Honeymoon

I get married for the first time (surely the last) and together with Paola we go to visit two of her uncles (brothers of Paola's late mother) who have lived in Venezuela for almost 50 years. A trip of extraordinary beauty and very interesting. Surely the presence on the spot of the uncles and all the cousins helped us. Flight MXP-Maiquetia, 10 hours; another three hours from Maiquetia to Barquisimeto, and the holiday begins. The place where we will spend most of the trip is Tucacas, in Morrocoy Park. Morrocoy Park, immersed in a turquoise and transparent sea, full of countless little islands and in a choreography of mangroves that make it the pride of all Venezuela. The still unspoilt nature of this park makes it a place of unique wonder. The islands of Cayo Sombrero and Mayorquina are spectacular, without taking anything away from the other little islands.

Chichiriviche and the Coro desert are beautiful. At Quibor, near Barquisimeto, there is a small local crafts market full of colours and the most varied shapes. Indescribable. The sunsets in Barquisimeto are beautiful and full of colour, so much so that they call it the Ciudad Crepuscular. Venezuelan or Creole cuisine is delicious and very tasty. Needless to tell you how many mangoes and how many varieties I ate. Fruit trees like mango are found on every corner of the streets. The nispero is very good. In Venezuela the tourist season lasts all year round and so, in theory, any period is good for visiting the country. The dry season is nevertheless the best, although some tourist destinations, such as the famous Angel Falls, are more interesting during the rainy season. Also take into account the periods when Venezuelans go on holiday.

They cannot do without visiting their relatives during the Easter holidays, during Carnival (several days before Ash Wednesday) and Holy Week (the one before Easter). On these days you will have to plan your travels in advance and, probably, work a bit harder to find somewhere to sleep. In return, these periods are full of life and colour. In Venezuela, the most important and most colourful festival is Carnival, celebrated on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Characterised by music, dancing, processions and costumes, it takes on different forms from region to region. The carnival celebrated in the city of Carúpano is renowned throughout the country. Being then a country strongly shaped by Catholic culture, most of the other festivals celebrated are tied to the Christian calendar.

Besides Easter, Christmas and Corpus Domini, very popular occasions, numerous saints are celebrated throughout the year. Lastly I leave the description of the Venezuelan girls........................I can't find the words.