Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos

Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos

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A night at a bar is interrupted by a power outage, going to a baseball game is prohibitively expensive, and a trip to a nearby beach requires months of savings. But many Venezuelans have not given up on finding ways to smile.

Despite an economic crisis that has led to shortages of food and medicine and has prompted more than three million to emigrate, Venezuelans are seeking ways to have fun and spend time with family in the hope of easing their discomfort.

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
Belinda, a former teacher, laughs after taking a photograph of graffiti which reads 'Normality is a privilege?'

Still, the increased frequency of blackouts and a political showdown between the socialist government and the opposition has cast a cloud of uncertainty, leaving many Venezuelans bereft of simple pleasures.

Venezuela fell to the 108th place in the 2019 World Happiness Report prepared by the United Nations, down from 102nd place in 2018. In the Western hemisphere, only Haiti was below the oil-rich nation, ranking 147th out of 156 countries studied by the U.N.

The happiness report - which in its first edition in 2012 placed Venezuela in the 19th position - is based on indicators such as gross domestic product per capita, generosity, life expectancy, social freedom and absence of corruption.

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
Andrew rides a small tricycle on the rooftop of his family house in Caracas.

Venezuela was plunged into darkness with two massive blackouts in March, generating water shortages and prompting the government to suspend work and school. Earlier this month, the government launched a power rationing plan, and electricity remains intermittent in many parts of the country.

In search of distraction, Venezuelans from the country's capital of Caracas have long taken to the nearby seaside state of Vargas to spend weekends with family and friends on the shores of the Caribbean.

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
Leonel Martinez, who works as soldier, kisses his girlfriend as they spend a day at Coral beach.

"You put your mind in another place," said Leonel Martinez, a 26-year-old soldier while relaxing on the sand with his girlfriend while her nephews played nearby. "It's a way to think about something besides what is happening in the country."

But in a country where the monthly minimum wage amounts to just $6 per month, the $15-$20 a day trip to the beach can require months of savings and advance planning.

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
A bird is seen inside a cage at the beach.

Martinez, who said he used to take the 40-kilometer (25 mile) trip to the beach frequently, said it was the first time he had gone in a year.

"It's not something you can do every day, because of the situation in the country," said Martinez.

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
Anderson Rodriguez trains on a slackline at a National Circus of Venezuela venue in Caracas.

For Venezuelans, queuing for food is a daily ordeal. They also are used to trying multiple pharmacies and hospitals in search of the medicines they need, and more recently have grown accustomed to collecting water from streams.

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
Neidi Luzardo and his relative enjoy a ride, "the most common fun for a Caraqueno is a beach day," said Luzardo.

But that has not stopped Joaquin Nino, a cash-strapped 35-year-old father of two, from taking his kids to an amusement park in southern Caracas.

"We have to work miracles just to have some fun," Nino said.

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
Members of a folk group take part in the celebration of Palmeros de Chacao.

At a parade in eastern Caracas celebrating Holy Week, revelers dressed in straw hats topped with flowers sang, banged drums and blew trumpets to tropical beats. With the sun beating down, one marcher who gave his name as Carlos remembers how in past years onlookers would douse those marching with water to cool them down.

"Now, because of the problems with the water, that probably will not happen," he said.

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
"After the game we always had a few beers. But now they are too expensive," said Felix Babaza.

In central Caracas, a group of men of all ages meet every Sunday to play softball while a handful of their relatives watch. The wire fence that once surrounded the field was long ago stolen. The lights, which once allowed the group to play at night, were also pilfered.

"I always come because my husband plays," said Delia Jimenez, a 62-year-old industrial designer who jumps up from the stands whenever her husband comes up to bat. "We have fun and we shake off our stress."

. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado
Yeafersonth Manrique whose nickname is B-Boy Chispa practices.

A few blocks away, groups of young people come together to break-dance, which they say is a way to disconnect. But some admitted that they had not been eating enough recently to be able to spend as much time dancing as they used to.

"When we're out here dancing, we don't think about the state of the country," said Yeafersonth Manrique, a 24-year-old drenched in sweat after a long practice. "In this world there is no crisis."

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Slideshow

The Caracas-La Guaira highway is seen through a tinted car window in Caracas.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

The Caracas-La Guaira highway is seen through a tinted car window in Caracas.

Victor floats in the sea as he enjoys a day at Coral beach.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

Victor floats in the sea as he enjoys a day at Coral beach.

Oriana Contreras and her niece ride a roller coaster. "Sometimes, the quotidian things bore, more the situation which we are going through. We try to have fun with what we can," Contreras said.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

Oriana Contreras and her niece ride a roller coaster. "Sometimes, the quotidian things bore, more the situation which we are going through. We try to have fun with what we can," Contreras said.

Carmelo Gonzalez dances salsa every week at El Venezolano square. "I have fun and I work. The pension helps me a bit. You have to enjoy life, after you die there is nothing else," Gonzalez said.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

Carmelo Gonzalez dances salsa every week at El Venezolano square. "I have fun and I work. The pension helps me a bit. You have to enjoy life, after you die there is nothing else," Gonzalez said.

Children pose for a photograph on a disused tank at Los Proceres boulevard.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

Children pose for a photograph on a disused tank at Los Proceres boulevard.

A woman holds a child as they get ready to hit a pinata at a birthday party in Caracas.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

A woman holds a child as they get ready to hit a pinata at a birthday party in Caracas.

Arianny Itriago enjoys her 15th birthday quinceanera celebration at Catia neighbourhood. "Now everything is hyper expensive in our country. Everything is handled based on the U.S. dollar, our Bolivars do not have much weight due to inflation," Arianny's father, Ronny, said.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

Arianny Itriago enjoys her 15th birthday quinceanera celebration at Catia neighbourhood. "Now everything is hyper expensive in our country. Everything is handled based on the U.S. dollar, our Bolivars do not have much weight due to inflation," Arianny's father, Ronny, said.

A youth flies a homemade kite made using a plastic bag, sticks and a nylon line. "Most expensive is the nylon cone, which is 10 thousand Bolivar notes (approximately 3 U.S. dollars)," said Luis Flores.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

A youth flies a homemade kite made using a plastic bag, sticks and a nylon line. "Most expensive is the nylon cone, which is 10 thousand Bolivar notes (approximately 3 U.S. dollars)," said Luis Flores.

An empty billboard stands on top of a building in Caracas.
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

An empty billboard stands on top of a building in Caracas.

A sign for a popular brand of ham is illuminated next to buildings. A woman who lives in the building below the sign said, "I don't like to have a devil on my head."
. Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado

A sign for a popular brand of ham is illuminated next to buildings. A woman who lives in the building below the sign said, "I don't like to have a devil on my head."