Was in Venezuela in early 2009, mostly in Caracas, it was an interesting experience.



I found it very similar to Colombia, although:



- Venezuelians seemed more upfront, direct and did not care about being overly polite. Somehow, Venezuelians reminded me a lot of the children of arab immigrants in France. (

- Venezuelians were MUCH MORE politicized than Colombians, everybody in Venezuela seemed to love and talk about politics all the time, whether an informal hod dog street vendor or some upper class old woman from San Antonio de los Altos.

- They didn't give a shit that I was European, in other latin American countries the colonial mentality is still strong and people think you are superior to them, not as much in Venezuela.

- Very hot weather

- Worst police I have seen in Latin America, at least for a European.

- Lots of fake tits, but the women are beautiful.

- Lots of 4x4 cars, the cheap oil seemed to have made it a very car oriented society.

- Too many malls.

- Huge inequalities, even after 12 years of Chavismo.

- Violence is very present, not just in street crime, but in the way people are. In the way they talk politics, in the way they drive, in the way they talk to and about each other etc.



Overall an interesting place, I'd be curious to return, although it is very expensive.