Venezuela is an interesting and intriguing country.
It has the usual racial polarisation that you find in most countries in the world, with most businesses owned by Europeans, whilst most manual workers are from the Afro sector.
but suffers from some kind of isolation.
I think on the whole, most countries in South America suffers a kind of isolation that makes you feel
that you are on an island as oppose sharing with your neighbor.
For years I assume Guyana was isolated by being the only English speaking country on the mainland,
but after talking to Venezuelans, you realise that there is a similar isolation existing here, not just regarding Guyana and Brazil, but also Spanish speaking Columbia, with whom they share the Western border.
On the streets, folks don't seems to see Hugo Chavez through the same hero worshipping eyes as many of us in Europe do, instead he seems to be viewed as an extremist, similar to Robert Mugabe.
Frankly, on the surface Venezuelans have less to worry about than westerners. Where else in the world an you fill your tank for less than 2 pounds (4 dollars), where else can you get fresh fruit and vegetables that can feed a family of 6 for a weekly budget of 5 pounds.
The people are quite proud, and like Brazilians and Mexicans, tend to see themselves racially as mixed, many with a multicultural background, with a wide diverse heritage.
Sadly though, most well off folks tend to be nearer the "white" line, whist the darker folks are on the poorer side of town.
Part 2....Mad Professor live presentatation in Venezuela.