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If you roll into the capital of Anzoátegui state and skip the climb up El Morro Hill, you might just miss one of the city’s crown jewels. Truth be told, we’ve got deep roots tied to the Barcelona–Lecherías–Puerto La Cruz corridor—three towns that grew up doing their own thing until time and the oil boom stitched them together. These days, it’s a sprawling metro zone. Lecherías ranks as the second wealthiest municipality in the country, and if you’re driving in at night, the José Antonio Anzoátegui Cryogenic Complex throws down a light show that’ll catch your eye before you even hit the triple-city stretch. El Morro’s tourist complex serves up a view straight out of Venezuela’s oil-rich heyday, and Plaza Mayor Mall? That’s where folks from the resort pull up in their yachts, docking at the private marina to shop the massive spread of stores. And that’s just scratching the surface—there’s a whole lineup of attractions that deserve their own spotlight, each one worth its own story.
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So why are we zeroing in on El Morro Hill? Plenty of reasons. For starters, the memories it stirred up on our last trip to the city, fresh off our post-Vinotinto tour. A massive pedestrian boulevard now stretches from Américo Vespucio Avenue all the way to El Morro, cutting through Lido Beach and Crab Beach. That wasn’t there the last time we climbed up—more than 25 years ago. Sure, the roads existed, but the tourist infrastructure? Not even close. And that kind of surprise hit us again and again throughout our journey across eastern Venezuela. We’re talking way back. First time we lived and worked in Barcelona was back in 1985. Last time we were here before snapping the shots in this post was September 2010, when I came with the kids. But the beauty we witnessed this past weekend, captured in just a handful of photos we’re sharing here, blows the old days out of the water. No comparison.
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I was digging like crazy for some old photos we’re sure we backed up somewhere (never published), but couldn’t find them—and I’m sorry for that, especially for those of you reading along. I really wanted you to see the contrast between then and now. But if it didn’t happen, maybe it’s because the past doesn’t matter—the present is what counts. One thing that really caught our eye was the massive number of ships anchored off the coast of the tri-city stretch. No clue if they were waiting to load up or already heading out, but the second-to-last photo shows the scene. That crystal-clear blue sky and endless sea on such a sunny day gave us the perfect frame to take in Lecherías. The shots of El Morro were snapped from the passenger seat of our ride. Our son @stow01 was behind the wheel, and we were riding shotgun, soaking it all in.
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If you ever find yourself in Puerto La Cruz, Anzoátegui state, Venezuela, don’t even think about skipping El Morro Hill. If you’ve got a solid camera, you’ll snag some dreamlike shots. Just a heads-up: the images in this post were taken with a Moto G84 phone lens. And yeah, we all know mobile lenses have their limits. With a proper digital camera, you’d capture pure magic. The last photo closing out this post is a selfie with my brother Ricardo. He’s the third in a family of seven. He’s the one who stayed behind to lead the business group we stepped away from eight years ago when we chose to leave the corporate world. I want to pay tribute to him—someone I’ve always admired deeply. He’s the closest thing to our father, only younger and refined. I love him dearly. He faced a tough illness head-on, the kind that only gets beat through grit and fight, and though the scars aren’t visible, the battle was real. I love you, brother.
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