Venezuela Diaries

Indie Axford

First Saturday in Venezuela:

I’m sitting in an internet cafe in Puerto la Cruz which is the nearest townto Playa Colorada, where we are staying. I’m not sure where to start, I am having the most incredible time and Venezuela is amazing! The plane journey was fine, veeeeeeeryy long and all the flights were delayed (the internal

one in venezuela was the worst and very confusing,) but we made it there eventually! 24 hours of flying is good bonding time and we all got on really well. it was dark when we arrived and we were all complete zombies so we just ate and then went to bed.

The lodge is so cool, I have taken some photos but its hard to get a feel for what its really like... its really

open and everybody is lovely, we are sleeping together in an area upstairs which looks over the eating area, in hammocks!!! Breakfast is at seven thirty every morning so we were up for that the next day, really good pancakes and fruit and ceral and porridge etc its yummy!

We had a meeting with Brendan about general stuff like the lodge and the area etc.... then a guy called Luis took us to Puerto to show us how to get there on the bus. we have had 2 hours of Spanish class a day at 5.30 with our teacher Isaias (I don’t know if that’s how you spell it) which is very hard, but he’s a great teacher and has just been making us talk, doing conversation all the time and I think it’s the fastest way to learn!

On Wednesday Brendan took us on a walking tour of the local village which was really good, we got to go through one of the barrios (like slums, but not dangerous or anything) and it was cool to see how people live here, then walked up and over the mountains around – it is really beautiful here! That afternoon we took a motor boat out to see the island we are going to be working on. It’s stunning, but there is a lot of

litter and I can see that there is work to be done as the people obviously dont realise they are ruining it.

The next day we had more meetings, specifically about the beach project, and set targets and assigned roles - me and pip are the design team!!!!! We went to the beach that afternoon for a bit before Spanish, it’s so gorgeous! Don’t feel tanned at alllll yet though, but were off to the beach after this. So yesterday "the design team" went out to research the type of bins and noticeboard we are going to put onto the beach and bought paper, then designed them in the afternoon - Brendan took them to show the national park office! Then at around 3 me, Pip, Joe and Alex kayaked out to the island!!! It was quite challenging and I had no idea what I was doing but we got there! We took photos of all the rubbish and snorkelled a bit before going back. We also did a 30min hike at 6.30 up to the top of a nearby hill (so

unlike me) but it was amazing, the view at the top!! All over the bay and the village.. beautiful.

We stayed up late ish for the 1st time last night, and Venezuelans are crazy! I wasn’t drinking but it was still fun, I want to learn to salsa but I’m not sure if its going to happen! So up to now it has been amazing and so busy (although a lot of waiting around too, but I think that is the Venezuelan way!). I am loving it. Can’t wait to really get stuck into the clean up next week, but we are just relaxing this weekend. I think

I will be able to call home at some point because we got given 1 Venezuelan phone between us so I can put credit on that and it will be cheaper.

Fri

Hola

Is there still snow? It doesn’t seem real that there could be snow when it’s so hot here! Had a really nice 1st weekend just lazing and chilling out in the sun, there's another lodge like Jakera in the village and they had a party on saturday which we went to, Lots of fun! Plenty of rum!

Then on monday we got started with the proper project work, cleaning up Playa Melissa on the island and putting together stuff to promote not littering etc etc.... I have been doing a morning hike every day at 6.30 up a nearby mountain with everyone to get fit for the trek at the end, On Monday we kayaked out to the island (I know,  what an effort..... sore arms! But good fun) - and WE SAW DOLPHINS!!!!!! Really close up, it was amazing.

We cleaned up a lot of the rubbish on the beach - there is so much it's disgusting, bottles everywhere and nappies.... ewww. Then the same again on Tuesday when we finished the clean up and it looks so much better for it. We saw dolphins again that day! But further off. Then on Wednesday me and pip (the design team!) got all the materials for the notice board that is going to go on the beach and made it - I will take a photo to show you :) Oh! and we have been having 4 hours of spanish lessons a day instead of 2 ..... long story and a bit hard to concentrate for that long, but I think we are going back to two next week. I

dont feel like I can speak the language at all, and it is frustrating, but it is also amazing how much we have learnt in just one week - I know so so much more than I did!

Yesterday me Pip and Emma went into town to print off some photos of the beach for our notice board, but the whole of Puerto La Cruz had a power cutand we couldnt get much done.... so we just went and bought massive ice creams instead from this amazing Italian heladaria we found!!! So today we

are re-attempting the printing and then later we are going (by boat this time, thank god my arms can’t take much more!) to the island again to pick up all the rubbish and finishing off work for our presentations. We are doing talks about what weve been up to in 2 schools as well as presenting to the national park office, in SPANISH, so its pretty full on.... but we'll get there I hope!

I’m really excited about this weekend though - on Saturday we are driving to this 30m high waterfall and we are going to absail down it!!! Slightly terrified but I’m sure it will be amazing! Then a new group are arriving at the lodge so we are going to have a party. On sunday we're doing a day trip

to Playa Blanca – it’s supposed to be a gorgeous white sands beach on an island about 2 hours away from us by bus and boat! Which should be lovely. I will take lots of photos. So i wont be able to email again this weekend, but sometime next week or next weekend, I found an internet cafe with webcams.

