After a few years, I revisited the city of Puerto Cabello in Venezuela, a place I never really liked, but I always have fond memories because I worked there several times. I happened to be there during Carnival, when many people from different regions visit the city because of its numerous beaches. But it also has its tourist attractions in areas like the Puerto Cabello boardwalk and all its infrastructure dating back to the colonial and republican eras—perhaps some of the most important in Venezuela for its history and beauty; they are undoubtedly gems.
Here are some snapshots of the places I visited, especially the historic center, where I was always interested in appreciating the beauty of its architecture. You can see the Puerto Cabello Theater, the cathedral made of seashells, Bolívar Square, and the grand Puerto Cabello City Hall, which still retains its neoclassical style. I was also surprised to see scale models of the city's most important landmarks; it's like a narrative of the entire complex and history of the city. It was truly wonderful.
Being a popular tourist destination, you can find many restaurants, especially seafood restaurants. But for those who want other types of food, there are also many Chinese and Italian restaurants with special pasta and pizza dishes. Of course, everything is more expensive during peak season, but you can find a great variety in this area, which boasts a magnificent view of the sea—the same sea that connects to the vast Caribbean Sea.
Puerto Cabello is one of those coastal cities that undoubtedly preserves much of its history and, over time, has had to develop its infrastructure to continue boosting tourism. Of course, there are many other places of interest to visit, such as the numerous beautiful beaches like Isla Larga, which I visited many years ago. There's also Fort Solano, located high above the city, which is preserved as the castle that once protected the coast from pirate attacks. Today, it functions as a museum and restaurant with great panoramic views of the entire city.
This visit, which was for work, allowed me to take advantage of the opportunity to tour these places. However, I had to stay with a friend on the boardwalk because the car broke down, and we would have to wait until the next day to get it fixed. Otherwise, it was wonderful to spend the whole evening sitting and gazing at the vast sea, listening to the tranquility that this place inspires. By the next day, I was practically exhausted and had to sleep almost all day to recover.
When I arrived in the city that day, it was very cloudy all day, although it didn't rain at any point. It was quite strange to have a day like that during Carnival, when normally the sun is strong and radiant, giving everyone a reason to swim at one of these beaches. That's why you see that gray tone in the photos; I certainly would have preferred the bright, beautiful sunlight. But oh well, another day to remember in this city, and I hope to return in the future.
All photographs are my own.
