Puerto Rico

Can't say that I have too much to update, but I'll give a brief rundown of the past few weeks. Since the elections, things have been relatively calm at work, so not much of note on that front. Something that has been getting some play in the media here recently is the fact that we currently do not have an ambassador. Our last ambassador departed a while back due to the end of his tour, and a new ambassador was nominated by President Obama. During the Senate confirmation hearings though, the nominee made some remarks in response to a senator's questions, which were subsequently released to the press. Those remarks, made in reference to the morale of the Venezuelan military, incensed the local leadership (or rather leader), who then declared our nominee was not welcome in Venezuela. Since then, the Senate confirmation hearings have been put on hold and we're now in a wait and see mode. Ultimately though, the upcoming few months could see a new shift in US / Venezuelan relations. (Note; all of the preceding statements are easily found in both the US and Venezuelan press.)

Further, I'm still in my vacations period. Last weekend we had a four day weekend. Monday was Columbus Day, as US holiday, then Tuesday was Anti-Columbus day, or rather the Day of Indigenous Resistance, a Venezuelan holiday. Regardless of the historical implications of the European explorer, either that of the man who discovered America or the ruthless conqueror who brought genocide to the native peoples, the contemporary implication is that we got to get out of town for a short while.

First though, on the Friday night before the weekend, a small group of officers went to see the punk opera band Greenday, who kicked out their South American tour here in Caracas. The tickets were beyond expensive, likely due to the prohibitive currency exchange controls in effect, but the concert was well worth it. We hired a private driver to take us there, so we wouldn't have to deal with the notoriously bad traffic in Caracas, as well as avoid all of the drunk drivers headed towards the concert, at least with respect to avoiding damage to our own vehicles.

One goal for the evening was to try to get backstage with the band, which we nearly accomplished thanks to our diplomatic status. We managed to talk our way up to the band manager, who said he would take us back to meet the band if they decided to have a meet and greet. At the end of the concert however, the manager told us that the band had decided against meeting people, due in part to a stage hand being injured during the show from a falling light above the stage; one of the perils apparently of trying to put on a major production in a country in complete economic decline. He did however, give us copies of the band's set list. After the concert, it took nearly two hours to move through traffic to get home, but because we had out driver, we got to snooze.

A group of two other junior officers and I decided to fly up to Puerto Rico the next day. The US territory, just a quick hour flight directly North of Caracas, was a nice reprieve from the daily reality of Venezuela. On the first night there, we went to a Puerto Rican restaurant, then after grabbed an ice cream at Coldstone then just walked up the main drag in the resort zone. The freedom to just be outside, strolling, is indescribable. The following morning, we spent a half day on the beach, getting thoroughly sunburned,

then went to Old Town San Juan, where we explored the colonial era side streets and visited the enormous fort at the end of town.

The next day, we opted to rent a car and did something I would never have considered doing on a vacation, but after spending nearly a half year in Venezuela, turned out to time well spent. We went to a mall. Several hours and $600USD later, I left with a new suit, several shirts, shorts, socks, and a belly full of Taco Bell. Not necessarily a venture that would induce much envy in most compatriots, but was surprisingly fulfilling. Next we went to Walgreens and a supermarket, where I loaded up on cheddar cheese, salsa, bagels, English muffins, and canned chicken.

Simple pleasures.

The next morning, we were off, back to Caracas.

Next up, Belize!

M