Mon 25th

ON Saturday morning we went to the waterfall after breakfast! It was about a 30min drive from the lodge up into the mountains. We had to walk for about 5 minutes from the car and then we go to the top of the waterfall and I was SO SCARED – it’s 30 metres high! I made myself do it though and it was the most

amazing thing I think I have ever done. You come down right in the water, and it’s the best feeling ever when you get to the bottom! We all took loads of photos so I will try and upload them all sooooon. That evening we had a big party in the lodge because a whole group of new people were arriving

that night! It was such fun and glittery and there was lots of rum and

cervezas and dancing!

Then on Sunday (despite everyone feeling slightlyworse for wear) we went to a beach called Playa Blanca for the day – you have to take 2 busses and walk down a hill for about 40 m (we found out

later that we could have got a bus...) and then get a boat out to the island. It was so stunning and perfect -  bright white sand and clear water. We got a lovely lunch and I had a piña colada - yum yum yum!

That week started out a bit slow and on Monday we didn’t get that much done, but on Tuesday we did our presentation in a local school about the project we had been doing and why it is bad to litter etc - it was short but in Spanish so that was necessary! We all did really well though and the kidsgot really involved, we made a work sheet and on Friday we found out that they are now doing a project in school about rubbish!!!!!! So I think we made a difference.

On Wednesday evening we had a crash course in Merengue (a dance like Salsa but slower) which was very fun and very sweaty!

By Friday we had finished making the bin (with a lot of help from Manuel, a guy who works at the lodge) and in the morning I painted the front with leaves and trees. It looked really good! We laminated the notice board me and pip had made and put it under the welcome sign and took it all out to the beach in the afternoon to cement it in!!!!!!! So it’s all up and finished now, and it feels so good to actually see our work!

This Saturday we went shopping in the big shopping centre and had another

fiesta on Saturday for Roberta’s birthday!!! So much fun.

Flora McLennan and Margot Jaggy

Hola, comos estas? Es flora, we are having a great time here out in Venezuela, especially as we have great motivation from our guide govinda as well as from Chris at the camp who is really friendly and cooks amazing food. Today we were split into two groups, one painting la picina, which is an island with an abandoned graffitied building and the other taking a group of 5years olds on a trip out to the beach.

 I was in the group which took the kids out which was such an amazing experience as they were all really friendly and were willing to play with us in the sea and even referred to us as their addopted parents. Towards the end of the morning the kids and their teacher sang songs to

us and involved us in a sing and dance which was such a good end to a really rewarding morning. 

Today in our Spanish lesson we learnt verbs and had a game in which we had to construct sentences which was a great way to learn even though i think i need to do my homework and read up as I’m not very good with languages!

The camp is amazing we all love chilling in the hammocks and socialising before dinner, lunch and breakfast, yes we may have a lot of rice but then again we get pancakes for breakfast!

Heeeey!!!! This is margot now! Loving every minute of this!!!  I was in the group working on la piscinia today. We had spent the last week cleaning the trash from the beach and today our time was spent painting the building that is located on the island. It was originally covered in grafiti so we re-painted it White and made it look great! We are so excited to show off all of our work to the community and how them how much better things can be if you just put a Little effort in.

Govinder our guide was working so hard along side us and has been such a super person to have around. The second half of the day was spent in spanish class. Fun BUT HOT.  Now we are all just hanging out here and enjoying each others company with a cervezas and many many

card games. All our meals are always yummy although i do love rice so that is not a problema for me :). Cant wait to see what the coming weeks bring!!!! YAAYY VENEZUELA.

Mike Roberts

Hey Alice and Guy and co!

This is Mike from the Venezuela trip! Im kinda sending a group email and it’s proving difficult with this crappy internet in Puerto lol!

Just to let you know that we're all having an AMAZING time! Im glad we're doing the blogs now, its good to keep you guys updated with all our antics!

The weather is insane! Soooo hot then the LOUDEST thunder and lightening EVER in one day! Its awesome though!

The volunteer work is going really well, we've moved our presentation for the school children about la basura (rubbish) Woo.  I’m learning... slowly lol... to next Wednesday! We can’t wait! A few of us had the best day ever yesterday, playing with the local children on a local beach... they loved it as well!

Me, Leah, Elliot and Tom are heading to the Orinoco Delta for the weekend!! CANNOT wait!! Then a few of us are going to Angel falls next weekend! Its amazing!

The place we're staying at is really good, and we get on so well with the other students and Brendan and Chris! It's a shame Brendan had to go so soon after we met him!!

I can categorically say that ALL of us are having the time of our lives! We couldn't be any happier!

I also thought it would be worth a mention that we get on so well with Govinda, our team leader! He really is such a laugh and is helping us so much. Couldn't speak highly enough of the lad! Wouldn't say that to his face tho lol his head is plenty big enough as it is!

Next week we're on to helping out disabled kids and renovating a sports pitch! We can't wait!! :D

Anyhows hope to speak to you soon!

Ciao ciao

Mike and the team (¡La Equipe!)