreciate.
There are thousands of things they need Gran Roque, and we all know this but for now this is reality and should be loved like that and not derided for what is lacking.

Gran Roque is a small reproduction of the Venezuelan reality, but without the shadow of crime, apart from the tragic single incident unfortunately happened in September, but remains far from the concept of delinquency. We like our friends known there, right at the lagoon we were shocked by the news, certainly deeply sorry for the couple protagonist of that tragedy and sorry for Andrea and consequently for the management of the posada. We would encourage anyone considering Los Roques for their holidays not consider it a dangerous place, all the stories published here about the great atmosphere that you breathe so let just from this condition and nothing else.

... And as always GOOD TRIP to who is and who to leave with his head never stops to travel!