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I've always loved driving through Venezuela’s highways. After 35 years working in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, road trips became second nature—part of the job, part of life. That’s how we came to know our beloved country from end to end, one kilometer at a time. So when @stow01 invited us to catch the Vinotinto match in Maturín, it felt like the perfect excuse to rediscover Venezuela with fresh eyes. Our plan? A road trip from Maturín to Cumaná, chasing memories and making new ones. Before leaving Monagas’ capital, I had a heartfelt meetup with @nathyortiz at a local bakery. She was with her son Gael—charming kid, full of spark. Over coffee, we touched on something that runs deep: our shared ownership community. I won’t go into details, but I will say this—Nathy is a gem. Warm, generous, and incredibly helpful. She even helped us [find a place](https://peakd.com/hive-189157/@fermionico/la-derrota-es-hurfana-espeng-sports-gallery-8cu) to stay under urgent circumstances. I’ll always be grateful for that. Much respect to you, Nathy!
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Nathy pointed us toward Highway 1, a lesser-known route that branches off from Monagas’ main Highway 13. What followed was a string of towns and landscapes that felt stitched together by time and terrain: Chaguaramal, Taguaya, Aragua de Maturín, Guanaguana, and the El Guamo Reservoir. We made a pit stop in San Antonio de Capayacuar—just in time for fresh coffee and sweet breads in all kinds of flavors. It was already past 2 p.m., and that roadside snack hit the spot. From there, we rolled through Las Piedras, Cumanacoa, Arenas, Barranquin, and finally Mochimita—the last town before reaching Cumaná. Here’s the kicker: the road was in surprisingly great shape. It had clearly been restored, and for someone like me who hadn’t driven it in over 30 years, it was a revelation. Smooth, safe, and scenic. No stress, no drama—just the joy of driving through a piece of Venezuela that felt both familiar and new. If you ever get the chance to take this route, do it. You’ll be just as amazed as I was—and so were my travel companions: Ramiro, Ricardo, and @stow01.
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One of the most striking things about driving through eastern Venezuela is how the climate and landscape shift right before your eyes. It starts off feeling like the western plains—wide, warm, familiar—and then suddenly transforms into something that resembles the lush ecosystems of Henry Pittier National Park. It’s as if western Venezuela decided to show up in the east, just to surprise you. We arrived in Cumaná with a head full of stories—too many to fit into one post. After checking into our Airbnb, we crashed for the night, recharging for the next leg of the journey. Brunch was on the road to Aguas Calientes, a natural wonder tucked deep into the folds of the Pilar Fault. There, thermal pools and mineral-rich springs bubble up from the earth, forming the magical site known as Aguas de Moisés. It’s a place where the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates collide—yes, it’s earthquake territory—but locals and travelers alike have turned it into a healing sanctuary. The water is warm, soothing, and packed with minerals. It’s no wonder this place has earned its reputation. Aguas de Moisés isn’t just a stop on the map—it’s a gift from Pachamama herself.
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The photo sequence in our post might seem a little out of order, but that’s because we tried to capture two full days of driving and road-tripping in one go. The first image shows a nighttime stroll along the Cumaná boardwalk with @edmundochauran—he’s the one in the selfie that wraps up the photo series. The second item is a video showing the fish swimming in the large lagoon—an unexpected moment of calm and wonder. Then there’s the shot of the wine pitcher, taken right after we arrived from Maturín that first night. We were exhausted, but we cracked open a bottle of La Sagrada Familia wine and mixed it with Pepsi-Cola. A combo I’d never tried before, but our son @stow01 swears by it. Maybe it’s the new way to replace traditional drinks like anise or rum—youth culture always finds its own flavor. Driving through Monagas was a beautiful experience. The area around El Guamo Reservoir was especially memorable, and of course, the magical Aguas de Moisés. If you ever get the chance to visit either of these places, do it. You won’t regret it—not for a second.
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