On one of my last days in Caracas, I went to Parque del Este, or Park of the East. I sat down on a bench, and, as is apt to happen, a beautiful chica sat down beside me and said 'Hola.' My spanish was so poor that I couldn't even answer simple questions and carry on a conversation. That is when I decided that something had to be done. Thus, a trip to Merida for beautiful mountains and Spanish classes.
Without a guidebook, I managed to find a hotel in a good area, and a private spanish teacher in the first day I arrived. It was easy to do, but I did do it mostly in english. I also met a guide who might come in handy for doing an adventurous trip if I can't find any willing companions.
Just to check prices, I went to a spanish school to check what a private lesson would cost. For 18 hours, it would cost about 400 Bolivar Fuertes, or about US$90. The guide I managed to find was asking for 90 Bolivar Fuertes for the same amount of time, or about US$20. Just over $1 per hour. And, as it turns out, the instruction is pretty good.
After some searching, I was unable to come up with someone else to go to the mountains with, so I contacted the guide and told him that I would like to go out this weekend. I told him the things that I liked to do (walk a lot, go up high and see some good views, and go to beautiful places in the mountains), and I asked him to 
pick out a couple places for us to go, since he would know the area best (and since I don´t have a guide book). Big mistake. This guide was all talk. The places he took me were nice, but the furthest we went from the road was 30 minutes walk. I was disappointed, and told him so. I told him that I didn't need a freaking guide to take a bus, and I fired him and paid him only for half the day. It sucked, but he totally didn't deliver. The places were nice, and I got a couple good photos.
Lastly, my Aunt Carmen in Caracas, has a sister in Merida, Lucila. Her husband, Jesus, has been really good to me while I've been here. He speaks a bit of english, but not so great, so our main language of communication is in Spanish. He invited me to lunch and made a fantastic seafood paella. He also asked me to join 
him for a barbeque at his garden that is out of the city, today, and it turned out to be his bachellor getaway from his wife. He had the place so stocked up with rum and whiskey, that he will last for a long time in a drought. The barbeque was fantastic, and the conversation interesting now that my spanish is improving. I really enjoy spending time with the family who aren't really even related to me.
Without a guidebook, I managed to find a hotel in a good area, and a private spanish teacher in the first day I arrived. It was easy to do, but I did do it mostly in english. I also met a guide who might come in handy for doing an adventurous trip if I can't find any willing companions.Just to check prices, I went to a spanish school to check what a private lesson would cost. For 18 hours, it would cost about 400 Bolivar Fuertes, or about US$90. The guide I managed to find was asking for 90 Bolivar Fuertes for the same amount of time, or about US$20. Just over $1 per hour. And, as it turns out, the instruction is pretty good.After some searching, I was unable to come up with someone else to go to the mountains with, so I contacted the guide and told him that I would like to go out this weekend. I told him the things that I liked to do (walk a lot, go up high and see some good views, and go to beautiful places in the mountains), and I asked him to pick out a couple places for us to go, since he would know the area best (and since I don´t have a guide book). Big mistake. This guide was all talk. The places he took me were nice, but the furthest we went from the road was 30 minutes walk. I was disappointed, and told him so. I told him that I didn't need a freaking guide to take a bus, and I fired him and paid him only for half the day. It sucked, but he totally didn't deliver. The places were nice, and I got a couple good photos. Lastly, my Aunt Carmen in Caracas, has a sister in Merida, Lucila. Her husband, Jesus, has been really good to me while I've been here. He speaks a bit of english, but not so great, so our main language of communication is in Spanish. He invited me to lunch and made a fantastic seafood paella. He also asked me to join him for a barbeque at his garden that is out of the city, today, and it turned out to be his bachellor getaway from his wife. He had the place so stocked up with rum and whiskey, that he will last for a long time in a drought. The barbeque was fantastic, and the conversation interesting now that my spanish is improving. I really enjoy spending time with the family who aren't really even related to me. 
No comments:
Post a Comment