Venezuela redux

Back in familiar territory - it had just been a few months since we stayed in the same hotel in Pacaraima, and gone through the same money exchange at the copy shop, and talked to the same lady at the customs office, we were just going in reverse this time. Even though we didn't need any insurance to enter Venezuela from Colombia at Paraguachón, we had to have Venezuelan insurance to get our import docs this time. Ahhhh, the consistency of South American regulations... Crazy part is that the insurance being sold at the border is a 1 year minimum for around 850 Bs, or 100 USD. In town, the MAPFRE insurance office (near the police station) offers 1 year minimum coverage for only 250 Bs. Too bad it's still 1 year min, but at least it's a lot more reasonable.


(Shelving in Sta Elena lived up to its crooked reputation)

We spent a couple of nice days in Sta Elena de Uiaren, where we ran into an Argentine who was heading the same direction. So we rode with Rami for a few days through the Gran Sabana. It was nice to have some company for a few days.





This time through the Gran Sabana we took some time to explore and enjoy. The area is beautiful, great for camping, and has lots of good waterfalls to check out.


(on the way down the path to one waterfall, we ran across this little fella)


(he didn't seem to enjoy our presence that much)


(the falls were nice, and refreshing for a swim)


(a lot of the falls are located near indigenous villages, so some ask a small entry fee)




(a break for mate at an overlook hoping to catch a glimpse of the Roraima tapuy, covered by clouds in the background)




(us and Rami at another waterfall)




(camping on the Gran Sabana)


(this joke tells itself...)


(we made it up to Guasipati for our next night)




(Rami working on his rolling smoke technique)


(we found a cheap, stylin hotel with a couple of beds in El Tigre. What it didn't have was a bathroom door. Not even a curtain. So everyone got to take turns outside)


(Jill and Rami enjoying some empanadas and juice before we parted ways. Rami was headed towards the beach to try to find work. We were off to the mountains...)