Curiapo Things to Do Tips by cochinjew

trips to outlying indian settlements

Bimboo the aspiring politician invited me to join him on one of his daily trips to the outlying indian villages.
Rather than the wooden ballahoo, he had a comfortable boat with cushions and within half an hour, five minutes of which was through rain which hurt your face as it hit you, we arrived at a cluster of palafitos.
Sat outside while the politicking went on inside, indians arriving every minute from various palafitos with their grievances and also with their gifts.
Reminded me of a scene from the Suffrage of Elvira by VS Naipaul

Address: Delta Amaucuro, near Curiapo

Directions: From Curiapo in any direction, within hours you can visit many many palafitos and indian villages, the largest of which is Guayo

get invited for lunch or dinner

I had met this family on my last trip to Curiapo and they were all smiles and hugs and kisses when I arrived this time, barely five months after the last one. They immediately started to prepare dinner, eventhough I had already been invited to dinner at another place. I had to rush back and tell them that i will take a raincheck on the dinner and spent the evening with this family. All the members of the family busied themselves and soon a nice dinner was ready.. with guyanese wine of course!

Address: any of the houses of your friends in curiapo

Visit to the Hospital

If you are not in the medical profession, this might be of little interest to you. But the greatest humanitarian help in Latin America is the Medical Help offered by the Republic of Cuba to Venezuelan poor. Even in this outpost, there are four health professionals including two doctors from Cuba! A small laboratory, a eyeglass distribution centre, a pharmacy and all the minor needs of an isolated population of a couple of thousand!
Viva Chavez! Viva Fidel!

Address: Curiapo

visit the local church

Most of the criollos are devout catholics. Indians are indifferent but cling on to their faith, even giving lip service to the padre and other missionary types who visit...
Many guyanese maintain their ancestral hindoo faith

Address: curiapo

meet the historian of the town.. Sr Lugo

Indalacio Lugo who lives right at the malecon facing the big river is a treasure trough of information about the region. He is proud of the fact that all his eight children are educated or being educated.. at the university level.. Two daughters are in Cuba studying medicine and the third one soon to follow!
He knows the history of the place intimately ..

plaza bolivar

as in any other bolivarian city of this bolivarian republic, the main plaza around which are government offices is called plaza bolivar. in the evening, it is lit, so many people including lovers come to chat...also buy beer or other goods from one of the many stores that line the streets

A bend in the River

Savitri Gomez is an east indian from Guyana and a trader. she buys things in caracas and trades it along the tributaries of the river. mostly to indians who come to her house which resembles a palafito itself.
she is extraordinarily generous. I had called her from Miami and she had organized my trip from Barrancas to Curiapo and if she was in Barrancas, would have personally brought me over to curiapo.
Hard working lady, who keeps a home in Barrancas as well, humble and proud of her family