A casual conversation about VenezuelaBy Aleksander BoydLondon 11.01.06 | Went to the travel agency this morning to purchase a ticket to Venezuela. What follows is an approximation to a conversation I had with the travel agent. Me: good morning, have you got any offers to Margarita Island? Travel agent (TA): good morning, let me just check. We've got some good deals to Caracas at the moment though, starting at £430. To Porlamar will cost you £520. Me: mmm... the problem you see, is that there's no access to Caracas from the international airport. TA: how do you mean? Me: well, the main road that communicates Caracas with the international airport has got a bridge that's about to collapse and the authorities have taken the precautionary measure of closing it. TA: you have got to be jocking me. Me: I'm affraid I'm not. TA: so you mean the main road between the country's largest city and the international airport is closed? Me: indeed. TA: my goodness. What's the government doing about it? Me: they've said that they will build another bridge. TA: How long that will take? Me: that's anybody's guess. TA: isn't that chap, what's its name, Chavez improving pretty much everything in the country though? Me: indeed, especially the roads. TA: we haven't been informed about any of this. Me: don't expect the BBC or The Guardian to do it... © by Vcrisis.com & the author |