Consumerism vs culture… a snapshot of Caracas
In the queue for immigration in Caracas the thing that made us stand out as tourists was our flip flops, skirt & shorts. City Venezuelans dress well, despite the heat everyone wears closed shoes and long pants.
The influence of the US is apparent in Caracas, people covet designer labels, have massive American cars and three out of four eateries are junk food outlets peddling deep fried chicken, burgers, pizza and pasta.
“Try to avoid being kidnapped”
Before we came here we heard a lot of warnings about Venezuela and in particular Caracas. Numerous publications and travellers warn of robberies, the kidnappings of foreigners and wealthy people, not to go to certain areas at night, not to carry flashy cameras, not to take a taxi from the airport, not to engage in any way with the gang members who accost you at the airport arrivals lounge and best to avoid an “express kidnapping” which is an exciting new draw card.
So, fresh off the boat we were a little nervous about what we were to encounter!
Caracas city itself has over 2 million residents and is flanked by stunning mountains to the north so high they poke through the clouds. The diversity of the city was immediately apparent between the richer and poorer shopping strips, between the manicured parks and gardens to the dense favelas (slums) packed precariously into every inch of steep mountainsides.
There is an obvious divide between rich and poor and when you couple this with yearnings for the American dream I imagine the divide is even more apparent. Without knowing too much about the history I am sure this is super fuel for the disenfranchised.
The cancer of consumerism
Consumerism in Caracas is like a cancer. Prices for food, clothing and all the latest mod cons here are the same as in Australia/USA. Due to the (questionable) fixing of the local currency Venezuelans are supposedly the highest income earners in South America, the average wage is US$300-400 which didn’t seem too bad until we realised that it was per month, and that their income is overvalued by 100%.
For this reason it is sad that malls are still packed with high priced designer gear that everyone feels they need. I heard it would not be unusual for weeks or months of income to be spent on flashy items that have no more practical value than the cheap stuff except for the illusion of status.
Don’t get me wrong, there are the same attitudes to “stuff” in almost every other part of the world. It is just more obvious here when you see how unaffordable it is to the common person.
The people and the culture
And then there is the lovely part… The people! We came on this trip looking for people who were making a difference to their communities and we have been meeting them! Many of the people we have spoken to either fits the description or has put us in touch with someone who does.
We have spent two weeks in this beautiful country much of it in a small fishing village on the Caribbean coast called Puerto Columbia, arriving today in a stunning city called Merida, high up in the Andes.
People here have a way of making you feel welcome, everyone gets acknowledged just walking down the road. There is a fascination with where we are from and people have been so keen to help us learn the language. Rather than boring, our sometimes long waits for buses have been met with hilarious and warm Spanglish conversations with much gesticulation, laughter and consulting the dictionary.
How comfortable do you feel acknowledging strangers in the street or sitting at the bus stop? Are you a conversation starter, a smile-and-nodder or do you keep your eyes diverted?
2:47 pm
Thanks for sharing Serena. You painted a great image of Caracas. I’m a conversation starter and have met some great people and heard fascinating stories at bus stops n the like over the years. Enjoy the Andes.
Gabes x
5:49 am
Thanks Gabes, aren’t bus stops such a great place to meet people!! I think there is something about the impending travel that makes people open up!
11:43 am
Sounds you are having a lot of new experiences, and making the most of them. Keep up the stories. ANd keep safe.
5:48 am
Thanks… I am trying to! The perspective on safety is so different so little old Sydney.
1:27 pm
Oh yay …. armchair travel! Thanks for sharing a glance into your new way of life Serena and introducing me to new places. I’m mostly a smile-and-nodder. On the odd occasion I progress into a conversation starter. Sometimes I’m just tired and do the dodgy diverted eyes:))
5:46 am
Haha me too! It depends how much energy I have. Sometimes I am really shy and (if I have been drinking) I am a big conversation starter
2:18 pm
Always a conversation starter!!! Glad the people are so friendly towards you. We’ve spent the last week staying and using public transport in a very dodgy part of Los Angeles. It’s been awesome and every single person has been nice to us – even the guy who almost started a fight on the train because someone wouldn’t move their bag for me to sit down!! Lol. The people you meet really make the places you visit!!
5:46 am
Haha I can imagine you are Tracey! Yes it is all about the people, the food and the adventure sports!!
3:29 pm
Hi Serena, travel has helped me become a smile-nodder-hello and go from there person! I never used to say boo to a goose because I was shy but when you travel you learn to become warmer and friendlier to reflect those around you. It’s amazing the conversations you end up having alright
5:45 am
Yes some of my good friends I have met in bus stops and alley ways!
5:50 pm
Hi Serena,
It really makes me sad to hear how much consumerism has engulfed every corner of the world …. I hope things will change. Thanks for the post and the updates on your project. Looking forward to hearing more.
5:43 am
Thanks Lady Rice! I wasn’t sure how much travel blogging I should do on this website but it seems to have been well received!
4:12 pm
I’m so happy I’ve travelled to Venezuela — at least vicariously, thanks to your experience. I’ve been to every other South American country (except Bolivia), and I really miss the warmth of the people you find everywhere (along with the “watch out! this place is dangerous” warnings).
Like Paula, travelling has made me an avid conversation starter. I loved the description of the bus stop with Spanglish, wild gesticulation and dictionary consulting … brings back the memories!
5:42 am
Well a part of Venezuela anyway, the rest of the places we have visited are very different! Spanglish is a language I am becoming muy afficionado of!