An unprecedented experience in my life

This year, 2026, definitely started with a lot of intensity. You are probably aware that, a few days ago, there was military action in Venezuela carried out by the United States, in which Nicolás Maduro and his wife were removed. The purpose of this post is not to discuss whether it was right or wrong, legal or illegal, but to recount my experience at the moment we learned of this situation.

I live right next to El Libertador Air Base, which is one of the central hubs of Venezuelan aviation. When, in the early hours of the morning, we learned that a bombing was taking place in Caracas, the entire population and the residents of the neighborhood where I live were put on alert; there was a high possibility that the base would also be attacked. At around 3:00 a.m., we saw how practically all the neighbors began to evacuate. Some did so calmly, while others were terrified. It was an unprecedented situation in which there was no certainty about what might happen or the extent of the attack. When in doubt, the best thing to do was to get out of there.

We took the things we considered necessary at that moment and, of course, our two cats. We got into the truck and went to my mother's house, which is a few miles away. From that moment on, our priority was to check social media and try to find reliable sources with accurate information, since, as you well know, a lot of information circulates on social media, most of which is false.

As the minutes passed, it was officially confirmed that Nicolás Maduro had been removed from the country along with his wife. This news shocked us all and, beyond making us happy or sad, it stirred up a mixture of different emotions in each of us. It was a very intense day in which all kinds of conclusions were drawn and various scenarios were discussed. Without a doubt, January 3 will be remembered by the vast majority as a historic and unprecedented day that will remain etched in our memory.

I repeat that I am not here to pass political judgment or express preferences; I must remain on the sidelines, especially when it comes to security issues. In the days that followed, we read countless statements and communiqués from both Venezuelan representatives and the US government, which continues to generate a great deal of uncertainty about the nation's future. As a citizen, I only hope that the outcome will be the most beneficial for this country, which is undoubtedly going through very difficult times politically, economically, and socially. It was a pleasure to share this experience. See you next time.