My story

For me it is difficult to find a favorite story from my childhood, because throughout my childhood I lived very beautiful experiences. So I will cite three experiences for me, that at time were very important and I remember it with nostalgia.

The first story was when I was six. I was sleeping one night when suddenly I heard people screaming, scared me a lot and I went to the room of my parents. What was happening was an earthquake, and people were screaming a lot on the street desperate and terrified, but was so slow that my parents told us that we were back to sleep. The next day we laugh so much for what had happened.

The second story is very funny, but now I really scared. I had about seven years and was with my brother who is one year younger than me, and we were on the stairs of my house playing with a lighter flame. And then playing around, hiding from my mom of course, launched in lighter steps, and to our surprise a fire lighter exploted. We scared a lot, but after that experience I always be careful that the fire lighters are not going to plunk down, because I know it will explote. 

One last story happened when I was about ten. We went to the amusement park and had an attraction of a bus turning in the air, I was terrified, but my brother annoyed me so much telling me that I was not brave, I did row with him and my dad, but just when he was going to enter in the attraction, his height was less than the required, but I already was on the other side, then went up to my dad. It was so unpleasant, that hardly down, I vomited all I was eaten and gett sick several days later.

For tourists in Venezuela

Is a wonderful place to visit, not only because the incredible nature, but also the infrastructure, the variety in gastronomy, the culture and the people. However, is not secret that Venezuela is going through for a difficult situation, political, economical, and social; which difficult the tourism in the country. Below, I will give some general information related to the country, I will mention some of the greatest places to visit in Venezuela, and then I will mention some advices to the people that want to visit my beautiful country.

General Information

The full name is "República Bolivariana de Venezuela" the capital is Caracas, the official language is Spanish, has 31,648,930 inhabitants, the currency is the bolivar, and has 24 federal entities called states.

It has land borders with three countries, south to Brazil, Guyana to the east, and west with Colombia. Ranks sixth in the world in bird species, with about 1418 species (14% of the world total and 45% of species of South American bird). Venezuela has an economy with based on the extraction and refining of oil for export and domestic consumption, in fact the main source of income of the country is the marketing of oil, which generally 80% of the country's GDP. Other mineral resources are also exploited for commercial purposes such as iron, bauxite, coal, gold, salt, phosphates and limestone.

The major cities are: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto (I´m from this city) and Maracay.

The greatest places to visit in Venezuela

Venezuela is a big country, with lots of variety of climates, landscapes, cultures, cuisine and geography, so it is difficult to select places to visit. However, I selected the ten places I personally consider the most attractive in the country. The list has not order, because I think every place is so beautiful.

1. Natural Monument "The Guácharo": guácharo is a frugivorous bird that inhabits the first gallery of the cave, out at night in search of food. The most important day in the park event occurs in the afternoon when the output of the birds of the cave occurs in large flocks, to search for food. The cave is formed of limestone dating from the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, some 130 million years ago when a deepwater marine environment covered the north west and east of Venezuela. The steady drip of water has created formations that resemble human forms say, animals and even religious figures.

2. Morrocoy National Park: It is located in the west central coast of Venezuela. The park extends both terrestrial and aquatic areas of the Golfo Triste, contains an area of mangroves and numerous islets and cays among which are Borracho, Muerto, Sombrero, Sal, Las Animas and Peraza, among others, with spectacular white sand beaches like Mero, Paiclas, Juanes, Playuela, Tucupido, Azul, Boca Seca and more.

3. Margarita Island: It is also called the "Pearl of the Caribbean" is located southeast of the Caribbean Sea, northeast of the country, is part of the only island state of Venezuela, Nueva Esparta. Is the most important tourist attraction in Venezuela with over 2,711,000 tourists in 2009. It has beaches with conditions for surfing, diving, windsurfing and other water sports as well as historical colonial peoples. On the island are several old Spanish fortifications (castles, forts and fortresses), which are considered national treasures.

4. Archipelago Los Roques National Park: It is a group of islands and cays in the Lesser Antilles belonging to the country in the north of Caracas, and is one of the main tourist attractions of the country. It has an area of approximately 221,120 hectares between sea and land space, so it is considered the largest marine park in Latin America.

5. Maracaibo City: It is a Venezuelan city, capital of Zulia state, located in the northwest of the country. It is the most important economic center of western Venezuela due to the oil industry that develops on the shores of Maracaibo Lake. This lake is a great natural attraction of the city, with an area of 13,000 square kilometers, ranks # 23 among the largest lakes in the world. Above the lake passes a bridge called "General Rafael Urdaneta" that connects the city with the rest of the country, is the world's most grades of its kind, and the number 52 in the world, it can take between 15 and 20 minute crossing it. Finally, the Catatumbo Lightning -Relámpagos del Catatumbo- is an unique meteorological phenomenon that appears in the basin of Maracaibo Lake, is characterized by the appearance of a series of lightning almost continuously. It is the main planet ozone generator, is capable of producing lightning 1,176,000 per year producing 10% of the ozone layer.

6. Coro dunes National Park: It is a park with soft and dry sands, located in Falcon state. Its main attraction is the formation of dunes 20 meters high and the desert climate.

7. Historic Center of Caracas: As the capital of the country has major sites of historical and cultural importance to visit, such as theater "Teresa Carreño" which is considered one of the most important cultural centers in Latin America, and the Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, which is the third most important world orchestra. But as to the historical, Caracas is a city with ancient buildings, mainly because most of monuments, buildings and major sites are past that have remained over time. One of the major historical attractions is the birthplace of Simon Bolivar, one of the greatest fighters for independence of several Latin American countries, which has over 200 years old. On the other hand, is also home Anauco Top ams edification is the old city, which dates from the XVII century.

