Venezuela

 Hey there guys! After a wonderful time in Mexico, I'm writing to you from Venezuela! Venezuela is a absolutely beautiful country in South America. In this blog, I'm going to take you on the premium culture tour around Venezuela! We're going to see one of the best sites I've ever been to, so stay tuned for that. On top of it, we're going to hear the fascinating stories of El Silbon and La Sayona. So enjoy the wonders that can be found within Venezuela, and it's deep culture!

Venezuela is a country in the northern part of South America with a population of 33.7 million. The capital, Caracas, is the country's primary source of tourism, commerce and education. Here, an American dollar is going to be equal to about 24 Venezuelan Bolivar. Venezuela features beautiful landmarks such as the world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls, and the largest lake in South America, Lake Maracaibo.

I first began my trip through Venezuela by searching for some stories to listen to. I sat down at a wonderful restaurant in Caracas known as La Casa Bistro. It was a restaurant with some of the nicest staff I have met and some of the best food I've had. My favorite was this absolutely breathtaking carrot cake, seen being held by the waitstaff in the picture below.

After my meal, I had a conversation with a young mother who was there with her children. I asked her about what kinds of stories they had here in Venezuela. She told me about one she had a fascination in since she was a young child, one known as El Silbon, the whistler. 

"I was told all about El Silbon by my grandmother. El Silbon was a spoiled young man who didn't quite know the meaning of no. One day he was quite hungry for venison, his favorite meat. His father went out to hunt for the deer, but did not return for some time. The boy started complaining, and the mother sent him to go and look for his father. The boy went out carrying a sack, whistling as he went to find his father. When he found his father, his dad admitted he didn't get any deer. Seeing his father coming to him empty handed enraged the boy, causing him to murder his father. He took his father's bones and but them in the sack, and took his organs. When he returned home, he had his mother cook the father's organs.

The boy's mother sensed something was off and began questioning her son on it. Her son admitted to her what happened, and she cursed him for eternity. The young man's grandfather took him out to a post and tied him to it. Whipping his grandson for what he did, the grandfather didn't stop until the young man's back was destroyed. The grandfather then let him go, releasing two dogs on him, cursing him to carry his father's bones for eternity."

The story of this figure is downright bone chilling. That's not where it ends however. 

"El Silbon now wanders the land for eternity. He's said to be a 6 meter tall figure that walks across the treetops. On rainy days, he comes down hungry for murder. He's said to prey on bad men. Drunks, sinners and womanizers to be specific. They say he cuts open their stomachs and drinks the alcohol from them. He then puts their bones into his sack, and continues on. They say that if you hear his whistling nearby, it means that he is actually far away. But if you hear his whistling from far away.... Then it means it is too late for you! Lastly, it is said that he'll sometimes show up outside a house. He'll sit down and begin counting the bones in his sack, one by one, out loud. If multiple people hear his counting, than everything is fine, but if only one person hears it; they end up dying. The only way to keep safe from him is to have dogs with you, as they're the only thing he fears."

Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. Folk legends like this are absolutely fascinating because you can really tell the lesson at hand and why it is shared from generation to generation. 

Well, that's enough scares for now. We're going to take a break from creepy stories for a moment to appreciate culture in another form.

We're headed to look at the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas. This UNESCO world heritage site was made a cultural heritage site in 2000. This university was built from 1940 to 1960 by architect Carlos Raul Villanueva. If features murals, statues and architectural marvels such as the Olympic Stadium, seen below.

It was made a world heritage site because it is considered a masterpiece in modern city planning, architecture and art. Which, as of now looking at it, is absolutely true. The complex is absolutely breathtaking, and the design of everything is truly a work of true art. The reason this place is so important to the culture of Venezuela is because it is considered one of the greatest feats of architecture in the 20th century. The land the university was built upon was a donation made by Simon Bolivar. Over a dozen artists helped bring this modern marvel to life. Some of the most notable examples of the work done can be seen in pictures below.

Absolutely wonderful. Just takes your breath away.

After looking at the wonderful site of the University, I decided to resign myself to the hotel for the evening. I spent my last moments in Venezuela speaking to some more of the locals. I had been staying in the Melia Caracas. A phenomenal hotel in the capital city. 5 stars, a pool and spa, comfortable rooms and all you need to make your stay the best possible. 

 

Anyway, I was in the lobby speaking to a nice young man who had lots to share. After some time of conversation, I asked him what some of the stories he remembered from his childhood were, and one immediately came to mind. The story of La Sayona. 

"Ah yes, I do know of one story. This one always made me remember to be faithful because if not, I was scared of La Sayona coming after me. This is how my mother told it to me. La Sayona was a beautiful young woman named Casilda. She was an elegant woman who got married to a loving and loyal man who she had a son with. She attracted the attention of a man who couldn't quite take no for an answer. One day while bathing in the river she caught the man spying on her. In a desperate attempt to seem innocent, the man said that he wasn't spying on her, but that he was there to warn her about how her husband was cheating on her with her own mother.

Casilda, put into a blind fit of rage, ran into town. She went to her home, where she found her husband and son there asleep. To get revenge on her husband, she lit the house ablaze with her husband and son inside. She then went to her mother's home where she stabbed her mother with a machete. Her mother, even while being attacked, claimed innocence. As her mother was lying there, she cursed Casilda to become Sayona and that she must avenge all women by killing unfaithful husbands! She roams the land, attracting unfaithful husbands with her beauty and charm. Luring them in with her good looks, and then killing them for being unfaithful to their wives."

Disturbing. It is interesting to find how parents will tell their children stories like this. It makes you wonder if they truly believe the tales themselves or if they just want to make sure their children lead good lives by scaring them out of wrongdoing. 

And with that, ends my trip to Venezuela. A beautiful country indeed, I loved the rich culture and the fascinating tales to be told here. With my next trip, and my final one for now in the Americas, I'm visiting Argentina. Have a great trip friends!