Isla de Margarita & a very important birthday (14-17/Aug/06)

Cumana, Venezuela

We decided to go to Isla de Margarita to celebrate, not Fidel's, but Esther's birthday. After another hard day's travel (with freezing aircon again, this time in the ferry) we got to the beach side of the island. Next day we lazed about, only managing to go to the beach nearest to the hotel, and saw the sunset (best sunset on the island apparently, we got the pictures to prove it).

Then came the grand day (sadly no last-minute surprise visit from anybody, you bunch of heartless fiends). Went to the hip/trendy/cool beach (according to Lonely Planet of course) and started with the mega luxury of some sun loungers (been on the floor with a towel, like the common-as-muck people, until now). A few cocktails, oysters, photos, surf 'n turf mixed grills later we headed back for dinner. The initial plan was lobster, but we suspected it wasn't the season. It wasn't, but every restaurant offered it. Being good environmentalists (and a bit stupid I recon) we chose the only restaurant that told us lobster was off the menu as it wasn't the season. Had a slap-up dinner anyways. The pissup is postponed until we find a suitable place. Across the length and breadth of Venezuela everybody gets drunk sat outside the off-licence. It was either that or a dimly-lit taverna with a pool table and an all-blokes clientele (apart from the prostitutes).

The last day was a bit cloudy, so we didn't quite appreciate the "best beach on Isla de Margarita". Tomorrow we face up to the hotel bill. Hotels with bars are a dangerous invention, probably worse than bars that accept credit cards.