I don't like Easter. Neither does Jesus (I think).

I crossed the border into Venezuela from the south. I arrived to a small border town called Santa Elena de Uairen. Unfortunately, this was probably the worst time of the year to enter Venezuela, as it was Easter and the beginning of the big holiday, where almost every Venezuelan take out holiday and go travelling to the beach or to the mountains. It would become apparent that the day after, all bus operations would cease to work for two days and that all shops and commercial centres would be closed for four days. My rough plan of taking a tour of the Gran Sabana or go to the Angel Falls (which both are in this region) was quickly demolished. There was absolutely nothing to do except to stroll deserted streets with closed shops. To find an open Internet café was not to think about. I was lucky to be able to eat.

As a little anecdote, I could probably mention that the only other time I went to Venezuela, I entered just before New Year. Unlike in Europe, where the holiday is centred around Christmas until New Year, the Venezuelan holiday pretty much starts at the new year and continues until around 8^th of January (with everything closed, as it comes). I had a very similar experience back then and didn’t remain too long in the country, much because of that.

Fortunately, the Easter holiday is slightly shorter. I can wait it out.

Santa Elena de Uairen