Venezuela - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 895

west of Av Orinoco, hawking empanadas , burgers, fried
chicken and fish each evening.
Café Rey David Av Orinoco, south of the mercadito
T 0248 521 0074. Self-titled “King David” is something of
a silver fox, and regally presides over his popular open-
fronted place positioned right in the thick of it. Tasty pollo
asado (BsF30), sandwiches (BsF15), empanadas (BsF15)
and arepas (BsF18). Mon-Sat 7am-11pm.
El Guariqueño Av 23 de Enero T 0248 521 4940. A
popular place with Ayacuchans thanks to its big portions of
pollo al ajillo or pollo a la plancha (both BsF75). Numerous
ceiling fans make this an excellent spot to duck out of the
heat and grab a refresher from the long list of juices
(BsF12). Mon-Sat 10am-6pm.
El Mercadito Between Av Orinoco & Av Amazonas, south
of Av 23 de Enero. The destination of choice for workers on
lunch-break. Various indoor restaurants at the east end of
the market serve inexpensive comida criolla , but for the
real deal slurp down a steaming bowl of sopa de gallina
(around BsF20) surrounded by knock-off DVD salesmen
in the market itself.
Panadería Amazonas Av Rómulo Gallegos south of
C Constitución. Regarded as the best panadería in town,
the bread and pastries are nothing to write home about.
However, the coffee is excellent and the gossipy staff
provide ample entertainment. Daily 6.30am-8.30pm.
Royal Pool C Evelia Roa next to Residencias Michelangelli .
The friendly and excitable patrons at this pool hall knock
back cheap beers while casual games of pool, dominoes
or cards proceed until late. There's a little-used jenga set
behind the bar that will inspire fierce competition and
jubliant celebration. Mon-Sat 6pm-1am.

Sun only one of the two pharmacies is open, following
the por turno system of opening hours on alternating
weekends.
Phones CANTV, Av Orinoco, at Av Aguerrevere; Movistar,
Av Orinoco south of C Carabobo; Movilnet, C Evelio Roa, at
C Atabapo.
Post Ipostel, Av Amazonas, at C Roa (Mon-Fri 8am-noon
& 2-5pm).
Shopping Mercatradona on Av Orinoco, at C Constitución
(daily 8am-8pm, Sun until 1pm), is a Wal-Mart-sized
monster for everything you might need. For local artesan
jewellery head to Plaza de los Indios (Mon-Sat 8am-6pm,
Sun until noon).

PUERTO ORDÁZ
Most of the visitors who pass through
PUERTO ORDÁZ are on their way to
Ciudad Bolívar, a much better jumping-
off point for the main attractions in
the state. The town is the base for
Venezuela's aluminium, steel and iron
industries, as well as a large producer of
hydroelectric power from various dams
in the area. It is consequently of little
interest to the backpacker and is more
of a transport hub. Nearby San Félix ,
an indecorous and seedy town, is best
avoided entirely.

11

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Built on an industrial scale, Puerto
Ordáz's few sights are spread kilometres
apart. Taxis are the easiest and safest way
to look around and cost around BsF30
for rides within town; public transport is
not advised.
he Ecomuseo de Caroní ( T 0286 960
4464; Tues-Sun 9am-5pm; free), next to
the 23 de Enero dam, has temporary
exhibitions, all with a conservational
theme, as well as a large window through
which you can see the dam's gargantuan
generators. A taxi from the centre is
about BsF50.
Parque Llovizna , just across from the
museum, and Parque Cachamay features
expanses of life-affirming greenery and
some nice waterfalls. You can combine
both on a half-day tour with Piraña
Tours (BsF250; T 0286 923 64478,
W piranatours.com), in the lobby of
Hotel Venetur at Avenida Guayana beside
Parque Punta Vista.

DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange Banesco, Av Orinoco south of
Av Aguerrevere; Banco de Venezuela on Av Orinoco south
of Av 23 de Enero.
Hospital Clínica Amazonas, Av Rómulo Gallegos T 0248
521 2454; Clínica Zerpa, Av 23 de Enero T 0248 521 2815.
Immigration SAIME, Av Aguerrevere 60 (Mon-Fri 8am-
4.30pm). If you need a Colombian visa (see p.489), the
consulate is at C Yapacana, Quinta Beatriz T 0248 521
0789 (Mon-Fri 8am-1pm & 3-6pm).
Internet Don't expect to be streaming YouTube in
Ayacucho as connections are extremely slow if they
work at all. Inversiones Friends (no sign), above CANTV,
Av Orinoco, at Av Aguerrevere (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; BsF4/
hr); Servinet, C Atabapo, at Evelio Roa (daily 8am-8pm).
Laundry Lavandería Automática Acuario, Av Aguerrevere
next to Residencias Internacional . Mon-Fri 8am-noon &
2-6pm, Sat 9am-noon & 2-5pm.
Pharmacy Farmacia Autana, Av Río Negro, at C Evelio
Roa. Mon-Sat 8am-8pm; FarmaLlanos, Av Orinoco
south of Av Aguerrevere. Both Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, on