I wouldn’t say I liked the vibe in Caracas, but Ernest wanted to stay an additional
day. Not a great deal was happening in the city, shops were closed, and the open
ones traded from behind thick bars. Generally, people went away during carnival
week, and hardly anyone was around, and the centre was deserted. I didn’t much
care for Caracas and couldn’t wait to get away.
Caracas - La Victoria - 103 km
I wasn’t sorry to say, “Bye-bye, Caracas!” as we cycled out of town via more
tunnels and past more hills jam-packed with colourful shantytowns. Once again, our
path led against the traffic as people returned home after the holidays. The route
descended until we reached a valley, which made it effortless riding.
Following another flat tyre, I believed it time to buy a new one. The next settlement
of La Victoria luckily offered a bike shop. One couldn’t mistake it being carnival
week as colourful banners decorated even the smallest village. With my purchase of
a tyre and box of patches, we headed to the nearest accommodation to do the
necessary repair work.
I was coming down with a cold, and an additional day was spent in La Victoria.