It's well known that some people are scared about Venezuela's situation -delinquency, politics, more delinquency...- and only can visit the capital city or Margarita Island -if not the Angel Falls, in Canaima- y they count with a good partners. I cannot blame them, i could feel the same as them, and more than that because i am a citizen and i could be harassed any time.

But my intentions for this post is make a good guide for my city, Maracaibo. I gonna make a quick one because i have no time in my office to extend. I got a lot of job to do. So, i will just make good and useful things to consider while visiting when you have feelings to visit this harmful place:

First to all, this place is one of the warmest of Venezuela. The temperature here from may to october is up to 40° C everyday. Only when it rains here, the weather could be cooled. So, if you came here from a cool place you must wear light and fresh clothes.

When using cash, use local cash ONLY. Never use the dollar or other strong foreign cash here because thieves or similars desires that a lot. I recommend you to exchange it in Bogota, Colombia before you go to Maracaibo or any place in Venezuela. Official Venezuelan exhange is not recognized -sadly- overseas. You can keep your ammout in Bitcoins -or any crypto -to change here in Localbitcoins or other supported exchange in Venezuela. Preffered, you must pay in Credit Cards or Debit, those are supported

When you walk around in the streets or any place, never use -or be careful while using-some expensive things like cellphone or any jewelry

Here is a public transportation Shortage. I recommend you to rent a car. I f you came here through plane, in the local airport is some of car rental stores. I hope you go well with it. Never drive into the night in some unknown places

The recomended hotels you can hospedate yourself are: Hotel Maruma, Hotel Intercontinental, Hotel del Lago -there is a shopping center near by-, Hotel El Paseo -right here is a giratory restaurant in the top, i dunno if working but it's amazing-, and Aparthotel Presidente

Because is the biggest park in the city. Here is a huge way where you can non-stop trotting or go in a rent bike -only you can use this serivce inside this place- in the morning while you apreciate the lake sight and see the ships moving to the Bridge above Maracaibo lake. Right here is a college institution. Inside this park is a lot of attractions such a contact zoo, many restaurants, a gym, and a service of particular tourist bus which can carry you to some emblematic places in the city

Inside the city, driving through the 5 de Julio avenue, crossed near the emblematic Bella Vista avenue is the monumental Plaza de la Republica. Represented in the center with a obelisk. This park is too much little than Vereda del Lago, but much favoured because near this place is a Subway restaurant, as many restaurants and stores like Burger King, and Sabor Zuliano, a restaurant placed some squares down this park. You can see an anphitheater, where you can hear some cultural activities

Those places are historical and are located in the Center Town of the city -However ,El Saladillo was more beautiful before the demolition in july 1st, 1971- . In all those places remains some colonial houses which are the most emblematics of the city. In Veritas, ocurred the car crash and death of the most important icon of Gaita Zuliana in our region: Ricardo Aguirre. Righ there also -in Veritas- is a place of the most awarded iced juices in Maracaibo.

In Santa Lucia, is a place called El Empedrao, the place where some local musicians plays Gaita Zuliana in November. There also is an emblematic church you cannot stop visiting while you step here. If you desired for good drinks, go to the bar A que Luis, there you will be welcome.

The Basílica de Maracaibo is the number one good place to visit -and is the most viewed on the internet about Maracaibo. In this basilica lays the most important figure of the Lady of Chiquinquira wich appeared to a wayuu native in 1709. Each november 18th, the citizens celebrate her day with a sunrise vigil accompanied by musical events where some international artists join around the city

Inside the basilica, after the beautiful imaged keeped in jewlered altar is a scale model of how it was going to be or how the basilica will be in the future. I asked to some workers of the basilica to get known about it. However they said it's impossible to occur that ampliation.

A huge steps in front, we will see the monumental park of the Plaza de la Chinita. This place was inaugurated in 2004, replacing the old park Paseo Ciencias -and before all of them, was a huge part of the Saladillo Town- . Inside the newest park we can find a statue of the Lady of Chiquinquira as itself.

Walking straight after visiting the basilica and the monumental park, after visiting the chuch of Rosario de Chiquinquira we can find the Baralt Theatre in front the Plaza Bolivar of the city and nearby the Palacio del Los Condores, where is stablished the regional government

Here in the theater is a beautiful and antique design. In this place were exhibited the first Venezuelan movies in 1897: Muchachas Bañandose en el Lago de Maracaibo and Célebre especialista sacando muelas en el Gran Hotel Europa, directed by Manuel trujillo Durán. Right here you can apreciate some cultutural activities and opera

In Plaza Baralt are some of old architectural buildings which are now places for informal markets. However, the Venezuelan government is restoring this iconical place where is also the Art Center Lía Bermudez. Similar to the Baralt Theatre -but with the difference of also including an art gallery- The Art Center Lía Bermudez was a 19th century market before its restoration for the actual use in the 1990's decade

The Plaza Baralt is a beautiful place where you can find some fabric stores, a bank -not recommend to withdraw money there- and a church at the end.

Getting a couple of miles ouside the Cneter Town, near by the Universidad del Zulia facilities -a huge place of course- is the Art Contemporal Museum of Zulia State. In its surroundings the most important works of art as well as archaeological discoveries of the region are exhibited

Just a few words: It's beautiful. No matter how much harder is the situation over here. This place remains of beauty and richer culture over that kind of odd. It worth be visited if you read the following warn steps. Here is other places that you can visit -that i didn't have mention due the time taken to do so- like the Bella Vista Avenue, the 5 de Julio Avenue, Calle 72 -which are the most popular restaurants-, Plaza de Toros, Centro Sambil Maracaibo, Parque la Marina, and why not? taking a trip to the 6 km railway line Metro de Maracaibo and Complejo Polideportivo