Caracas Trollparty 2006: Part 1

Caracas Trollparty 2006

Wednesday 25th Janauary, Caracas.
My first few days in Caracas have been quite an experience. On Saturday a couple of guys tried to snatch my camcorder at gunpoint, and on Tuesday evening I spoke live to the nation on Radio National Venezuela. It is now day 6 and the Caracas Trollparty has started. The Trolls, invited by SAPI, now have a full program of activities in a large tent in Plaza de los Museos, right bang in the heart of World Social Forum activities.

Read on for the story so far…

Day 1 - Friday 20th January 2006

  • 10am CET
    European Trolls converge in Paris CDG to board Air France flight AF460 to Caracas.
  • 4pm Caracas
    Trolls arrive in Caracas airport and board SAPI-hired bus to hotel.

Trolls on Bus

As Jose had informed us, the main road into Caracas had closed a few weeks before our departure due to a broken bridge. Our bus took the old highway into Caracas. An enjoyable, drum-filled but traffic-delayed journey into Caracas found us at Hotel Anauco, our home for the next 10 days.

Trolls drumming on bus

After dinner, I left the other Trolls and went to meet Pablo at “La Oficina” (The Office), a bar known as a favoured hang-out for Chavez supporters, goverment workers and other keys figures in Venezuela’s “Revolution Bolivariana”.

Upon leaving the hotel I quickly discoverd from a friendly local that the metro was closed, but he pointed me towards the taxi rank just outside the station.

It was quite late, I didn’t really know where I was going, and couldn’t get through to Pablo on his mobile, so after a nice chat with one of taxi drivers I decided to get a few beers and head back to join the other Trolls. The Trolls were surprised to see me back so soon, but very happy to see the beer.

(more…)



See also: