To avoid the rainy season of Peru in march we decided to have a sort of holiday in between our travel program. Looking for a place where you could windsurf and surf – and have nice weather and warm water – we stranded at Isla de Margarita, belonging to Venezuela, 40 km north east from Caracas.
Let’s make 3 weeks short: We had a wonderful stay at the Villa Carribean Sunshine thanks to the heartily and personal care of Waltraud (you guessed it – she is german) who lives for 17 years on the island. She showed us the best cocada place and gave us all the tips for the best spots, restaurants and what to do and where to go. And we met Alonso through her, fisherman, diver, surfer who delivered langustos, camarones and fish fresh out of the water.
Nadine and Sammy paid us a visit (more on www.carajitoplaya.blogspot.com, sorry, only in german) and also Natascha – so we all had a good time riding the waves and cruising the island with our Chevrolet – in this case a real Chevrolet Caprice, 6 cylinders and all the bells and whistles a 20 year old American car had to offer.
Thanks to Vicente we learned a lot about surfing and Capoeira. And Kim and Natascha had one of their worst muscle aches in years after their first lesson.
La Isla de Margarita is also called the pearl of the carribean – not because it is so shiny but because there were pearl banks which were looted by the Spaniards when they discovered South America. Now the Venezuelans are looting the alcohol contingents of the island while partying during the Semana santa which is more a unholy week. I have never seen before people standing waist deep in the water eating chips and drinking cuba libre with 80:20 rum and coke…
But what can you expect from a country where alcohol and petrol are the cheapest goods because they are tax free. One litre of 95 octane costs 1 Euro cent – Venezuela has the 4th biggest oil reservoirs of the globe, questions anyone?
The controlled shortage of electricity of 2 hours daily and a strike on our departure day where one of the streets to the airport was blocked with burning tyres indicates that the country is not in best shape – to say it this way. If you want to know more about the situation you can watch this TV coverage from the german station NDR.
Okay, lets stay with the good points:
- 27/27 – these are the temperatures of air and sea in Celsius, and this is 24/7.
- The best cocada (a mixture of coconut milk, coconut flesh and ice) and therefore also superbe pina coladas we ever drank.
- Fresh juices from every exotic fruit you can imagine.
- Fresh seafood and sushi to reasonable prices.
- Great waves for experts and beginners at the beaches Playa del Agua, Playa Parguito and Playa Guacuco.
- Good constant wind at Playa El Yaque for windsurfing and kite surfing.
Buena Siesta 