ay   5 -   Barinas - Apartaderos:

Fact Sheet:       320 Km

                            Barinas - Barinitas - Las Piedras - Santo Domingo - Laguna Mucubají - Apartaderos 

                            El Refúgio Turístico Mifafí  - very good double-twin std aprox. USD 30 

This is where we start to climb into the Venezuelan Andes: shortly after Barinitas, the road starts to wind and climb, and soon we are in the gateway to Mérida, the Andean state, and detainer of most of the Andean attractions. The road is good, which makes up for the low average speed of about 50Km/h and third gear driving, due to the trecherous curves combined with the wild local driving. At the state border, we stop to chat to locals, which were sorting "conchincha" seeds - something like wild peas, which grow here. We frequently stop to appreciate the scenery, take pictures, and take the altitude in short stops, combined with moments to relax, and stretch our feet. For Zé, Amarildo and Ivone, it is a first-time experience to see mountains, and be in higher altitudes. We are all marveled at the natural beauty. It takes us 4 hours to get from Barinitas (+/- 600m alt.)  to Sto. Domingo (2,170m alt.) - only about 50Km. As we took it easy, none of us had altitude problems. At Sto. Domingo we buy souvenirs, and have lunch at the "El Mesón de Chemara", where the owner, Mr. Nolberto, takes good care of us, and serves us the most fantastic food: local trout, and the famous local blackcurrant wine. Definitely a "must" for anyone travelling through Sto. Domingo! Nolberto tries to get Ramesh drunk, bringing him all sorts of local liquoers, to no avail. Zé was quite worried, thinking of being driven by a drunk, on the mountain passes! Then we carry on, up to the Laguna Mucubají, at approx. 3,600m alt., stopping alot along the way: another 25Km, and a climb of about another 1,400m. The temperature drops from about +18C to +6C, and we often are in the clouds. For all of us, quite literally "breathtaking", and an amazing experience. The scenery just changes all the time, and one is as special as the next. The Laguna lies inside the INPARQUES preservation area, and we saw little of the lake, as the clouds were at ground level. We notice the seriousness of the altitude for the first time: and sudden movement makes us guiddy, and anything faster than a walk, or longer than 10 paces, and we are all out of breath. But no other side effects are felt by any of us. We head on, to the outskirts of Apartaderos, where we have coffee and snacks at the "Loca Luz Caraballo", at approx. 3,340m alt. Close by, we find a very good spot to rest: the "Refúgio Turístico Mifafí": apartments, built similar to chalets in size and construction. Here we spend the night, sleeping it off at about 3,320m alt. We seem to be extremely nackered, despite having done relatively little. Outside, it is nearing the freezing point: also a first for Amarildo, Ivone and Zé, who are not too happy with the cold.

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