![](../../images/Venezuela%20Photos/IMG_6045.JPG) |
The view from our hotel window in Paraguapoa, our first night in
Venezuela. |
![](../../images/Venezuela%20Photos/IMG_6047.JPG) |
Cycling through salt flats. The salt is collected by
locals to sell as an additive for animal feed. |
![](../../images/Venezuela%20Photos/IMG_6115.JPG) |
Sheltering from a downpour. The rainy season has
definitely started. |
![](../../images/Venezuela%20Photos/IMG_6100.JPG) |
The first city we came to in Venezuela was Maracaibo,
Venezuela’s oil capital. It lies on the banks of Lago de Maracaibo, South
America’s largest lake from which two-thirds of Venezuela’s oil output is
extracted. |
![](../../images/Venezuela%20Photos/IMG_6105.JPG) |
Behind the altar of this church in Maracaibo is the
highly venerated Virgin of Chiquinquira to whom numerous miracles are
attributed. Beth queued with the pilgrims to see her. |
![](../../images/Venezuela%20Photos/IMG_6071.JPG) |
Venezuela comes from a word meaning ‘Venice Like’. It was
named this by Spanish explorers when they encountered people living in houses
like these, known as Palafitos. |
![](../../images/Venezuela%20Photos/IMG_6065.JPG) |
We found some villagers who still live in this
traditional way on Laguna de Sinamaica. |