Yakera wito!

This was the greeting given to us by an indigenous woman from the Warao community when we arrived on the banks of the Orinoco River 🤗

I was reviewing the photos on my cell phone and remembering this little weekend trip that my husband and I took recently in Tucupita, Delta Amacuro state, in my country Venezuela. Although we went for work, some friends invited us to spend a few days with them.

I had been to the Delta once before, when I was a teenager, but my visit was something very quick. I remember we went in and after about an hour we were on our way back. So I knew almost nothing about this state, its culture or its people. This time it was different, because I got to know a little more.

Although the structures are not very nice and it is very hot, that is not important in comparison to the warmth of some of the locals. They are extremely attentive, kind and loving 🥰 They are willing to give of what they have and share. Many make their living from agriculture and animal husbandry. For example, they make casabe (a tortilla made from grated yucca), harvest avocados, vegetables and fruits. They also raise chickens and rabbits.

A walk in "El paseo".

On Saturday of that weekend we were able to go to a place they call "El paseo". According to what they tell us, there you can see one of the most beautiful sunsets there is, so it is the most beautiful attraction in the Delta and something that people are looking to see.

I was eager to take pictures of that sunset, but the car that was going to take us there was late, so the sunset was almost over. Still, we were able to walk around and take a look at some of the things that are there.

The walk is so long that as it gets dark you get all kinds of things to entertain. They have a big structure called the conch (because of its half round shape) and it's where they sometimes do events. There is a place with exercise machines, people can also ride bicycles, there are lots of fast food vendors selling pizzas, hot dogs, hamburgers and meat skewers. We saw a bouncy castle for kids and a boy with several blank canvases for kids to draw and paint if they pay some money.

What most caught my attention was to see the number of indigenous people living on the riverbank. According to the people, although some of them have their houses, they prefer to be there because it is part of their culture to live that way.

Some children were bathing on the river bank, others were playing ball or just running, some adults were lying in hammocks, washing clothes, cooking or just talking among themselves. Still others were in small boats with oars.

In one photo you can see one of the small houses where the indigenous people live. In another, in the distance, you can see one of the boats they use. And, before leaving, I couldn't help taking this picture with the Tucupita sign.

We walked and talked for a while until it was time to go home.

I left wanting to return, someday, soon 💜