Merida is positioned at the begining of the Andes below the 5007m Pico Bolivar (highest in Venezuela). It attracts the outdoor enthusiast with a vast array of things you can do with mountains. However for the less energetic it also has the longest and highest cable car in the world (when it is finished being repaired).

For us Merida is a safer cleaner place to relax after some long bus journeys. We have a nice clean room with an amazing view of the mountains (blog picture taken from my hammock).

The altitude makes for a welcome rest from the heat, even the rain and nightly mist are welcome. Most rooms we take normally just have a fan so you are hot most of the time including in bed.

We are missing the western social life, the last big drinking session was in Miami. Venezuela doesn't do bars well, Merida is perhaps the best of the bunch but it needs to be good before we part with our cash.

It is quite addictive watching the clouds swirl around the mountains.