“Food glorious food”, says Simon

I’m very happy to be able to write that our food options have increased greatly since our arrival in Mérida. Last night was a disappointing pasta eaten in the nearest place available due to the torrential rain.  Today however we found an unbelievable lunch deal – we enjoyed a lovely rich soup with beans and pork (grisly hairs still on it), a small fried trout with salad, plantain and rice, a tasty fruit juice and a coffee for less than £2 each. It was delicious, satisfying and local. Everything we are looking for on our travels.

Every street seems to have cafés or restaurants with cheap, tasty local options. Tonight we are making use of the posada kitchen and cooking for ourselves for the first time in Venezuela – on the menu are potatoes with chorizo, onion and tomatoes with green beans and arepas – great Venezuelan maize bread served warm, often with meat or cheese filling (looks like a savoury muffin). All will be washed down with a locally bought berry wine.