Greetings, dear Hivers.
My weekend began with the idea of breaking out of the daily routine and enjoying a bit of our state’s cultural heritage with my family, in the chilly weather whilst connecting with nature – and the monument seemed the best option. So we put on some comfortable clothes and set off for the day.
On Saturday, we walked to the transport station in the famous Los Ilustres Park, about seven blocks from our home. We travelled by jeep at a cost of $1.50 per person at around 10 am, The journey took about 20 minutes, depending on the driver’s speed. Along the way, you can see that the road has sharp bends and steep gradients, so you have to be prepared and careful when driving.
Upon arriving at the spot, known as the Carmona peak, one is struck by a unique atmosphere amidst lush pine trees and a variety of other trees, surrounded by mist and a sense of complete tranquillity, amidst the beautiful scenery that envelops us.
Upon entering the monument, we first encounter the tourist ticket office, along with kiosks promoting the sale of local crafts and food.
Inside the ticket office (a small wooden chalet-style building), we can see images of the construction process of this magnificent work, and outside the ticket office, we see posters with important information about the monument, such as its sculptor and structural engineer, Manuel de la Fuente and Rosendo Camargo, respectively, and the fact that it was a historic project that took 18 months to complete. What an arduous task!
A large-scale work of reinforced concrete that honours the intertwining of ingenuity and art, it is accessed by stairs and a lift, with strategic heights to boost national tourism with its creative viewpoints, five in total. The first four face the cardinal points, and the fifth is the highest, located at eye level. This magnificent project has reached international scale, becoming even taller, although not as well known as Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.
This monument is located at 1,700 metres above sea level and was inaugurated on 21 December 1983, under the government of Dr. Luis Herrera Campins, who is shown in the images accompanied by the Trujillo family, cutting the ribbon alongside his wife Betty Urdaneta, who was the mastermind behind this heritage site.
With this information, we purchased our tickets at $2 per person and began our visit to the cultural site, set amidst nature and a variety of trees and plants, featuring an ascending footpath leading up to the monument.
Along the way, you can see the well-maintained green grass, with rubbish bins strategically placed to help visitors keep the site in optimal condition.
Being a religious cultural site, there is a small dome representing the modern-style chapel, which currently has only three images: the Virgin of Peace with her splendid dress and dreamlike accessories, Jesus of Nazareth, and Saint Isidore the Farmer, the patron saint of peasants and farmers, who brings good luck for the harvest, and a few wooden chairs for meditation.
Due to the height of the place, we can see the geography of Trujillo like a nativity scene, and in its surroundings, we can see countless crops, the most notable being coffee, cocoa, and bananas, which is why they are faithful to Saint Isidore the Farmer.
In turn, we find distractions for the little ones in the house, such as an educational and inflatable park, encouraging family sharing.
Sitting on the grass, we noticed that mini doors and windows had been designed into the tree trunks, which is an interesting aspect worth mentioning as it refers to the culture of the state's renowned Momoys, so we decided to investigate further. The responses from the workers there were:
Nature is cared for by mystical beings known as the Momoys, and the subject is so broad that they carve images referring to these guardians. According to the story, they are little men with long beards and giant hats, just like we see in the films. Impressive, right? We must not stop believing; there is always a background to everything, nothing is coincidence.
Surrounded by history and mystery, the monument is a place to learn about culture in all its splendour.
Here we can take countless photos and videos for any occasion because the place lends itself to it. The view is wonderful; this is our beautiful Venezuela.
After enjoying the surroundings, we decided to visit the monument and appreciate the viewpoints I described earlier, between cold and adventure.
This trip was special because it’s the first of many as a new family, so we enjoyed it amidst laughter and photo memories.
See you next time to show you each dreamlike level of the tallest statue in Latin America.
I used Canva and the free Deepl translator, as my language is Spanish.
