http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Venezuela , Zulian , Maracaibo en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:02:00 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:02:00 UTC Having flagged a bus just outside Tayrona National Park which incidentally was the worst shed of a bus we have seen in Colombia we arrived at the border town of Maicao into chaos. There were several men greeting us off the bus shouting Maricaibo Maricaibo Por Puesto Por Puesto traffic all over the place and no sight of a collectivo. We were closely followed and harassed as we tried to refus http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/blog-320273.html Another weekendhellipanother adventurehellipThursday after class four of us decided we would try to find something to eat. I havenrsquot spent much time in El Centro yet so I was excited to go downtown and eat at a true Venezuelan restaurant. Two of the girls I went with had asked one of their professors for suggestions on where to eat and she told us a name of a great Italian restaurant http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/blog-286508.html The weekend was another adventure to say the least A group of students and I along with our trusty Venezuelan guide Tony ventured north to Lake Maracaibo in search of the natural lightening phenomenon at Catatumbo. According to Tony who is literally the South American Steve Erwin this guy catches piranhas and alligators barehanded for fun Catatumbo is one of four places in the world http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/blog-285942.html This past weekend was a wild adventure for nine of us here at VENUSA. We heard about a strange phenomenon known as Catatumbo and decided that we just had to see it There is an area near Lake Maracaibo where it is lightening constantly but with no accompanying thunder. Scientists aren't really sure how or why this occurs but they suspect that it is due to the change in altitude near this area. http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/blog-201837.html Another early start at 7am and a long drive to witness an unusual phenomenon which is unique to Venezuela the Catatumbo Lightning. There is a particular area no more than 20 kilometres square where lightning occurs continually at night. Strikes occur between 30 and 100 times a minute apparently enough to read a book by. But curiously these strikes are not accompanied by thunder. Scientists h http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/blog-189698.html So i started writing this entry over a week ago but things have become a bit delayed possibly because i am fitting back into Latinamerican laidbackness or because i am a bit ill. Sympathy emails very much appreciated.Now I would like to cast your minds back to Monday the 16th of July when my nightmareish escape from Venezuela took place. I should have known it would be difficult any country tha http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/blog-183184.html After 4 memorable months it was finally time to say goodbye to Brazil and hello to Venezuela the land of free petrol and no eggs. Venezuela is an interesting but not too welcoming of a place to visit. Political tension is always in the air and the communist mood is inescapable. We had to quickly get used to societal climate change coming from the warm caring Brazilian people to the cold u http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/blog-181698.html On the road again.Venezuela visade sig for dyrt och besvarligt for att gora nagot roligt. Varje gang jag skall lyfta pengar far springa runt i respektive stad for att hitta en bank som ger pengar pa Visa och sedan koa andra halvan av dagen for att komma till disken. Ofta har det funnits bara ett bankbitrade som tar hand om en kilometerlang ko. Alltfor jobbigt sa jag bestamde mig for att ta busse http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Venezuela/Zulian/Maracaibo/blog-127693.html