VENEZUELA

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SOCIAL PROFILE.

Food
Along the coast the seafood is excellent and other specialities are tequenos, a popular hors d’oeuvres, thin dough wrapped around a finger of local white cheese and fried crisp; Arepas, the native bread, made from primitive ground corn, water and salt; Tostadas, used for sandwiches, the mealy centre is removed and the crisp shell is filled with anything from ham and cheese to spiced meat, chicken salad or cream cheese. Cumin and saffron are used in many dishes but the distinctive and delicate flavour of most of the popular dishes comes from the use of local roots and vegetables.

Criollo is the national dish made with shredded meat and served with fried plantains and black beans on rice. Hallaca is a local delicacy, eaten at Christmas and New Year; cornmeal is combined with beef, pork, ham and green peppers, wrapped in individual pieces of banana leaves and cooked in boiling water. Parrilla criolla is beef marinated and cooked over a charcoal grill. Hervido is soup made with chunks of beef, chicken or fish and native vegetables or roots. Puree de apio is one of the more exotic local roots, boiled and pureed, with salt and butter added, it tastes like chestnuts. Empanadas are meat turnovers, Roast Lapa is a mouth-watering large Rodent, and Chipi Chipi Soup, made from tiny clams is delicious. Guasacaca is a semi-hot relish used mostly with grilled meats.

Drink
Most bars are open very late and there are no licensing laws. Party on!
There is no good local wine, although foreign wines are bottled locally. There are several good and very inexpensive local beers, Polar is the most popular. Mineral waters, gin and excellent (very cheap) rum are also locally made. Coffee is very good and a merengada (fruit pulp, ice, milk and sugar) is most refreshing. Batido is similar but with water and no milk. Cuba-libre is the national alcoholic beverage using Rum, cola, ice and lemon.

Nightlife
There are many night clubs and discos in the major cities of Venezuela. The National and Municipal Theatres offer a variety of concerts, ballet, plays, operas and operettas. There are other theatres, some of which are open-air, in Caracas, as well as large cinemas in most cities.

Shopping
There are many excellent handicrafts unique to Venezuela which are made by local Indian tribes and are best and most economically bought direct from indigenous people. Potential purchases include jewellery, cacique coins, gold, pearls, seed necklaces, shoes and handbags, Indian bows and arrows, mats, pipes and baskets, chinchorros - local hammocks and many other Indian goods.

Shopping hours
Mon - Sat 0900-1300 and 1500-1900.

Special Events
Every village and town in Venezuela celebrates the feast of its patron saint. It is during these provincial festivals that you can enjoy the colourful folklore that is a mixture of the cultures of pre-Columbian Indians, African slaves and Spanish colonists. For further information on special events, contact the Corporacion de Turismo de Venezuela (see Important Addresses). The following is a selection of events taking place in 2003:

Jan 14 Procesion de la Divina Pastora (religious procession), from Santa Rosa to Barquismeto.
Mar 1-4 Carnival, El Callao. Apr 20 Burning of Judas (Easter ritual), throughout Venezuela.
Jun 18-19 Los Diablos Danzantes (dancing in celebration of Corpus Christi), throughout Venezuela.
Jun Festival of St John (religious festival celebrated with drumming), throughout Venezuela.

Social Conventions
Shaking hands or using the local abrazo, a cross between a hug and a handshake, are the normal forms of greeting. Casual wear is the norm. Men are expected to wear suits for business, and jackets and ties are usual for dining out and social functions in the cities. Dress on the coast is less formal but beachwear should not be worn away from the beach or pool. Smoking follows European habits and in most cases it is obvious where not to smoke. Some public buildings are also non-smoking areas.

Tipping
Tips are discretionary but in the majority of bars and restaurants ten percent is added to the bill and it is customary to leave another ten per cent on the table. Porters, and chambermaids should be tipped, and in Caracas tips are higher than elsewhere. Taxi drivers are not tipped unless they carry suitcases. Petrol pump attendants expect a tip.