|
Thursday night:
In my life, I never thought Id end up at a supermarket shopping for food, with my cousins. At around 9pm, me and my cousin
Luis, arranged to go out to the supermarket to buy the necessary for our trip to the Beach House over the weekend. To have
some control over what we bought, we brought along with us Audra, Luis girlfriend, who by coincidence is a nutritionist. We
went to a 24/7 supermarket, and detailed a list of what we were to buy. We spent around an hour and 40 minutes in there, and
came out with a total of 2 dinners and one lunch. The bill ended in 87700 Bolivares, an estimate of 41 US Dollars.
Everything was set, and we were supposed to be off to the beach at 4 oclock the next day. Controversy over who would
drive and who would take the car, as well as who would go to the beach wasnt clear till the day we left.
But before anything yet, let me give you an idea of the beach house. It is located in the beautiful, private beach of Playa
Pintada in the locality of Boca de Uchire, Last beach in the western margin of Miranda State, about 3 hours from the City
by highway.
There, all the family has about 4 houses, which are located in the same complex, 3 of them right next to each other, and all
of them within walking distance from each other, as well as the beach. The four houses are owned by: 1 my father 2 My uncle
Alejandro
(Father of Dan and Ricardo) 3 My uncle Miguel (Father of Gaby) 4 My Uncl Miguel Jorge. 1 is separated from 2 and 3 by a soccer
court, and 2 and 3 share the same pool and the same yard. 4 is located a few blocks down, it is a lot closer to the beach.
So Friday came, and at 3 pm, no one was ready. Luis, who was driving to the beach with his car, was changing tires, I was
buying ice, Daniel was working, as well as Bettie, Audra was with Luis, Ricky was at his house, Gaby wasnt informed of anything,
Pedro had his car broken down and Saribel was waiting at his house. We ended up leaving at 5 pm, the first car, in which:
I was driving, Gaby was my co-pilot and Ricardo, Dans Brother, was in the back, as well as Dan and Bettie (His girlfriend).
The second car, waiting for Pedro, as he brought his car home with a tow truck. In that car: Luis and his girlfriend Audra,
Pedro (luis brother) and his girlfriend Saribel.
So the highway, we pretty much took it at night, it was a dangerous road, three lanes, for both traffics, one lane for each
side, and the middle lane was shared how odd. Then the other half was one lane for each side, and to pass slow cars, you
had to get on the other sides lane, all of this with no street lamps and pot holes the size of Texas.
At least I got to choose the music for the trip and take random pictures along the way.
Gaby, and the mysterious creature in the window (subject of convo for quite some time)
Bettie:
Me, Driving:
We stopped 40 mins before getting to the beach at the small town of El Guapo. We drank something there, and some of us got
something to eat I dont know how.
The food (not very sanitary):
Daniel buying the liquor for the whole weekend (24000 Bolivares):
And off we were again after about an hour of being stopped there. I believe along the way we saw the nastiest thing ever
sorry I might bring this up, but it was. We slow down because we see an incoming police car with its sirens. When we approach
it, it was blocking one of the lanes of the highway. We try to figure out what it was that it was lying on the floor, and
once Daniel sees what it is, he says Dont look, dont look. As curious as we all are, we keep staring at it, and well, it is
not easy to say that what was lying on the floor next to us was the cadaver of a person, unidentified, who had been run over
by a speeding car. This body was lying on the floor motionless, with parts of its guts hanging out, soft goo, as if all of
its bones had evaporated and few body parts a few feet away from it. It is clear to say, that after that incident, there was
complete silence in the car, for the rest of the trip.
We finally got to the beach, Playa Pintada, and took everything out of the car and settled into Dans house, and Gabys House,
the only ones with keys to their houses. A little after, not long, Luis and the people in his car arrived, and the Beach weekend
officially begun.
First order of business: Dinner. Planned for that night, hot dogs.
I gotta say, they didnt taste bad, but their texture was HORRIBLE, the wieners were soggy and we had to eat them with sandwich
breads. Nevertheless, we were al satisfied with the food.
That night we all stayed talking and joking around, mostly everybody hit the beds at 1 am, Ricky and me at about 2 am.
Long before most of the people went to sleep, and before dinner, Bettie and Dan fell asleep in the oddest position in an hammock,
yes, with their shoes on. They didnt wake up again till 3 am, when they were really disoriented.
Saturday, the big day:
Waking up at around 9 am everyone, a few of us went to the town of Boca de Uchire too hunt us some breakfast. We ordered 35
empanadas (25 cheese and 10 chicken), we also walked around and bought other things, as well as Audra was looking for some
sandals in the local market. It was Luis, Ricardo, Pedro, Audra and me.
We brought all the empanadas back home, and had us one big breakfast.
Right after breakfast, we headed straight to the beach. We took only one car (my car) since Luis car had a flat tire. Imagine
fitting 9 people in one car it is possible:
So we went to the condominium beach, which also has a little cafeteria where they serve a few drinks and some meals.
The beach honestly couldnt have been any emptier, except for that group of hippies and their satanic music.
We settled in the shade in a little hut and relaxed. Some sun tanned, some drank and some just talked and chilled.
