Any Travels

The Republic of Venezuela is the sixth largest country in South America, but in variation its landscape rivals that of the much larger countries like Brazil and Argentina. In fact, comparing its geography really doesn't do it justice: the country is simply unique. Anyone who has ever seen a tepuis rising above Venezuela's Gran Sabana can testify that there's nothing really like it, anywhere.

Venezuela lies at the northern extreme of South America, bordered by Colombia to the West, Brazil to the South, Guyana to the East, and the Caribbean Sea to the North. In all, the country is just over 900,000 square kilometers and divided into 23 states. Its borders seem to hold all of South America in miniature: there are fine stretches of the Andes, huge areas of Amazonian rain forests, fertile plains known as llanos, miles of Caribbean shoreline, and even a small desert. The nation also has a few geographical superlatives, including the world's highest waterfall and South America's biggest lake.

Venezuela is as much a Caribbean country as it is a South American one. Parts of its shoreline could easily be mistaken for that of some paradisiacal Caribbean island, and at night the discos in Caracas come alive with rhythms from all over the Caribbean. If you looked under the earth, you might easily mistake Venezuela for an oil-rich Arabian country. The oil reserves are so vast, in fact, that from time to time engineers and surveyors drill in the wrong place by mistake, miles away from where they think they should be, only to end up finding oil anyway.

Because of its proximity to the Equator, Venezuela experiences few climatic variations. There are really only two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season lasts from December to April, the wet one from May to November. The average temperature is about 27C, but cooler temperatures prevail at higher elevations, especially in the Andes, where jackets are needed.

History
The Venezuelan people comprise a combination of European About 85% of the population lives in urban areas in the northern portion of the country. While almost half of indigenous and African heritages. Venezuela's land area lies south of the Orinoco River this region contains only 5% of the population. The indigenous people ranged from agriculturists to less advanced groups living on islands offshore. The first permanent Spanish settlement in South America--Nuevo Toledo--was established in Venezuela in 1522. However Venezuela was a relatively neglected colony in the 1500s and 1600s as the Spaniards focused on extracting gold from other areas of their empire in the Americas.

The Venezuelans began to grow restive under colonial control toward the end of the 18th century. After several unsuccessful uprisings the country achieved independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of its most famous son Simon Bolivar. Venezuela along with what are now Colombia Panama and Ecuador was part of the Republic of Gran Colombia until 1830 when it separated and became a sovereign country.

Much of Venezuela's 19th century history was characterized by periods of political instability dictatorial rule and revolutionary turbulence. The first half of the 20th century was marked by periods of authoritarianism--including dictatorships from 1908-35 and from 1950-58. The Venezuelan economy shifted from a primarily agricultural orientation to one centered on petroleum production and export after the first world war.

Since the overthrow of Gen. Marcos Perez Jimenez in 1958 Venezuela has enjoyed an unbroken tradition of civilian democratic rule marked by the military's withdrawal from direct involvement in national politics. Until 1993 when Rafael Caldera won the presidential election on a coalition "Convergence" ticket the presidency had passed back and forth between the country's main political parties Accion Democratica (AD) and the Christian Democratic (COPEI) Party.

Places to go:
Caracas
Situated in a valley surrounded by hills and densely forested mountain slopes, Caracas is a sprawling, heavily populated metropolis set in the shadow of a great wilderness. Its colonial district dates back to the 16th Century, and its museums house some of South America's greatest works of art, particularly modern. The suburbs are also filled with attractions; El Hatillo, to the south, is rich in colonial architecture, while to the north of Caracas are postcard perfect beaches thick with tanned skin and Caribbean sun.

The North West
The North West of Caracas has a long history. It was the region where Columbus first landed, and for many years towns such as Coro and Maracaibo (the 2nd most populous city next to Caracas) traded heavily with the Netherlands Antilles. The towns are distinct in their architecture and feel, though markedly different. Along the coast is one of Venezuela's most treasured seashores, Parque Nacional Morrocoy. The park has excellent beaches and numerous fine reefs for snorkeling and diving.


Isla de Margarita
For many Venezuelans, the ultimate vacation home is a place on the beach on Isla de Margarita. The island is about sits about 40km off the mainland and has a healthy population of about 300,000. Like the nearby islands of Bonaire and Curacao, Isla de Margarita enjoys a dry, desert climate. The capital city of Porlamar offers just about every modern convenience.

Andean Venezuela
People don't usually think of Venezuela when they think of the Andes, but the mountains sweep to the East at their northern end, penetrating well into western Venezuela. The peaks here are tall, striking, and plentiful, and they offer a full range of adventure and sporting options. There are actually two ranges of the Andes in the region. Sitting poetically between them is the old city of Merida, a university town with clean air and a bohemian culture. The school here is the second oldest in South America.

The North East
Venezuela's North East is where the nation's famous beaches reach their alluring heights: this is the Venezuelan destination for the sun wor- shippers and water lovers. Mochima National Park, a shoreline reserve of coral reefs, hundreds of islands, and beaches is one of the most scenic stretches of tropical shoreline in South America. The capital here is Cumana, which holds the claim of being the oldest town on the mainland.

The Guayana Highlands
The south east region of Venezuela is defined by the Guayana Highlands, named after the neighboring country to the east. Though many people have never heard of the area, many have seen photos of its most famous landmark - Angel Falls - the world's most vertiginous waterfall. The falls, however, are just one of many distinctive features in the area, which is also known for the Orinoco river and also its tepuis. Tepuis are huge sandstone mesas that rise thousands of feet about the Gran Sabana, a vast grassland.

The Amazonas
Like its name implies, the Amazonas is quite simply Venezuela's own stretch of Amazonian rain forest. The state is one the country's largest and certainly the most remote. It is home to many indigenous peoples, including the Yanomami - one of the most threatened and fragile cultures in the world. From the city of Ayacucho you can arrange for guided tours of the region, which abounds in flora, fauna, and cerros - the jungle's equivalent of the tepuis.

Culture

Roman Catholicism is by far the dominant religion in Venezuela, and has been adopted by most indigenous people - only those living in isolated regions still practice their ancient tribal beliefs. The Protestant church has a significant presence, and recently has been gaining some ground, attracting adherents from the Catholic Church. An unusual and obscure pantheistic sect, known as the Cult of Maria Lionza, exists in the northwest and combines pre-Hispanic indigenous creeds, African voodoo and Christian religious practices.

Spanish is spoken by almost all Venezuelans, though some 25 indigenous tongues are spoken by remote tribes. English is spoken by some people in urban centers.

Visual arts and handicrafts are popular in Venezuela, but the country's most distinctive cultural outlet is probably its music, which is an eclectic blend of European, African and indigenous rhythms. Theater is growing in popularity, and there is an active literary scene, especially among the younger generation.

The food in Venezuela is generally easy and flavorful. Caracas claims to have a greater variety of restaurants than any other South American city, and it would certainly be a pleasure to try and prove it, even if you failed. Venezuelan cooking has European, indigenous, and African roots - a heterodox cuisine formed over the centuries by immigrants. Some native dishes:
Pabellon - stewed and shredded meat accompanied by rice, black beans, and banana.
Hallaca - a traditional Christmas dish.
Cachapa - a type of sweet corn pancake served with cheese.
Arepas - a type of round cornmeal biscuit.