Wednesday 25th Janauary, Caracas.
My first few days in Caracas have been quite an experience. On Saturday a couple of guys tried to snatch my camcorder at gunpoint, and on Tuesday evening I spoke live to the nation on Radio National Venezuela. It is now day 6 and the Caracas Trollparty has started. The Trolls, invited by SAPI, now have a full program of activities in a large tent in Plaza de los Museos, right bang in the heart of World Social Forum activities.
Read on for the story so far…
Day 1 – Friday 20th January 2006
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10am CET
European Trolls converge in Paris CDG to board Air France flight AF460 to Caracas.
- 4pm Caracas
Trolls arrive in Caracas airport and board SAPI-hired bus to hotel.
As Jose had informed us, the main road into Caracas had closed a few weeks before our departure due to a broken bridge. Our bus took the old highway into Caracas. An enjoyable, drum-filled but traffic-delayed journey into Caracas found us at Hotel Anauco, our home for the next 10 days.
After dinner, I left the other Trolls and went to meet Pablo at “La Oficina” (The Office), a bar known as a favoured hang-out for Chavez supporters, goverment workers and other keys figures in Venezuela’s “Revolution Bolivariana”.
Upon leaving the hotel I quickly discoverd from a friendly local that the metro was closed, but he pointed me towards the taxi rank just outside the station.
It was quite late, I didn’t really know where I was going, and couldn’t get through to Pablo on his mobile, so after a nice chat with one of taxi drivers I decided to get a few beers and head back to join the other Trolls. The Trolls were surprised to see me back so soon, but very happy to see the beer.
Heya there! Keep up the blogging – i have been linking to you and hollering about this on my blog..
have a great time..
Sonia
Hello mate
Really impressed and proud of what you are doing. Nice one. Sounds amazing and like the diary. Cant wait to see the pics and the film. When are you getting back?
See you soonish
Baked.
hey mate can you explain to me more about what this mission is about? cheers Pav
Great stuff. I’ll post about it on my blog as well.
great gun story! look forward to seeing the footage. Say hi to charley. wish I was over there. is it hot?
Hello you,
Glad you’re ok. All sounds very impressive – look forward to catching up properly.
big hugs.
Monsieur de Coates,
You are the international man of mystery! Not sure what you’re up to exactly with the trolls but such good faces and such tall tales! What’s more you are a lanky for a troll – it may blow your cover. Try to hunch.
Look forward to introducing you to Cecily, who will be walking soon and is a spirited little lady.
Take care – sounds like the radar is switched on.
yours,
e