Great First Impressions Of Venezuelan People

Trip Start Mar 10, 2007

Trip End Jul 14, 2007

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Flag of Venezuela Rio Caribe, Northeast Venezuela, Venezuela
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Today I was leaving Trinidad by boat for Guirie in Venezuela. Pier 1 cruises offer small boats with complementary drinks on board that sail this route once a week. They depart Wednesdays at 9.00am, taking just under 3 hours and costing 414tt + 75tt departure tax.

On arrival in to Guirie we were searched thoroughly by the military; every spec inside my backpack was checked thoroughly. I was told that Venezuelans come to Trinidad to get US dollars, then sell them on the black market for double the rate. The Venezuelans on board were searched thoroughly from head to toe.

On the boat I met Shalimar Francisco who had a couple of friends meeting him; he had been in Trinidad for the carnival. He was a friendly guy and offered to drop me off in Rio Caribe which was a couple of hours away. I was a bit sceptical at first but decided to take him up on his offer and I am glad that I did. We stopped along the way for a bite to eat which they paid for and on arrival in Rio Caribe they dropped me off at the posada of my choice. He was a decent and honest guy and it gave me good first impressions of Venezuelan people.