Due to financial constraints, we were not able to travel to our hometowns and meet our families for the New Year celebration. We used one of the free entertaintment options we have in Caracas: public parks!
We had come once before some months ago, but did not have time to check some áreas. This time, we walked a bit more and had a very relaxing time.
The park does not look its best, though. It's not just the time of the year when some trees drop their leaves. It's a combinación of factors that have contributed to its decay.
There were not many people, as we expected. Most were busy doing their last-minute shopping or preparing good for the New Year feast.
We felt quite relieved we could not afford any. Better save for the hardest month of the year and enjoy some.time with Nature.
No much grass as you can see...
But lots of wild creatures, like this little squirrel. There were parrots and macaws flying over us all the time, making their loud noises.
But there were also quite pretty birds like this one, just casually walking on land.
We also saw some weird trees bearing some weird fruits.
I joked about this one being an empanada tree.
After a while, we finally made it to the little artificial lagoon where they display a replica of the Scottish brigantine used by Francisco de Miranda (after whom the park is named) in his 1806 expedition to Venezuela.
Unfortunatelly, the access to the shop was closet. It would have been great to board it. It looks well kept and it is probably the most popular part of the park.
We took quite a few pictures and promised to come back for the full tour.
After this, we walked though the zoo área.
It was a bit disappointing to see the state in which they keep these wild animals.
Actually there is an are where there allegedly have some jaguares and other felices, but they look empty.
The alligators pond looked and smelled awful.
We had mixed feelings with the birds enclosures.
It was nice to see these beautiful creatures up closet, but they look so sad...
Some of them are very big. I do not particularly like the idea of a zoo, but I think that of some rare or exotic animals are going to be captive, they should create (as it has been done in some big zoos around the world) the best conditions possible for these animals to be at ease.
None of these birds were.
With the possible exception of these corocoras (no idea how they keep them there; it is not an enclosed space).
We had a great time at the park, although we wished they took better care of it, for the sake of the animals (especially those in captivity) and the visitors.
