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Published: September 30th 2005
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Canaima Lagoon
Canaima Lagoon 2
So we set off Cuidad Boliviar via Valencia for our Angel Falls and Roriama trips, the 10 hour bus ride to valencia was quite a rough one due to poor quality and windy roads so after a quick read of our bible (Footprint guide to Venezeula) we decided that we would catch the 2.30 bus instead of jumping straight on to another bus for a further 10 hours and visit the Plaza Bolivar as iguanas and sloths roamed the park, except when we got there the sloths and iguanas had been replaced by drunks and squirrels, other than that Valencia is a run down non touristy place, that felt quite threatening first thing in the morning, but once the place filled up we relized we had become a bit of an attraction for the locals as I expect not too many gringo´s turn up there
We had booked into a Posada outside Cuidad Bolivar who said they would pick us up at bus station, however again the best laid plans dont always come to fruition. They thought we meant 12 noon not 12 midnight and 12 midnight actually became 2.30am again due to poor roads which seem to be
part of the cause in Venezuela. All said and done the Posada was beautiful with a pool, monkeys, deers, parrots and boars, we have decided to have another rest day there when we return from Roramia.
Angel Falls
Having booked our tours through Gekko Tours and been introduced to our group for the Angel Falls leg, consisting of 3 Germans, 3 English Simon, Tom and Nicolette, 2 Americans John and Sandy and finally a Swiss couple Robert and B, most of which were either enjoying retirement or taken time out from work cruising in their boats round the caribean then the Pacific.
We headed for Cuidad Bolivar airport, having "checked in" we taken to our plane a small 6 seater single engine plane which we shared with 2 americans and random who spoke little English. On arrival in Canaima we headed straight off for a 4 hour butt crunching boat ride in a motorised canoe up river to our camp where we slung our hamocks up (well Tom did anyway) in view of Angel falls and sat down for dinner, chicken roasted over a fire of some local bark that smelled like Hickory that gave the chicken
Angel Falls
Our 1st Glimpse of Angel Falls barbeque flavour washed down with rum courtisy of the Saliors.
As usual for this time of year rain started about 9ish echoing on our corigated roof and lasted most of the night, but not too heavy to keep us awake, well me anyway as it turns out most the group were up at 2am to the sound of torrencial rain and the guides running around trying to bail out the canoes.
The next morning brought a one hour walk to the veiw point providing us with brief glimpses of the falls through breaking clouds, so we headed off to the lower fall of angel falls for a swim, where the clouds started to break and we got a view of Angel Falls from as near as you can get to the base of the main falls. We then headed back to the view point for the best photo point. After lunch we started the painful boat ride back caniama where Sue and myself left the group to do a tour behind the falls (the lagoon photo) that the rest of the group did the next day.
The Flight
Now this experiance will take some beating.
Dinners Ready
Sue wasn´t over impressed with the chef´s kitchen 9.30 at the airport for our flight to Santa Elana, which we nearly didnt take for cost reasons, but decided that the flight would provide much needed quality rest time before Roriama. We were introduce to our pilot who then took us to our plane this time just myself and Suzanne as passengers. As we took off we got fantastic views of Caniama Park and the water falls as we gain altitude to rise above the tepuys. We got some of the most fantastic views, when it suddently occurred to us that we might fly past Angel Falls, I asked the pilot if we would which he smiled at me and nodded enthisatically. The next thing we new we were flying over the Falls with them in clear view, we were able to see the whole of the falls. The pilot then banked round several times to make sure both Suzanne and myself got the best possible view. This was followed by several minor detours that the pilot took to show us several other impressive water falls and landscapes. The pilot seemed to be enjoying watching us in awe of the views during our white knuckle ride as much as
we were enjoying the flight.
The prevoius night I had been talking to Simon on the tour and we both thought that we wouldnt get much more from seeing the Falls from the plane, now having done it I feel this should be make compulsy to anyone visiting the falls and something everyone should but on their "to do list".
Havng spoke to some people who took the flight from Caniama to Santa Elena, and asked if they fly past Angel Falls were told it would cost an extra $200, so looks like we fell lucky there.
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Steve
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Tasty...
Until I saw the state of those chickens I ws pretty jelous of you guys! Sounds like yuou're having a fab time, really enjoying the updates