Travel Chest

Travel Chest

My Travel Chest is not to be confused with the proverbial "treasure chest" sought by explorers of one kind or another. My chest holds instant memories as well as those one can savor when necessary. This Chest also holds special dreams, those realized and those beyond realization.

A simple recipe would be to get an old shoe box, label it as "Travel Chest" and each trip you take - drop in a photograph or brief description of some of the wonderful memories. It might also contain a description of somewhere special you intend to travel.

As mine is opened, I spot a photograph of the barrios in Caracas, Venezuela. These are equivalent to the American slum or a ghetto in some city.

In this particular photograph, the memories are distinct. The floods and mud slides of December 1999 ravaged the city with enormous devastation. The barrios of the hillsides were the first to slide into the sea along the coastal area. In Caracas itself the slides were 5 to 6 feet of mud slowly moving down the mountain into the city and over the sidewalks. Automobiles were covered with the slim of ruination. Incredible damage left the homeless lamenting over lost family, property and homes. Even though these houses were made of cardboard and tin they were still homes for some of the more helpless and hopeless of this society.

The rich poured into the city churches with offerings of clothes, money and time. It was a demonstration of a human quality nearly forgotten in some areas. Some wondered if it was an attempt to erase those indelible memories of the rescue squads, the squaller and the simple wailing of a motherless child.

Another photograph depicts a happier time during that visit. High above the city stands a small town called Colonial Tovar. A road system to this town was finished in the mid-sixties and the people of Tovar were able to share with the world their packed sausages and thus sustain a village.

The climb up to 13,000 feet on switchbacks left us breathless and found us in total awe of the absolutely breathtaking village before us. It was as if we had discovered a secret alpine village, dressed in all their wonderful finery and poised to please.

We chose the "Tovar Cafe" for lunch after much exploration of the wonderful little town. The selections on the menu which were complete with "bratwurst and kraut". Traveling back down the mountain found everyone very quiet and in a very pensive mood.

Chavez is the elected president of Venzeula. He came forth as a people candidate and is still the seat of power even though there have been attempts to overthrow the government.

Bong, Bong, Bong. The bonging sound, during our stay ,was the actual act of the citizens of Caracas going into the street and banging pots and pans during a certain time. The certain time was when Chavez would be on prime time TV and would talk for hours thus robbing that ordinary working person of what little pleasure he might have.

Next to the explosion of the rowdy crowds of a soccer game, the banging and bonging sounds took on a life of their own and soon developed into "salsa" music. The streets were already adorned with Christmas decorations and everything appeared to take on an atmosphere of "carnaval".

One of the scenes of visitation for families is the family park in downtown Caracas. Children of all ages seemed to enjoy the park. Many were running and playing. One of the activities was that of feeding the fish in the pond. These fish were of the pirahana family, swam on their sides and quickly devoured the crumbs provided.

One of the most stimulating experiences was that of being evacuated during the floods and mudslides. It is truly amazing to visit other countries. Most people come away with the feeling of being tremendously fortunate in being an American.

Perhaps the most funny moment was in going through the security. The bell had gone off for the third time and the realization that the attendant was at wits end was intriguing until he poked and finally pulled from the suitcase an underwire bra. My of My, what a wonderful day!

Let's close the chest for now and visit another time and place real soon.