Naiguata – Maiquetia - 27 km
Packing up was slow as the festival atmosphere created a relaxed mood. The path
levelled out, making it easy cruising along the coast to where the road veered
inland over the mountains to Caracas. Traffic was horrendous and bumper to
bumper. However, people were in a good mood, dressed in colourful wigs and
spraying us with foam as we negotiated the traffic.
Instead of tackling the climb to Caracas in the carnival traffic, I considered it better
to find lodging and continue in the morning. Locating accommodation was,
however, more difficult than anticipated. It took hours to find an abode but we
managed in the end. The place even had hot water, something we haven’t had in
quite some time. By then, there were seven inner tubes to fix, and Ernest set to
work immediately.
Maiquetia – Caracas - 37 km
Although a short distance from the coast to Caracas, it provided a steady climb in
oppressing heat, making riding exhausting. Mercifully, we travelled against the
traffic (all seemingly en route to the coast). However, the two tunnels we
encountered made me nervous. Therefore, I chose to walk the bicycle along the
pavement instead of cycling as cars flew past at high speed.
Arriving in Caracas – a sprawling, densely-overpopulated, crime-ridden city – I had
the feeling one had to barricade yourself in. Caracas was situated in a valley, at an
altitude of almost 900 metres, with shantytowns stacked along the city’s steep
hillsides.
We didn’t plan on entering Caracas, but we landed there anyway. The hotel
discovered was an old one offering massive rooms and old Formica furniture, which
seemed unchanged in 50 years.