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Trip Report #3: Adventure in VenezuelaFiled from Porlamar, Venezuela10 50.32 N 064 00 WJanuary 30, 2006
Photo: David in Puerto La Cruz David arrived in Puerto La Cruz by bus from Caracas on the evening of January 7th. He had had quite an adventure since arriving in Caracas the week before. After clearing customs and immigration in the airport in Caracas, he passed through an area where there were about 10 uniformed security guards, one of whom directed him away from the terminal, explaining that security was high because the President's wife was in the terminal. Once David went through the indicated door, he found himself outside being hustled into an automobile and whisked away. There were two men in the car besides the driver. One held a gun to David's head and the other went through his luggage. They took his cash, credit cards, passport, camera, cell phone, jacket, boots, gloves and hat. They fingerprinted him and took his picture. And they tried to get money using his credit card. He originally gave them a false PIN number for the card, but was soon forced to give them the correct number. They were only able to get $400 before the card was shut out, having been tried too many times. After about four hours, they returned his cards and passport and dropped him off in the middle of nowhere. He walked to the center of Caracas ( a danger-filled walk), checked into a hotel and contacted his credit card companies to cancel the cards. His primary card company gave him 2 hours to get enough money to pay for his hotel, transportation to Puerto La Cruz, food and incidentals. The thugs had warned him not to go to the police, saying that they had "friends" there. He did contact the American Embassy regarding his passport and the staff was very helpful. And then he contacted his friends and spent an enjoyable week with them, putting the event behind him. We had planned to do a little land cruising with David, but he really wanted to go sailing and to see Los Roques. So, we made plans to go there. We thought we might stop at some of the islands just off the coast, perhaps Mochima and Borracha, but there have been some nasty robberies and assaults there in the last month, so we finally decided to go to Tortuga, further from the coast and safe. Before leaving, however, Peg developed a dental problem, which she recognized as a probable abscessed tooth. Eddie, from Tothill, recommended that she contact Dr. Claudia Cifuentes, an endodontist. America Perez, assistant manager of Marina Maremares, called the dentist, got an appointment immediately and then called a taxi. Peg was in the dentist's modern office within an hour, with David accompanying as interpreter. The dentist and her staff were so accommodating and so professional. She took x-rays and assessed the problem, did a root canal, extracted the nerve, put in a temporary filling that hopefully will last until we get home and prescribed a powerful antibiotic. All of this for about $50 USD. We left the next day, but not before calling Dr. Cifuentes and getting the okay to go.
Photo: Peg leaving the Venezuelan coast behind So, our mixed feelings about Venezuela continue. We've met so many nice people here, but we can not rid ourselves of the feeling that we need to watch our backs! We have never felt so threatened. We hope that time spent in the safety of the outer islands will leave us with only positive feelings about this country. Our next stop will be in Isla Tortuga, 60 miles away. 73s, 88s, Love & Hugs Peg & Tom Maynard s/v Starboard Home
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Grand Daughters' web pages: Anna's Home Page, Anastasia's Home Page Isabelle's Home Page
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