Many people know Venezuela because of their bad economy, politics or crime. Some people don’t know Venezuela at all. Some believe the reputation of Latin American countries and think that it’s all drugs, cartels and mafia. Truth is, that it’s just a stereotype.
Is Venezuela as dangerous as it is portrayed on the internet? This is what a Venezuelan thinks about it.
Do you think that the assumptions about Venezuela are true?
Yes, most of the time. Sometimes it’s over the top, taken too far. In some cases they turn it completely upside down, it’s funny. Looking at tourism, Venezuela is amazing, in some cases better than other Latin American countries. It offers so many beautiful places, people have no idea. You really can find any type of tourism there.
Is Venezuela dangerous? If so, why?
It can be dangerous. Sometimes it’s taken over the top. I think that if you speak Spanish, it’s just like any Latin American country. For sure you have to be careful. Don’t show off, don’t act like you have everything and you can do anything because you could catch the attention of some bad people. Same as if you are looking for problems. It’s also about mentality, don’t be scared and don’t think that something bad is for sure gonna happen. It’s also about luck a little, you could end up in a bad place if you are not careful.
In Venezuela money is power. It takes over society. Basically it’s a haven for tax frauds, theft and corruption. There is a city called Lecheria, it’s a city of the rich. They have villas by the sea with private yachts. While most of the society lives in poverty, these people can do anything. With money you can bend the law, control police, offices and people. People with money don’t want to leave Venezuela.
What is Venezuela’s biggest problem?
I think it has a mix of many problems that form a whole, making the situation as it is. Definitely a big part is politics. Others are unstable electricity, lack of clean water, low salaries causing lack of food. In the past when the salaries were enough, people could live quite well, afford at least the basics. These days the situation makes people do bad things. For some, scamming and stealing is the only way to live. They go for the gangster mentality because it’s easier that way. Some parents raise their kids that way too. Police are corrupted, so bad people don’t always go to jail. Others have a poor mentality, they expect everything for free from the government not looking at consequences of those actions. If they get it, they blindly follow, ignoring the fact that it cost them something else.
Do you think that the situation could change in the future?
With this mentality no. Even tho some people start to realize the situation, it’s too less. I think one day it could change but not anytime soon. People are getting tired of the politics but the poor mentality runs too deep. The kids have to be re-educated. If new laws are gonna be made but nobody will follow them it won’t help. If politics will change, people also have to change some ways of thinking and living. Then and only then the situation might change for the better.
Why did you leave Venezuela?
I wanted a change, I was bored of this way of living. I felt like I couldn’t do anything with my life. I couldn’t follow my dreams and working hard was not enough. I didn’t have many opportunities, I was stuck. This is just my point of view. I wanted to live in a country with opportunities. I also didn’t like the fact that the electricity was unstable. It was quite annoying to work hard on something and then losing everything because the electricity just went off. I was also in a poor financial situation. I couldn’t afford hobbies, sometimes I couldn’t go out with friends or I had nothing to do. Me and my friends, we had to collect money together to do some activities.
I think the biggest reason for people to escape Venezuela is money. Another reason is also danger but almost always it’s money. People don’t have money to eat, not to mention to support their whole family. Often one person leaves to countries like Spain, Colombia, Germany or the USA just to work and live all alone, and send money to the rest of their family.
Would you go back to Venezuela?
That’s a tough question. In my situation I can’t. I would like to visit my family and some places in Venezuela, I haven’t seen enough yet. I wouldn’t live there if nothing’s gonna change. I have a good quality of life now, it wouldn’t be smart to go back. The only reason why I could imagine going back is my family, but still only if the quality of life would change.
What do people not know about Venezuela? What would you want them to know?
People don’t know many things. Venezuela is not all bad. The food is delicious, there are many beautiful places to visit and it has a nice and often funny culture. You could meet a lot of friendly people and have plenty of fun. The cultural events might also surprise you, it’s a lively country.
What is the craziest story you remember?
