finally my first entry!

Hello all,

We`ve already left one country and i havent had a chance to even write one post. As expected we`ve been running about the place trying to fit everything in and its finally caught up with us, so we`re now taking it easy in cartagena (columbia) for 5 or so days. Quick recap of what we`ve been up to:

Landed in Caracas (sh1thole) to then stupidly get another flight which was leaving 30 mns later to the undeveloped caribbean islands of Los roques. The people of ven`s only stroll very slowly at the best of times, so what they made of 2 tall white lanky people running hell for leather back and forth (we couldnt find an ATM that would work, resulting in me shouting f*ck rather loudly!)) paying for leaving taxes etc not quite sure. But thankfully it was worth the mamouth trip as it had the best beaches i`ve ever seen. It was an incredibly relaxed place, so perfect after the last week before we left or so (yes i know i`ve been bumming about for the last 2 months!).

After that we went to another beachy place (tough i know) called Puerto Columbia and experienced the locals celebrating independence day (imagin northerners on a friday night after there local footy team one the fa cup!).

Then a great 11 hour bus journey to the mountainous town of merida (1600m). we went through the jungle and across rivers to experience the catatumbo lightening phenomenon (loads of lighting and no sound) whist hammoking next to a river village. Saw monkey, tucans, dolfins, rare butterflies etc.

Back to merida we then got the cable car to 4050 metres then climbed the rest of the sierra nevada to about 4500m then across to a village in the hills for the night. Amazing and beautiful views which will be hard to beat!

We then had to leave merida a bit early as there was a possiblility of a coup due to some students getting killed a few days before in a protest (about some other students getting killed!) who are all agaist Chavez (everybody says he's nuts and it could be another mugabi). So jude and i took on the mamouth journey of travelling all the way through to columbia (took about 26 hours). we had about 8-9 passport checks, and arrived at 11pm with the temp at 28C. Best to not say any more about the experience yet....... think it`ll take a few more days to stop waking up screaming.

Anysway, will quickly write another post with some pics on it which will hopefully make you all jealous before i get bitten by anymore mossies!