El Avila represents this paradise of hope that we call Venezuela

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, March 07, 2003 By: Thais J. Gangoo

VHeadline.com lifestyle correspondent Thais J. Gangoo writes: A light blue sky is our roof and we all try to see what it is under it.

But, do we really see what we have? Do we know the things we can’t touch with our hands, but we can see with our eyes ... and feel in our hearts?

Being adults is the 'real world' for some ... however, for some others, trying to be kids for a minute seems to be what they have always been waiting for since they grew up.

Have you ever wondered if it's possible for us to feel what our Venezuelan kids feel?

Some people have found an answer to that question and it's is very true when we say that … “the best things in the world are for free.”

Venezuela has some of the most amazing places on Earth. Moreover, we have what some friends of mine call “Our Sacred Mountain” ... El Avila ... a place where you can feel completely free and it’s all yours…

No matter if you are kid or an adult, people just seem to find “El Avila” a place they can share with friends, exercise, enjoy and even play like kids again. Each weekend, people from all over the place climb that mountain with nothing else in their minds but joy.

Parents with their kids walk to “Sabas Nieves” and “La Julia,” and some others who like to challenge themselves, go to beyond “Estribo de Duarte,” “Pico Oriental” and even get to the Humboldt Hotel ... it's impossible to forget to enjoy what we see from El Avila.

What do we see? We see ourselves ... we see a country and its people.

We see no color, no race, no ages, no political divisions…

We see a whole family under the blue sky and bright sun inviting us to believe deeply that there is always tomorrow.

Being around the beautiful valley of Caracas, El Avila represents this paradise of hope that we call Venezuela. It sure is the place where some go to get away from their problems ... forget their sorrows ... and to dry away their tears.

Even though it's hard to believe, that sacred mountain has been witness of some of the most difficult times we have gone through these last years …

“Red hills of hate that see it all ... in a paradise of hope we must all build up.”