3rd Day - Trip to Canaima National Park

Due to inclement weather, our small 20 seater plane ride was delayed, but we landed safely after 25 minutes in Canaima National Park and made it to the lodge in time for lunch. I have a lovely room in this posada, clean with simple amenities and lots of charm.

Most of the people in the plane are not staying in the same camp, Parakaupa, but are worth mentioning, especially the ecotourist man from Brooklyn who has brought tele-medicine to the natives. Somehow I expected a certain level of detachment and not so much modern technology.

We had a delicious lunch, then a siesta -- mine was in a hammoc -- before leaving for Canaima lagoon. The boat ride was very pleasant - we were six plus our guide. We got to see vultures flying all over the place, some termites in trees and iguanas.

After arriving on the other side of the lagoon, we walked up Isla Anatoliy. After a 25 minute hike uphill, we went down to our first waterfall, Salto el Santo. We removed our outer clothes, down to our bathing suits, and walked behind the waterfall, came out the other side soaking wet. It was quite a high. We took some pictures, rested then walked back through the back of the waterfall once again. We then hiked up to see where the waterfall shoots down.

Another 25 minutes hike took us the second waterfall, Salto Hacha, where the walk through was even more incredible. There were beautiful tiny flowers growing inside that hidden chamber of the fall.

We took the boat back in time for a shower and shared a bottle of red wine while watching the moon rise. It was magical; it had a yellow colour at first, then turned white with a light aura around it.

We turned in early, because our expedition has a 4:30am wake up call.

Canaima - Moonscape

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

Salto Hacha

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

an indegenous man, rowing his boat.

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

I meditated after walking behind our 2nd waterfall. The area was so serene, it made sense.

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

The moonscape, end of day one in Canaima.

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

Self portrait in hammock

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

The flora in the jungle

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

.. in the jungle, climbing down.

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

Life in a hammoc

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

Salto Hacha

Canaima

Canaima
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

Our posada

Day 2 - Flight to Ciudad Guayana

On my second day in Venezuela, we took a very early morning ride back to the airport, to catch a 10:30am flight of about an hour, South to the province of Bolivar, and the boom town of Guayana. We are spending a night here before taking tomorrow´s early ride to get closer to Canaima and Angel Falls.

This afternoon we had rhum and lemon poolside while reading about petropolitiks. There is a beautiful river alongside the hotel, parrots and palm trees.

The talk of the country, as represented in the media, on graffiti and official papers, is the Dec 2nd vote to reform the Constitution. Major changes benefitting the current president which would allow him to stay on... forever.

Day 1 - JFK to Caracas

I woke up at 1:30 am to get to JFK in time for a 5:30 am flight. The plane was very full and overstuffed with overhead baggages that could have been checked. This caused a bit of a delay, but we made it on time to Panama City, where after an hour´s rest, I caught another COPA flight into Caracas. The second flight was less crazy. My brother and sister in law picked me up, and after a short coffee break, we drove into one of the craziest traffic jams I have ever seen.

A late meal, introductions to the new cats, and reacquainting myself with the older cat, we all went to bed for an early ride back to the airport and our trip to CANAIMA NATIONAL PARK.

First impressions of Caracas: noisy, 6 million inhabitans, lots of shanty towns, and most of all unsafe. I doubt very much I will be able to walk around town or visit the city university which is in the world heritage site.

My brother and sister in law´s apartment is in the Alta Mira section of town, with private security, high on the hill. We dined al fresco with a beautiful back drop of the city as our view.

The World Heritage List (UNESCO) -

This is what I have seen so far. The year in parenthesis represents the site's election to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

To view the complete list, click this link

Armenia
 Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots (2000)
 Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley (2000)

Australia
 Greater Blue Mountains Area (2000)
 Sydney Opera House (2007)

Austria
 Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (1996)
 Historic Centre of Vienna (2001)

Belgium
 Flemish Béguinages (1998)
 La Grand-Place, Brussels (1998)
 Historic Centre of Brugge (2000)
 Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels) (2000)
 Plantin-Moretus House-Workshops-Museum Complex (2005)

Canada
 Rideau Canal (2007)

Cyprus
 Paphos (1980)

Egypt
 Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (1979)
 Historic Cairo (1979)
 Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur (1979)
 Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae (1979)

France
 Palace and Park of Versailles (1979, 2007)
 Paris, Banks of the Seine (1991)
 Historic Site of Lyons (1998)

Germany
 Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (1990, 1992, 1999)
 Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (1999)

Greece
 Acropolis, Athens (1987)
 Archaeological Site of Delphi (1987)
 Medieval City of Rhodes (1988)

Holy See
 Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura (1980, 1990) * 11
 Vatican City (1984)

Italy
 Historic Centre of Florence (1982)
 Venice and its Lagoon (1987)
 Historic Centre of San Gimignano (1990)
 Historic Centre of Siena (1995)

Japan
 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (1994)
 Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (1996)
 Shrines and Temples of Nikko (1999)

Jordan
 Petra (1985)

Lebanon
 Anjar (1984)
 Baalbek (1984)
 Byblos (1984)
 Tyre (1984)

Luxembourg
 City of Luxembourg: its Old Quarters and Fortifications (1994)

Morocco
 Medina of Fez (1981)
 Medina of Marrakesh (1985)
 Historic City of Meknes (1996)
 Archaeological Site of Volubilis (1997)
 Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) (2001)

Netherlands
 Defence Line of Amsterdam (1996)

Portugal
 Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (1983)
 Historic Centre of Évora (1986)
 Cultural Landscape of Sintra (1995)
 Historic Centre of Oporto (1996)
 Alto Douro Wine Region (2001)

Spain
 Works of Antoni Gaudí (1984, 2005) 23
 Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona (1997)

Syrian Arab Republic
 Ancient City of Damascus (1979)
 Ancient City of Aleppo (1986)

Turkey
 Historic Areas of Istanbul (1985)

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
 Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret's Church (1987)
 Tower of London (1988)
 Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (1995)

United States of America
 Grand Canyon National Park (1979)
 Independence Hall (1979)
 Redwood National and State Parks (1980)
 Statue of Liberty (1984)
 Yosemite National Park (1984)

Yemen
 Old City of Sana'a (1986)
 Historic Town of Zabid (1993)

What I hope to visit before end of my trip in Venezuela:
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
 Coro and its Port (1993)
 Canaima National Park (1994)
 Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (2000)

Immunization shots for Venezuela

As my trip will include the states of Bolivar and the Canaima National Park (to see Angel Falls), the state of Falcon (to visit Coro), and of course, Caracas, I have received shots for Yellow fever, a polio booster, a tetanus booster, malaria pills and a shot for Hepatitis A.

Plans for Venezuela

Properties inscribed on the World Heritage (UNESCO) List for Venezuela include:
Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (2000),
Coro and its Port (1993),
and, the Canaima National Park (1994), which surrounds Angel Falls, the tallest waterfalls in the natural world.

I am hoping to visit all three.

Next trip: Venezuela

On Thanksgiving Day, I will be flying to Caracas to visit my brother, sister-in-law and the cats. I am looking forward to an interesting 10 day visit.

Dad presenting his work

IMG_0023.JPG
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian

Vahakn Karakachian stands on the right

Dad with the students

Dad with the students
Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian