[Ouderkirk]

I was in Venezuela in 1992 and found it to be like many central/south American countries. Poor but, had a certain pleasantry and charm. Caracus had high crime in the slums but that was a small potion of the city. The German population(s) in the Mountains we more motivated and wealthier.

[DanMiller]

My wife and I were there for about a year beginning toward the end of 1996 and then for extended periods until 2001. Venezuela is a beautiful country with great people, particularly outside Caracas -- although the medical care then was excellent in Caracas.

We enjoyed it a lot and I liked making fun of the place in articles published in the Caribbean Compass, principally for other cruisers on sailboats. I managed later to find some of those articles and post at my blog. Here's one of them. It is basically truthful, but with just a few minor stretches.