Joke Royal 3:06 Wed Oct 14
Venezuela. Who's been?
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The official bank rate is 9.7-1 pound but the black market is 300-1 and peaked at 400-1 last week
So who's been? It's only dangerous near the Colombian border
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/i-lived-like-a-king-for-a-month-in-venezuela-on-100-euros-876
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Replies - In Chronological Order ( Show Newest Messages First)
Far Cough
3:08 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Yes La Guaira and Caracas, also Aruba and Curacao are not far away, the beaches on Aruba are sublime
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Driz
3:22 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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I am a four time visitor of Venezuela. It's fucking knarley and disorderly. Corrupt to the core.
Every night across Caracas you hear sirens, gun shots and reports of police beating the living fuck out of those who don't buy in to the dictatorship. Kidnapping, ransoms, muggery is all part and parcel of the experience.
That being said it has the most beautiful and spiritual landscapes... and the women. Holy shit smoking. Until they hit 30 and look 60!
On my last trip I befriended a trio of students and we went 'dancing' in some underground club out in the suburbs. Despite the sinister goings on, I had the fucking time of my life and didn't feel threatened once. Just keep your wits about you at all times.
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Your mum
9:41 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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I've been to isla margarita, an island off of the main land in the Caribbean, so not typical Venezuela & I'm sure more expensive.
Any way, was lovely, had a rum and coke on the go for 2 weeks straight. Anviersario Ron, thank me later!
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bruuuno
9:46 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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It's a shithole
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casual hammer
10:27 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Yeah
Mrs C H is from there. Got married on margherita island.
Been about four times, did the copa America in 2007, travelled through jungles, met indigenous people. Saw angel falls.
But bent and corrupt like no ones business...
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Joke Royal
10:32 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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All I'm after is sun and cheap beer
The corruption thing shouldn't affect me.
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On The Ball
10:34 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Go to Minsk in the Summer. Just spent about £50 in three days there.
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Far Cough
10:35 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Ball, not many beaches in Minsk are there?
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Joke Royal
10:36 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Belarus is the only country in Europe I've not been to
And Iceland
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On The Ball
10:59 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Go there then! Fly to Vilnius on the cheap, then get the train to Minsk for £12.
I had to decline an invite to meet the President on Monday. Gutted. Ate some lovely horse though.
Really wanted to squeeze Venezuela into my Central(ish) America trip next year but couldn't make it work. Hope you love it. Must say that I've lost my bottle when it comes to black market currency exchange though - did it around Africa a few years ago but it scares me now!
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TodorovRules
11:18 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Mrs is Venezuelan so go out there once or twice a year. Luckily she's from the part you're advised not to travel to, Tachira, right on the border with Columbia! It's actually not that bad but I've heard all the horror stories. She's been held at gunpoint whilst in a restaurant and her sister had the same once pulling up outside her house.
I've only ever been to the airport and hotel in Caracas, I've always been warned never to venture any further than that. Coincidentally i was with someone born and bred in Caracas this afternoon who took his family back for a holiday and left after 2 days as he didnt feel comfortable and booked flights to Margarita. Margarita is nice, there's some all inclusive type resorts which are quite safe. I did witness a carjacking/kidnapping late one night at a set of trafic lights though!
The people are some of the nicest you'll meet and the whole country really is quite amazing but also very unstable at the moment and crime etc is out of control. Most bars and restaurants have an armed guard outside, most of the gated housing complexes and hotels have the same.
I'm pretty much used to it now but you have to be alert at all times and everywhere you go. If you're just staying in a resort on the beach then I doubt you'd see any trouble or much of the locals from the barrios and have a great time.
Your money will also go a long way out there, everything is dirt cheap. Food and local booze is almost laughably cheap. You need to be extremely careful when changing your dollars or euros on the black market though.
I may be back out there in December for a quick visit before jumping across to Aruba/Curacao/Cuba.
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yogib
11:36 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Is this the Christmas Trip that was discussed with Si a little while ago Joe?
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Hermit Road
11:48 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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I haven't been there.
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On The Ball
11:52 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Just make something up, Hermit. Don't leave him hanging.
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Hermit Road
11:55 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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I went there once, I climbed a tree to pick my own coconut. When I got down there were five native women in a state of undress. They offered to cater to my every need as long as I agree to pick them coconuts on a regular basis.
The sea was nice too, except for the jelly fish, nothing a bit of piss can't solve though.
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Joke Royal
12:09 Thu Oct 15
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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TodorovRules 11:18 Wed Oct 14
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
Oddly enough in Manila you get armed guards at a lot of places ranging from an upmarket hairdresser to a nightclub to a 7/11 and even macdonalds
Yogib , Simon is off to the gay capital of America- San Fran
This is not a joke
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mr so & so
12:14 Thu Oct 15
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Mrs so so is from caracas. We used to go, no more though. It's fucked and dangerous. Like most of the posts on here avoid for now. I always liked at a nightclub for example where we here in the UK hand our coats into the cloakroom over there you hand your guns into a safe box. Was great when I used to go, beautiful country, beaches and girls are stunning too.
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Texas Iron
1:23 Thu Oct 15
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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100% agree with so so...
Was a great place to visit;;;until Chavez...
Now dangerous...run down...desperate people...corruption % shakedowns all over...
Stay well clear...
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On The Ball
1:28 Thu Oct 15
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Do you have experience of the place, Tex? It's tough to know whether to take it as travel advice or nonsense, like when you offer "advice" on South Africa.
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On The Ball
1:29 Thu Oct 15
Re: Venezuela. Who's been?
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Hermit Road 11:55 Wed Oct 14
Splendid stuff. Great advice.
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