Dear All.

This our first holiday entry with our feet on foreign soil We arrived in Caracas on Tuesday afternoon and have spent our time since then with Elisa`s family at their house in El Hatillo on the south side of the city.

To acclimatise ourselves we have been to see the local town and have taken a trip into the city, just generally easing ourselves into the South American way of life and trying to pick up some useful phrases to make life easier for the coming months - "Donde est los samuros?" translates to "Where are the vultures?".

Yesterday morning we took a cable car trip up the mountain with Elisa´s brother where there are apparently amazing views over the city. Unfortunately, although we had a good view from the cable car, the top was shrouded in mist so there wasn`t much to see! We then went for a bite to eat in the city centre and a walk around the historic area. As we drove home along the side of the river that runs through the centre of the city I asked innocently if the water ever rises to the top of the walls either side of the storm drain. You may have seen on the news that the ensueing rain storm was the heaviest in Caracas for 22 years or so, the river rose above the storm drain walls and flooded the motorways. Hillsides were washed away and houses as well so that the city became gridlocked. We were stuck in the car for 6.5 hours to complete a journey that normally would take about 40 minutes. At the last count there have been 7 deaths, tens of people are missing and numerous families are homeless. We are safe but the city needs some sorting out.

We are off to the beach house this afternoon and will be there for the weekend and then on Monday we take our first proper trip on our own down to the Angel Falls. With all this rain it had best be impressive or there will be absolute hell to pay!

Apologies that there are no pictures yet but that`ll be sorted in a week or so. We haven`t seen any real sun worth speaking of just yet and I don`t want the first images that we send back to be gloomy overcast and typically English.

Hope all is well and keep in touch if you feel so inclined.

Over and out,

Nick and Zoe.