Venezuela

Up until this point I had only heard of bad experiences that travelers (mostly groups of guys) had undergone with the police and locals in venezuela. However, during my week inside Venezuela, I honestly can say that I had no issues whatsoever (I should note, however, that I bypassed caracas). My journey started from Guiria (having arrived from Trinidad) and landed me in Merida, where I stayed with a male couch surfer who took me out wine tasting in the woods with a few friends (see right image). Merida was a nice town surrounded by mountains and a few ex-pats sprinkled about. All in all, was safe. Went running by myself in the daytime along the half completed stadium (as the initial government funding had 'mysteriously' disappeared partway through the construction). I then took a bus to the border of Colombia. Unfortunately, I missed seeing the lightning storms in Maracaibo and the picturesque beaches of Margarita island. I took buses with locals the entire time and had no issues with the police at either borders of Venezuela.




Oh and FYI if you can rent a car, DO IT! Gas is RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP (roughly 50 cents to fill up your tank)