I am from Maracaibo, the second largest city in the country after the capital, Caracas. Venezuela is located at the top north of South America, which has given us some advantages in the international trading scenario. We own a huge portion of the Caribbean Sea, where we have some of the most beautiful beaches, islands and landscapes in the world.
Why are we struggling?
Venezuela is a country that for many years remained politically blind and believing in promises of progress from basically the same group of people, who were smart and rich enough to run the government. Having one of the world's largest reserves of oil and the largest oil exploitation company of the continent, Venezuela started to look as a developing country when during the 70's the natural resources were nationalized, relocating most of the revenues to the local governemnt. Differently than in many places in Latin America, the people had access to the wealthy resources that the oil exploitation brought to the national economy.
However, having great resources led to high expenses, bureacracy and corruption from the governments in charge. While intellectuals for many years emphasized the investment of the resources in areas where the country could get benefits in the future, governments simply spent, rob and wasted the country's resources, while keeping the population calmed for many years through the private and public media. During all this process that took almost two decades, the quality of life of most Venezuelans, that once was among the best of the region, strated to decline, and poverty levels accelerated, while government officials just kept wasting resources on their own benefit.
Today, Venezuela still has one of the highest national incomes of the continent, however, the culture that was created and developed by politicians of spending money for their own benefit is still present, and now disguised under a socialist revolution that lead Hugo Chavez to the control of the goverment. While the opponents of the government, former officials, attemp to regain the rides of the country in order to get power and the economic benefits they once had; Chavez's followers try to keep some support from the lower classes by providing benefits and goods they haven't enjoy for years. Mr. Chavez, although proposes reasonable programs to overcome poverty under a socialist scope; his administration has failed to improve the quality of life of Venezuelans, who are constant victims of insecurity, economic inestability, unemployment and lack of hope. This fact have left doubts about the capacity of the Chavez administration to honestly solve the economical struggles, even more when oil prices are reaching historical high prices; resulting in an incredible amount of profits for the Venezuelan governemnt.
Even with all the political crashes between inefficient Chavez and his greedy oponnents, Venezuelans are still a happy, hardworking people, who believe that some day everything will be better. People, still have the hapiness, energy and heat that like all Latinos, they are proud to carry.
You will find there a very modern society, technologically and intelectually, combined with the warmest traditions. Other Latin-American countries have transformed their traditions due to international influences, but Venezuela is one which have kept the real Latin Spirit.
Among the best enjoyable cities is Maracaibo. The average temperature is 98°F (all-year long), but you may not percieve it because it is very cold everywhere!(Air conditionated). With a population of 1.5 millions, the people speak with a unique accent, are very regionalist and always are in good mood!. Maracaibo is recognized as the fastest developing city of recent years. It has 1 major public university-The University of Zulia- with a huge campus of 50.000 students at all levels, and 3 private universities. There is also an international airport, one of the crowdest trading ports in America and the biggest and longest Bridge in Latin America, which crosses the Maracaibo Lake, being this the icon of the city.I really would like to encourage foreign and national tourist to visit, Maracaibo, "The Land of the Beloved Sun". A place where time passes leaving untochable traditions. It is an authentic place where progress and culture are hold together to show the best of the Latin America and the Caribbean
Ahora hablaremos de Gainesville...Sigue!