Today, after lunch, I suddenly decided to go to one of the city's natural parks, the closest one called Leofling Park, which is approximately a 3-kilometer walk or more. However, my intention was to explore some new trails I hadn't yet been to. This is a place where Leofling Park, Cachamay Park, and part of a nearby university share countless paths, trails, and wooded areas. There are usually paths made for cyclists or simply for those who like to hike.
Just before the entrance to Leofling Park, located in the city of Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, I decided to take a different entrance. You can see, through the photographs, that it is characterized by abundant vegetation, including many flowers, trees, and also a lot of overgrown brush due to the heavy rains. This type of jungle vegetation tends to grow quite a lot, but this isn't an obstacle, and the existing paths can still be seen without any problem. So, this path led me toward new, unknown trails, but with the excitement of continuing to learn a little more about this place.
Although I had a minor mishap due to two brushes against a plant we call picapica here. Even a small contact with any part of the body causes a severe stinging sensation that can burn for a few minutes, depending on how much contact was made with the plant. Even with clothing on, you don't really protect yourself from the effects of the plant. It's been a while since this situation happened to me, but hey, it's all part of the journey. Perhaps another time I'll take some photos of this plant to keep in mind as a precaution.
Beyond those new trails I discovered today, I reached other paths that connected to other parts of the park, such as the water wells, where you must pass through a section with many rocks that look like they're from a very ancient time. Incidentally, I'm still searching for some indigenous petroglyphs that have survived, perhaps for years, when some now-defunct indigenous tribes lived in these places. On the other hand, I passed by all the lakes in the park and then completed the entire tour of Cachamay Park, since from where I was, it was easier to get to Cachamay Park and catch a bus home than to return via the uphill trails.
I definitely took advantage of this hike, taking advantage of these days when there's no rain. Although, of course, as you can see, the sun was very intense, so much so that by the end of the day I was very tired and practically sunburned. But it was all worth it. For us who love nature, hiking, and exploring places where the immensity of nature is magnificent. And of course, photography as a means of capturing everything I see, that beautiful contrast in these parks where nature is always alive and full of those green hues that can generally be appreciated year-round, but even more so during the rainy season.
All photographs are mine.
