_{Beautiful sunset at Punta de Piedras de Barinas}
Greetings, everyone.

I’m back from the longest trip I’ve ever made. I told my mother she’d better live at least 29 years more because that’s about the time it will take me to recover from this trip and go visit her again.

_{Crowded waiting room at Puerto la Cruz, State of Anzoategui}

For those of you who did not know, I embarked on an adventure to take my mother from our hometown, Yaguaraparo (on the east part of the country) all the way to Punta de Piedras de Barinas on the west coast. It was supposed to be a 15-hour bus trip (one way) that ended up being 29 hours one way and, amazingly 29 more hours to get back (the delays and problems being of different natures but managing to amount to that exact number of hours).

_{This is the bus that took us to Barinas (3 hours from our final destination). You can see the upper deck glass shattered and mended with tape. Very common since road pirates usually throw stones at vehicles to force them to stop and then rob everyone}

I just arrived, a few hours ago and had to do some cleaning, so I have not rested one bit. I plan to post about the details of both journeys and the short but wonderful staying at my sister’s house.
_{We met this tiny thing. Her name is Kira. I'll be showing more pictures and videos of this little rascal.}

<sub>My mother with great-grandson Edgar Andrés

My mother enjoying a day at the river, after many years, with granddaughter Ninoska and her son, Edgar Andrés</sub>

This trip had some bittersweet moments and reflections that, as I usually do, make me think about our political tragedy as the one source of most of our problems. Traveling in Venezuela, especially coast to coast, used to be an exciting adventure one would anticipate and long for. Now, it is a scary adventure one dreads about and wishes never to repeat.

_{Visiting the grave of my late niece, Edith Nakary. She was killed at the military academy in San Cristobal. After a year no investigation has been conducted.}

_{My mother surprised us with this dessert. They use Chinese tamarind (Averrohoa carambola) for juice or just eat it fresh from the tree. But my mother can turn any fruit into this sort of treat.}

Fortunately, there is still a beautiful country in between our personal experiences and our economic and political crisis. This beautiful country is not going anywhere and will be waiting for those who really want to make the best if it.

Likewise, family can find strong branches to replace and reinforce weak or rotten ones, thus keeping the tree strong and fruitful.

Thanks for your visit