Just Got Back from Venezuela -- Ask Me Anything!

[On the Road]

Eleven days in Canaima (Angel Falls), Cuidad Bolivar, Cumana, and Caracas. Traveled on those infamous South American intercity buses.

Witnessed the buildup to the recall vote, and was given an actual "VOTA NO!" poster of the kind being used in the campaign. Very difficult to communicate, phone, get cash, and plan -- nothing works and few people speak English -- but still managed to get some insight on the country and the political situation. Met wonderful people who went out their way to volunteer to help in many ways.

I also took 35 pages of notes and tons of photos which I'm writing up and will post on the internet. It may a couple of weeks -- at least in time for the Aug 15 vote.

[el_gato]

1. So what was your feeling about the recall

Did it appear to you that it will go one way or the other?

[On the Road]

2. I Suspect Chavez Will Win, But Was Difficult to Quantify

There are tons of pro-government posters and political graffiti. The anti-Chavez people don't seem to have the fire or the general support.

On the other hand, the opposition has the media, the private money, and a history of dirty tricks. A lot of folks in Caracas, including cab drivers and middle-income people, want Chavez to go. People roll their eyes when talking about Chavez because of his over-the-top revolutionary rhetoric. I understand this better, and it does sound strange coming from an incumbent in a democracy. And despite his concern for the poor, I don't know how well Chavez's policies have actually worked.

Part of it will depend on whether the country perceives the recall as a referendum on the 2002 coup. If a vote to recall Chavez is seen as a vote for Carmona, I believe the recall will fail. But who knows?

[fertilizeonarbusto]

3. Did you have any hallacas?

:-)

[On the Road]

4. No, I Read That Hallacas are Primarily a Holiday Dish

and I didn't see any on the menu:


Hallaca before closing

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They do eat a lot of cornmeal arepas (below) stuffed with various things, which is sort of the same idea. The arepa is the staff of life there:


Arepa with stuff inside

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They also have something called a pabellon criollo which is supposed to be kind of a national dish. It has some of the same ingredients spread out of a plate sometimes with a fried egg on top:


Pabellon Criollo