Ciudad Bolivar was the stepping stone to the tours for Canaima and the Orinoco Delta. The capital of the Bolivar state was the poorest urban village I visited during the holiday. The place reminded me of Arusha, in Tanzania, with homeless people sheltering in dilapidated houses and scrounging though rubbish the city. Here in Venezuela 37.9% of the population lives below the poverty line (CIA World Factbook). This is a great pity and sad state considering the wealth in natural resources (oil, aluminium, steel) the country has.

I couldn't help not feeling a bit guilty of "leading a normal life" and affording to live comfortably. Wandering alone in these streets wasn't probably the safest thing I was doing but I tried to be as inconspicuous as possible removing the watch, hiding the cameras and dressing normally (read: scruffily).

  

The only guidebook attractions I photographed were the pastel coloured houses in the street, and the bridge crossing the Orinoco River. This is the only bridge that crosses the river in its entire 2140km length.

  

View the whole Ciudad Bolivar Gallery here