HOla John,
Would you believe we finally made it to Venezuela?  In Bonaire we saw a short and iffy weather window to go east so we dashed off. I had my doubts with all the Tropical waves coming but Gary turned out to be right and we safely made a beeline for Puerto La Cruz.  It was a three day motorsail with only one day in bouncy conditions.  

This marina complex (Bahia Redonda for $240/month including water and electricity) is going to be posh living for us - large swimming pool and patio area in front of the condos, a small grocery tienda, small marine supply stores, a laundry, offices and a restaurant to be completed next week.  The down side is that the complex is on the edge of a barrio where it is supposedly not safe to walk, though some of the guys around here say they go out.  Don't think I will test it out.  Off in the other direction though is a very nice Venice-like development with interesting homes and condos, a resort and shopping mall.  So I can kayak off in that direction.  The taxi cabs are cheap ($5 an hour or $2 for a ride downtown) and they pick you up in the marina.  Downtown Puerto La Cruz (haven't been there yet) is safe to wander around.   
The money here is going to take some getting used to.  The exchange rate is 2100 Bolivars to the dol lar.  But the travel agencies give you the black market rate of 3800 Bs to the dollar.  So when you change $300 all of a sudden you are a millionaire.  Food is pretty cheap and rum - a bottle of good rum is $4.00.  
   
We haven't quite figured out the Chavez thing yet - people seem to either think he is a saint or they want to shoot him.  Our taxi cab driver today praised him for all the wonderful things he is doing in the country, building sports stadiums, hospitals and distributing the money to the people instead of the corrupt politicians.  Other people have told us he is ruining the country, driving out businesses and messing up the food availability.  The lady at the little market here in the marina told us you can't buy milk in the stores anymore because Chavez is giving it all away to the poor people in the barrios.  She hates Chavez.  Gary was ready to leave the country if he can't buy milk.  But our jolly taxi cab driver, Andres, found it for us at the big grocery store so looks like we will stay for the summer.  The only really bad thing so far are the mosquitoes.  Too many of them.

Hope you are having a good start to the summer.  It is going to be an interesting hurricane watch this year.  Somewhere I read that 1933 was the last time a hurricane reached Venezuela.

Salud,
Teri and Gary 

 

Hey guys,

 

Great to hear from you Teri.  I'm always impressed with Gary's sailing savy and how the two of you always arrive in some exotic landfall, usually with adversity but arrive you do.  Things have been hectic here with the site and other things, some of which I've shared on my blog.  Check out John's Musings for the latest version staring you.  Keep your e-mails coming and above all keep safe.  Interested in learning more from the depths of away, that place where we all seem to want to go.

 

Take care,

JB