I had walking on my things to do list for today. I did not want to drive too far out of the city and so I decided for the only other mountain ridge that was bordering Santa Elena de Uairen. I had to start calculating exactly how much I would use the car in the next days. Petrol was down to half and therefore limited and the kilometers I could still drive were limited as well, I did not want to miss the next revision of 40.000 km and play with guaranty. If I would not find a group here in Santa Elena de Uairen and could not go with someone else’s car I had to consider driving with my car to San Francisco and back again. In that case I would have to fill up petrol but this would be only possible for me with my Brazilian license plates in Kamoiran.

Video recorded in Santa Elena de Uairen with a Canon 5D MII

I drove to a hotel in the neighborhood and parked the car right in front of the door and almost opposite the starting point for the path up into the mountain. The path was even steeper than the path two days ago and I had the same difficulties with my legs. I had to stop twice and have a short brake in order to catch breath and get to the top. Once at the top, the mountain ridge was quite extensive and I could walk twice as much as two days earlier. At the end I walked for two and a half hours before I arrived back at the car.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.

I went first to the terminal for my breakfast, a drink and a Pastel. I had given up hope to find backpackers in the city. I drove back and parked at the main square to give the government Wifi a chance. It took three intents before the computer caught the connection, but it did and I was surprised. I tried to work with the different programs to judge on the speed of the connection, it was fast and I was surprised. The connection was stable and the speed was almost equal to the cyber. I had free internet and could work from the car.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.

This way I would save today 600 Bolivares and was thinking about a decent lunch for a change. I went to a small mall with only restaurants and snack bars; everybody was pretty much offering the same and I sat down at the first free table. I asked for the price of the executive plate; 800 Bolivares for the menu. I ordered the chicken menu, chicken filet, white rice, spaghetti, fried banana and a mixed salad plus free cold water. I was full but still I went straight to the ice cream bar and had a desert before going back to the car.

The benefit of Wifi at the main square was that I could work from the car, have the air condition running and at the same time observe the square for possible backpackers; the ice cream bar was just around the corner, same as the black market for money exchange. I still had Brazilian Reales and I was not sure what Luis here in Santa Elena or Horacio in San Francisco would prefer, I was not sure as well if indigenous transporters were familiar with a foreign currency and the daily exchange rate. I decided to change the money and work with the local currency and keep a small reserve in Brazilian Reales just in case. When I came back to the car Luis was waiting for me and we went to have a coffee at the bakery. He was a bit nervous and stressed, probably because he could not work and earn money to continue the construction of his posada. I did not ask. I explained to him that I needed petrol and that I wanted to take my chance to find a group for a couple of days in San Francisco. In case I would find more people I would call Luis and negotiate the final price and service.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.