Yay!!! Walking Under The Waterfalls 2.09

I'm doing this backwards.

My meetings in Sao Paulo were intense. We worked til 9:30 Tuesday.

Venezuela
OK, let me tell you about my first meeting in Caracas.

I learned so much. The economy and political situation in Venezuela is incredible. More than I could handle in a morning session. I learned about Chavez, the Parallel market, oil, welfare (missionary). Pirated cable. The closing of RCV and re-opening as a cable network....The pre-buy.

Sat morning I took off by myself for Cainema. Smiles, only the taxi driver took me to the Ascerca International, not Domestic terminal..... I really did feel like I was in an episode of the Amazing Race............get me to the right flight.........well, I got there, and was extra early...good.


I met a group of young Chinese people from Shenzen. They were working in Caracas for some kind of technology company, and going to Angel's Falls for the weekend. Little did I know I'd see them here and there throughout the weekend.

Caracas to Puerto Ordatz, Puerto Ordatz to Cainema. Its raining in Cainema, no flights. Oh no, if I miss this I'll be so mad. A nice lady See's my frantic face and calls the tour operator to say we're delayed. We finally get get to Puerto Ordatz and I run like hell to the Thernatooooooooooooo counter. Next flight is at 11:40.. Good.

The boarding pass is a cardboard leaflet like a bookmark. Its a 15 seater and I'm just so happy to get going. Its a beautiful trip but I fall asleep........when we land we are in paradise. The lodge is just 5 minutes away. We eat lunch and to my great surprise we go out all afternoon on one of the most amazing places I've ever set foot on.........Three small waterfalls, hiking through El Sapo--The Frog's Falls all afternoon.

We hike, we boat, I feel ridiculous for carrying my maroon red Prume handbag but that's all I had. We need to leave it in certain places, I do passport and all....All is well when I return.

I swim like there's no tomorrow towards the falls but realize by the time I get back it will be half an hour so I come back. We all love the swimming. I'm afraid my suit won't dry........any woman swimmer knows the worst feeling is to have to big fat wet circles around your breasts, so I pull out the pads from my suit when no one is looking. All the other young women are in gorgeous bikini's so they can tell how old I am by my suit......I shove the pads in my pocket book, oh well. We walk and I'm glad I dressed the way I did.

We walk under the falls, 3 of us hold hands high and yell YAY!!!!!!!!.... It is me, Luis, Carolina, YAY!!!!!! I smile, We smile, now I know what it feels like to walk under a waterfall.

Julie