8. Mérida State: It is a state that belongs to the "Andes" Venezuelans. Because it is part of the Andes, the highest mountains of the country are in this place. The highest peak is called the "Pico Bolivar" which measures 5.007 meters high; also here is the highest and longest cable car in the world, which has five stations and the path takes an average of one hour. Furthermore, in the Merida State also found the parlor with more flavors in the world, with more than 1000 flavors available.

9. Amazon Rainforest: The Amazon is the great lung oxygen, and Venezuela has a big part of it. To go to the Amazon rainforest is necessary to travel by plane because there is no way to penetrate into with other transportation. In the Amazonas state (called like that because much of it is covered by the jungle) also live many indigenous tribes, which retain their ancient traditions and their languages.

10. Salto Ángel: This water fall is considered the highest in the world, and is within the Canaima National Park in the Bolivar State, where there are also tepuis, which are the oldest known rock formations on the planet. This waterfall has a height of 979 mts and was declared heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

Advices to people that want to visit my beautiful country

Change dollars: This issue is important, because in Venezuela the dollar is not used freely as in the rest of the world, but to be in the country is important to change dollars into the local currency, the bolivar. Now, there are lots of exchange rates, the official is the lowest, so if you go to the bank for every dollar you'll get in return 12 bolivars, but if you change it informally, in the famous "black market" for every dollar you'll get 150 bolivars in return, no big difference right?

Assaults: is not unknown that Venezuela is one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with 140 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, so are extremely frequent assaults, and murders, so you have to be very stringent safety measures, and in case of being assaulted deliver all belongings to the assailants quickly. It is also important not exhibit any valuables, from watches to cell phones and cameras.

Kidnapping: the kidnapping are also extremely common, especially the so-called "express kidnappings" where the hijackers will intercept you and mounted with you in your car and go round in a few hours while your family gather the money that the kidnappers asked. 

Food shortage: if you will stay in an apartment on the beach or you are going to rent a house where you are going to cook, you should consider that there is currently a shortage of basic products, such as hygiene products (deodorant, toothpaste products, toilet paper) and basic food stuffs (sugar, pasta, bred). It should be noted that this shortage is not in certain parts of the country, or in certain supermarkets, this is happening across the country, and in every supermarket, of all social classes. But do not worry, not all at the same time scarce, but one day there comes a product and another day comes another. What I recommend you, is to go every day to the supermarket and have patience in long lines to pay your products.

Protests: For many problems in the country, people are constantly complaining in different cities of the country, then it may be the things are good today but tomorrow morning could be people protesting for some reason. In these protests, it is customary that the cops will pull people tear gas, but that's normal, do not panic. All you have to do is throw the floor because while these above, the gases will affect you more, which probably will make you burn a lot to the face and will sting a lot too, and neither should lend water because it will worsen the effect of gases, if you have vinegar at your fingertips, use it to help you. But most importantly, stay away as much as you can about these protests, because they start throwing stones and things maybe will get very violent easily and security agencies will not help you.

Traffic laws: these are the same that in the rest of the world, the problem is that for Venezuelans certain signs mean something else. For example, the yellow light instead of mean "slow" means "accelerate because the red light comes". Another example is the speed on the highways of the country. There are signs everywhere indicating the speed, but do not pay attention, because if you are going at that correctly speed, maybe someone will crash into your car, so it is best to engage the speed you see carrying the most people. These are just a few examples, so I recommend you, to pay close attention when driving, but do not pay attention to traffic signals, but the behavior of the other drivers to grasp the rhythm of the streets and not go to have so many accidents.

Emergency situations: if something happens you on the street, never ask to a cop, you better ask him helping other people and not security agents, because sometimes they are often worse than the criminals themselves.

This was the most important advices, but dont be panic, this will be like a dangerous adventure, If you like the extreme sports, and the constant tension, so you would like to visit Venezuela.

Venezuela: how to be a better place to live?

When I think in Venezuela I don’t know where to start. There are lots of things that could happen to make my country a better place to live. But too many things need to be improved; I will classify which are more necessary to me, in three main areas: government, justice, and people.

Government: I personally disagree with the policies of the government of the past President Chavez and current President Maduro. I don’t consider any of its policies in any of the areas of the country as positive, but in general all have adversely affected the country. It is said that Chavez government has helped too much to the poor people, but the truth is that it has given momentary "alms" which is very different. It is also Believed That Chavez was a president who improved education, but what really created was "missions" that in two years where people graduate from "medicine" but what about the quality? What first must be changed is the government, to one that will improve policies that affect the well-being of people every day.

Justice: it is claimed that court organisms are the responsible for ensuring peace, order and tranquility of the citizens of a country, but this happens only when actually this organism works. When there is not justice in a country, do not exist peace or the order in that country, and that is precisely what happens in Venezuela. Every day is more and more people who are victims of insecurity and die in the hands of criminals. The last year was reported that 79 people died per 100 thousand inhabitants in the country, one of the highest rates of Latin America and the world. If there were fewer deaths, the country would be a more peaceful place to live.

Habitants: the Venezuelan mentality is another thing that has affected us so much as a country. It is said that the Venezuelan people are a very happy people and it is, however sometimes we fall into irresponsible with our country, then we think that everything is a joke and we do not take anything seriously. Finally, the changes start from ourselves, we cannot ask for anything to change if we don’t change first.

Here I leave a very funny video of a Venezuelan comedian and artist who speaks about Venezuelans.