After some time, we all went into the water together, stayed in there for some time until we found out about the large amount
of jelly fish surrounding us. Ricardo got bit by on. We got out immediately after seeing and having these close encounters
with these invertebrates.
Daniel and Bettie stayed in there for a little bit longer in the shore.
It was 3 pm, when game time started (semi finals for the Fifa World Cup), we headed back to the house, in two trips though,
people were wet and such.
Daniel in his new way of traveling:
And well thats me driving:
Lunch was provided by Pedro, Audra, Luis and me. On the menu, Pasta with two different types of sauces.
We watched the game while we ate, interesting match, Portugal vs Germany.
The night was here before we could say anything. Ricky, Dan, Luis and me played some soccer in the soccer field between both
houses, as well as the others chatted and watched some TV together, and then we joined again. Unfortunately, the pool was
broken, and many were scared to dive in because of the greenish color that just called out Dirty and infectious, so we didnt
use it.
Some Photos of the houses:
My house:
Dans House and the pool (we all share the same pool):
El Palmar (My house) the entrance with the hut in the back:
The soccer court and the front of Dans house:
The pool, and the living area and the kitchen/bar of dans house:
In the menu for that night, Arepas with cheese we had previously bought in town:
Luis and Audra:
In the kitchen:
Luis and Audra again:
My birthday cake:
The clock (picture taken at night):
We stayed up pretty late, Pedro, Saribel and Audra were the first ones to go, and conversations got more hilarious as the
night got older, as well as the subject of politics couldnt fail to come up as well.
Attack of the ants:
Sunday, the day to leave:
We woke up at around 9ish, if you didnt wake up, you were woken up, the plan was to leave early to catch the game in the afternoon
in Caracas. Everything had to be picked up, nothing left behind, and everything very well locked, crime rates are humongous
and we have already suffered a few robberies ourselves.
More pics of the houses:
The hut and the court of Bolas Criollas in Dans House:
Gabys House and the new kitchen they are building:
My house (to the right is the living room, a hallway on the outside where you set hammocks and mostly sleep or nap on them
and the living room. And to the left, there are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms):
My house from afar and the soccer court:
After picking up and closing the house, we left to breakfast at a cachapera, were most ate cachapas made of corn and me and
ricky ate arepas. This was at a cachapera/quesera.
 (arepas are the small white ones and cachapas the big,yellow ones)
We left in the same cars we came in, Luis fixed the tire the day before, but even so, had to stop at 3 gas stations.
The road is surrounded by jungles and mountains:
And it is never odd to find traffic, like we did:
My car stopped in Guatire, as the other car continued 40 minutes into the city. We watched the first half in Guatire for the
Fifa World Cup finals and then me, ricky and gaby proceded to the city, to my house to be precise, to watch the second half.
Daniel and Bettie stayed back.
The tv with the mic in the mall in Guatire:
People watching the game in Guatire:
Italy won that game unfortunately bloody Italians. I took the remainder of the crew to their homes and off I was to do some
visits.
The Italians took over the city celebrating with their flags and honking the horn.
Picked up Oscar and hung out with him for some time, went to a Chinese restaurant and drove around until we were stuck in
this one street. The Italians took over this street and made it theirs, drinking and celebrating, screaming and honking their
horns. We were in the same spot, pretty much moved at most one hundred feet in an hour ... damn italians ...
Took Oscar to his house after traffic was better and drove to Rickys house, where I hung out with him for some time.
And after that, around 1 am, I got home, and straight to bed; the next day, had to make my bags.
Monday, the day I get back, and vacations end:
Woke up around 9 am, did my bags, and got ready. Chauffer was ready and in front of my house at 11 am and tooke me to the
airport. Had a nice conversation with him along the way, and got me at the airport at 12.
Check-in was quick and painless and I was traveling with carry-on only. Went inside, changed some dollars, had no money, and
bought me a sandwich. Waited for a long time for the plane to board, and finally at 2:36, it started boarding.
I flied American Airlines, direct flight from Caracas to Miami, about 3 hours, left at 3:21 pm and arrived at 6:44 pm.
Slept the first couple of minutes to catch some rest, and later ate a nutritious, international (cause it was in 2 countries,
HAH, get it?) meal (chicken, or beef) CHICKEN!!
Saw the movie 8 Bellow, which wasnt that great, but it was enjoyable, and got there to Miami at 6:44 sharp, with a lot of
turbulence and thunderstorms.
Immigration took forever, and people just kept cutting in line, AND I WAS 2nd IN LINE! At least 4 people cut in line
Finally left, and saw the plane I came in for the last time, and was prepared to face the world head on.
A friend picked me up, and we went to Fridays for dinner, then came home and just talked with Ciryll and Margarita who are
at my house currently.
Night was long as well, got to talk to a lot of people, and now, at 3 am, still updating this journal. Hope you liked my journal
and the pics I posted of my vacations. This sentence right here concludes the end of my 2006 summer vacation trip, tomorrow,
a brand new day, and Thursday, my 20th birthday.
SMILE AND THE WORLD WILL BE YOURS
NEXT >> Other Summer '06
|
