Enter the Unknown.So we set down in Caracas, after the flights from hell on Caribbean Airways (note to the wise avoid at all costs - both planes delayed). This is my first time in South America, something that will piss my father off no end. Yes I got here first!Did you know you can't get Venezuelan B.s (currency) in the UK? So it was straight to the atm - "not in service" - great! So through the gates and immediately a rush of people wanted us to either change our money with them, or go to the taxi rank with them. Luckily we had meet and greeter waiting for us. And what a meet and greet this was.."I'll change your money" were the first words…God almighty what is it with people in the country? I soon found out that the official currency rate of 3.4 to the pound or 2.4 to the US dollar was worth double, if not triple on the black market! So if we exchanged 100 dollars legally we got 220 but with random people in the street we got 400-450! Definitely a tip.. take US dollars… don't use your cards.Anyhow so the trip into Caracas was pleasant, although the driver Venezuelan German Veronica (very strange!) was unwilling to talk politics, I simply got ignored when I asked her her opinion on Chavez? To be expected I assume…Entering the mountains, my god you should see this place, thousands of slums built into the mountainside, like nothing I had seen before, not in Asia, Australasia, Europe, or Africa. Although I am sure there are millions in Africa, I just haven't seen them like this, built into the mountainside, surrounded by lush greenery.Veronica told us, they were Illegal immigrants, from the likes of the Dominican Republic, Mexico and some worse off South American nations. Think of living with no electricity? No water? No heating? And 6 people sleeping in one room… I remember seeing these type of shelters in Asia. Makes you appreciate what you do have, I tell you now! Over the mountains stood Caracas, a metropolis of high rise buildings and built up roads. Western culture has definitely had its way with this "port into South America" with hair colouring advertisements everywhere, closely followed by Coke (as always), McDonalds and Nike.The funniest thing I found though was a advertisement for the local political leader - name of STALIN! I mean come on….. who could get away with that name these days?Its quite a site though a city encased behind such lush green mountains. I would say picturesque in a unique kind of way. So after Veronica promised to take us into the bus station and look after us, she left us at the bus station clueless. And believe me in a country where not many people speak English, its very daunting. Luckily we found our way through the crowds and got on the right bus. I have to say we were very cautious entering Caracas as we were informed that it is the most dangerous city in all of South America, including Bogotá and Sao Paolo. So it was onto the bus for our journey to Ciudad Bolivar - I'll leave you with this thought buhhhh it's a bit cold on here L