Anaco – Barcelona - 90 km
Barcelona turned out more fascinating than anticipated. Founded in 1671, the
centre was graced by an ensemble of old colonial buildings and churches. The
bustling pedestrian mall was crammed with clothing traders and delicious-looking
food.
That evening, while looking at the map, it dawned upon me that I had crossed yet
one more continent. South America took a while, but I finally arrived at the
Caribbean coast of Venezuela.
Barcelona - Puerto Píritu - 60 km
The 60 kilometres between Barcelona and Puerto Piritu was peppered with carts,
selling freshly-baked pies, and quite impossible to resist. A short ride took us to
Puerto Píritu, and I had my first glimpse of the Caribbean Sea. As anticipated, the
coast revealed the obligatory palm trees and hammocks.
Staying right on the Caribbean coast would’ve been the cherry on the cake, but
lodging was more challenging than foreseen and, in the end, we settled for digs in
one of the alleys. Rooms were rented by the hour, and customers were coming and
going all night, precisely on the hour.
Instead of listening to our next-door lovers’ oohs and aahs, I walked to the lagoon
and was rewarded with a gorgeous sunset. Brown pelicans descended upon the
quayside where fishermen cleaned fish, waiting their turn for bits thrown their way.