Venezuela is a land of contrast, and it's not a good one. The class system is alive and well on the American continent! The U.K. could take lessons from the Venezuelans. The disparancy between the "Have's" and "Have-Not's" is so great, it makes a civilized man sick. Since the country is so rich with oil, the government could help every citizen like the Saudi Arabians do. 

However, the ruling class wants to keep the people under their thumb and in line. In December 1998, an ex-convict, HUGO RAFAEL CHÁVEZ FRÍAS, was elected to the Presidency. He vowed to change the status quo and help the people. Nothing has been done so far to that end. For example, the small towns outside of Marricaibo still have water and electricity outages. The water has to be brought into the towns with old trucks in rusty containers. They suffer with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. Their money is worth nothing!! $500-$600 of their "dollars" to one of ours. The ex-pats (US citizens living/working in a foreign country) in Venezuela live like kings. 

Parts of the country are exceptionally beautiful...the jungles of the North and East come to mind. It is a rugged country with few amenities. The people are proud and fierce. They have to be, think about what they have to put up with. 

Now don't get me wrong, not all of Venezuela is as bad as I'm making it out to be. Caracas is a very modern city, and quite beautiful. However, it can be dangerous if you are an unsuspecting gringo. You have to be on your guard all the time, the same as in any large American city. 

I have a few Venezuelan friends that I like and respect very much. One thing about Venezuelans is the love of family they hold. It seems to me that they would be willing to die to protect their family. In the States, everyone says that, but I think it's all a bunch of lip service. In Venezuela, they mean it! 

I have traveled extensively in Venezuela, and I have plenty of stories to tell. You can find links to separate pages that contain Word and PDF documents you can download or view if you wish. These documents will give details about my trips at different times. 

For example, I was in the country when Chaves was elected. What a night! 

I was also in Caracas when the flooding rains started that caused all the mud-slide deaths in 1999.

I was in the country when the people voted in a totally new constitution. A new constitution folks...that would be like us telling the United States founding fathers to piss off! There were a lot of killings in the days leading up to the vote.

I was also robbed at gunpoint with a co-worker in 1997. We lost everything we had, including our passports. They left us our clothes and our lives, Thank God! Traveling in a military ruled country like Venezuela without passports can be difficult, to say the least. The Guardia National (national guard) shoot first and ask questions later.

The experiences I have had in Venezuela have opened my eyes to the plights of people all over the world. I have a better understanding of what life outside the US is really like. People, we have it made!!! We live in the finest country in the world, bar none. I don't take any freedom I have for granted anymore. If you don't exercise your right to vote, I suggest you try living in Venezuela. I guarantee you will be back in a week!