Roadside restaurant – Cuidad Bolivar - 71 km
I departed long before Ernest as he was too slow in packing up. However, the ride to
Bolivar was comfortable and came with a tailwind. Halfway, a truck stopped and out
jumped two friendly guys from Caracas. They took a few pictures, gave me a cap and
continued with their journey.
The day became an amble, and I enjoyed the views and stopped a few times for
coffee. Finally, at the turn-off to Bolivar, I waited until Ernest caught up before we
biked into the city.
Bolivar’s old historic centre features a lovely plaza and equally charming, renovated
buildings. However, the town centre was atop a steep hill and accessed via
cobblestone streets. Walking the bicycle up the hill we were lucky to find a small
pousada behind the cathedral.
The following day was spent exploring the historic centre with its gorgeous ensemble
of brightly painted colonial buildings, shady squares and the famous Paseo Orinoco
overlooking the Orinoco River. The town was named after Simon Bolívar, Venezuela’s
independence hero. Unfortunately, being Sunday, it seemed the entire village had
closed—however, a need to use the internet ensured we stayed one more day.