I experienced many situations that people would call crazy. I was robbed several times but for me it’s something normal, something that almost everyone in Venezuela experiences. I was followed, had a gun pointed on my head or a knife on my body. At first it’s traumatic but life goes on. People in Venezuela ignore those things and continue their lives, at the end there’s nothing else left to do.
One time I experienced a week without electricity, it was an interesting experience. The streets were crowded, full of people talking and having fun.
My dad was once in a crazy situation. He was working in a pharmacy and one day a thief tried to steal money and some medical products. My dad threw a bomb with some medical gas on him. It made it difficult for both of them to breathe or see so the thief escaped leaving everything behind. My dad still tried to chase him down but he jumped in a car and escaped with his accomplices. Later that day my dad found the car with the thief sleeping inside, probably because of the gas. His accomplices abandoned him. My dad figured out that the car was also stolen and the police were called. The thief was arrested but at the end freed again.
There is a funny story about my city too. The mayor believes that he is Batman. He is obsessed with bats. We also call him Dracula. He even has his own bat signal over a hill. He uses bats in many logos and many places in the city. He is a good guy tho and supports sports and kids good at sports.
Do you think Venezuela is unsafe for tourists?
It can be unsafe but it’s not a fact. Mexico or the USA could be as unsafe as Venezuela, depending where you go and what you do. The biggest issue for tourists can be scams and a language barrier, not many people in Venezuela speak English. Tourists are an easy target for the scammers or people with shady intentions but that’s a fact in most of the countries.
What is your favorite memory from Venezuela?
I enjoyed playing basketball. I played everyday, I waited for 5 pm to go out and play with others or by myself. There was always a group of people I could join even without knowing them. When I was younger I loved to go to islands and beaches. I often went to Larga island. I always felt good there and had fun.
What places would you recommend people to visit?
Venezuela is rich in stunning beaches. You definitely have to visit some beaches and islands, they are like a paradise. I recommend visiting the state of Falcon, it has the best beaches and the easiest ways to get to the islands. Island Margarita is a huge island, one of the best ones. You obviously can’t miss the capital of Venezuela Caracas. More adventurous activities are hikes through the jungle and the Angel Falls, the world’s tallest waterfalls. If you like the cold, go to Merida. You could find snow in the peaks of the mountains. Merida is also more traditional and you can see more culture there. It’s also worth seeing the dunes. A place not to forget is Catacumbo. There are several lightnings per minute over the lake of Maracaibo, during most of the day many days of the year. It’s like a beautiful light show of nature.
What places you wouldn’t recommend to visit?
Some city neighborhoods. The most famous is Petare in Caracas. It’s known that it’s dangerous. I wouldn’t say you can’t go to these places, just give you a warning, go at your own risk. It’s not granted that something bad is gonna happen, it’s more about luck.
Give me some food advice
You definitely have to try arepas, empanadas and tequeños. These are not so crazy and are popular among people. For different food, more unique, try hallacas – it’s usually served for Christmas, it’s made of corn dough stuffed with meat and vegetables, wrapped and cooked in banana leaf. Pabellon is another traditional dish containing rice, beans and other ingredients. I think many people would love Cachapas. A drink to try is Malta, it’s a non alcoholic drink. It’s quite unique.
What are Venezuelan people like?
I think they are nice, friendly, funny and very expressive. They can also be really crazy sometimes. You could easily make many friends and have a nice time. People are different, some appreciate family more and some culture and traditions. In my experience there are a lot of love-hate relationships in families. People like to go out, they like good food, beer and dancing. They make family celebrations where they have a lot of fun with friends and family. Be careful because they can often be sneaky as well.
Did you ever regret leaving? Do you miss Venezuela?
I don’t regret leaving. I miss my family and sometimes certain activities and food. Sometimes I can get nostalgic but I wouldn’t change anything.
This is a point of view of one person, there are many people with many stories. Hopefully it brings you a closer look to the country and people’s lives. Venezuela is a place with a lot of problems but it is also a country with stunning places, good food, crazy people and a lot of fun. I am a firm believer that every county has something to offer and Venezuela certainly offers a lot.