Entries in Attractions (3)
Caracas, Venezuela – 8 Things to Do and Places to See
Posted by
Yona Williams
in Attractions, Destinations, South America
Venezuela has recently revealed the discovery of an ancient tar pit that provides a glimpse into the world of the saber-toothed cat (amongst other interesting fossils). The kind of saber toothed cat fossil uncovered was a first for paleontologists working in South America and shows great promise in unlocking the answers to many questions regarding the past. You're probably wondering what that has to do with traveling…
Instead of traveling back into time, I'd like to take a look at eight things to do and places to see in Caracas, the capital and largest city in Venezuela, located in the northern part of the country. With a terrain that boasts a great deal of hills and mountains, you will also find that Caracas Valley on the coastal mountain range of Cordillera de la Costa is close to the Caribbean Sea.
The climate of Caracas varies between the central city and the mountains. The coldest temperatures come in January at 72 degrees, while May is the warmest with 75-degree days. A trip to Caracas during the months of December and January are sometimes filled with foggy days, where some nights bring a temperature drop of 55 degrees. On rare occasions, a hailstorm may erupt in the city, but electrical storms are more frequent, especially between June and October – a direct result of being situated in a closed valley.
1) Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex
Best known as the Teresa Carreño Theater, you will encounter one of the most important of theaters in Caracas – as a matter of fact – in all of Venezuela. This is the stage where popular concerts, operas, ballet, and theater unfold. This attraction gem is located in the cultural zone of the city, close to the Caobos Park and the Caracas Athenaeum.
2) Museo de los Ninos (Children's Museum)
Step inside this entertaining, interactive museum when you need a quick fix for restless children. The kiddies will appreciate an exploration of medicine, physics, biology, communication, and astronomy.
3) Parque del Este
For a great place to people-watch, consider Parque del Este, which fills with joggers, pick-up basketball games, soccer, and residents in deep meditation. Some come to investigate the paths or catch their breath on a nearby bench. A small zoo is located on the premises, as well as weekend shows at the Humbolt Planetarium. Keep in mind that the park is open from 5am to 5pm (Tuesday through Sunday) and from 5am to 9am on Mondays. Admission is 300Bs (15¢) – a small price to pay for fresh air and a change of scenery.
4) Parque Nacional El Avila
Hiking enthusiasts usually wind up discovering the nooks and crannies of this mountain-filled national park, which offers a multitude of trails. Remember that you should come prepared for sudden drops in the temperature. Additionally, rain is a common occurrence during the afternoons.
5) Museo de Arte Contemporaneo
A treasure trove of modern art awaits your presence, as the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo is a popular stop for tourists looking for high-quality art in South America. It is here that art lovers come face-to-face with the artistic expressions of Matisse, Picasso, and Joan Miro.
6) National Pantheon
Located five blocks north of Plaza Bolivar, one of the most recognized buildings in the city, the National Pantheon (a former church) is known to provide a final resting place for famous Venezuelans.
7) Parque Central
Step into a world filled with art and culture, where the latest museum exhibits, films, and other entertainment choices in Venezuela come to life. Don’t forget to check out the Mirador de la Torre Oeste, where the 52nd floor promises a 360-degree view of the city.
8) Centro Sambil
Dig deep into your pockets, dust off the credit cards, and trade in a few greenbacks for items offered at the more than 500 shops, restaurants, and other fun things to do at Centro Sambil – the largest shopping mall in South America.
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During a brief moment of procrastination, the Olympics flashed across the screen, allowing me to catch up on some of the track and field events of the day. It was then that Roqaya Al Ghasara caught my attention as she crossed the finish line before the rest of her competitors in Round 2 of the 200-meter sprinting event.
The devout Muslim was wearing a tailor-made aerodynamic veil – "Bahrain" stretched across the front of her uniform. Where is Bahrain, I said to myself and during my search for information, I came across this unforgettable snapshot of beauty – courtesy of Vladimir Arshinov.
Bahrain is an island country located in the Persian Gulf. About 3 ½ times the size of Washington, DC; the country is home to about more than 700,000 inhabitants. With mildly pleasant winters and heat-filled, humid summers, many tourists come in hopes of benefiting from the plentiful natural resources of fish and pearls. Besides catching a glimpse of the Bahrain Grand Mosque, additional points of interest include:
- Qal'at al-Bahrain: Also referred to as the Portuguese Fort, this archaeological site is considered one of the top prizes associated with the country. Excavations for this attraction started during the 1950s, revealing a fort positioned on the remains of previous cities. Seven layers were discovered with the earliest dating back to 2800 BC.
- Royal Tombs: While visiting a cemetery doesn’t sound like much fun, many tourists take pleasure in experiencing the largest and most remarkable of the 85,000 burial mounds found in Bahrain. Situated in the village of A'ali, many believe the towering tombs served as the final resting place of royalty – with some reaching 50 feet into the sky. A stop in A'ali also brings you to a well-known pottery workshop, where tourists often find treasures of their own to take home.
- Barbar Temple: This archaeological site with a religious and spiritual past consists of temples dating back to the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC. Most likely dedicated to Enki, the God of Wisdom and the Sweet Waters Under the Sea, the excavated wonders are visible when traveling about a collection of walkways.
When departing from the U.S., you should know that flights tend to be on the expensive side and harder to locate. Consider traveling during what is known as the low seasons (early January to mid-June; and mid-October to mid-December). For the best connections to Bahrain, Europe is a winner with better airline deals found in Greece, Italy, or London.
According to Guinness World Records, the United States Library of Congress, located in Washington D.C, is ranked as the largest library in the world. This priceless gem holds more than 118 million items – spanning more than 500 miles of shelving. Aside from the never-ending assortment of publications decorating the library, travelers come from near and far just to come closer to:
- The largest rare book collection in North America – including a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and a Gutenberg bible (one of only four perfect vellum copies known today).
- 4.8 million maps
- 2.7 million sound recordings
- The Prelinger Collection – with more than 48,000 historical motion pictures, unique master materials, and items recently named to the National Film Registry.
The Library of Congress is found in three different buildings, each named after an influential president of the United States. The Thomas Jefferson Building is found between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street on First Street SE. The John Adams Building is situated between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street on 2nd Street SE. Between First and Second Streets on Independence Avenue SE, you will encounter the James Madison Memorial Building – home to the Law Library of Congress.
In case you were wondering where in the world you can find other spectacular libraries to explore – consider the New York Public Library (New York City, NY – 11 million books+); Vernadsky National Scientific Library of Ukraine (Kiev, Ukraine – more than 13 million books); Harvard University Library (Cambridge, MA – founded in 1638 with more than 13.1 million books); Institute for Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia – over 13.5 million books since 1969); British Library (London, England – home to 16 million books and counting since 1753); Deutsche Biblothek (Frankfurt, Germany – carries more than 18.5 million); National Library of Canada (Ottawa, Canada – home to more than 18.8 million books); Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia – stocks more than 20 million books since 1714); and the National Library of China (Beijing, China – with more than 22 million books since 1909).