Over the weekend, I put aside my fear of heights and mild claustaphobia to visit El Teleferico here in Caracas. This is a cable car system that takes you into the Warairarepano National Park.

Once my mild panic attack subsided, I was able to take this picture here and the view really was magnificent. However, it also reminded me how high we were and much higher we needed to go. The ride takes about 15 minutes and you make steep climbs over 3 mountain peaks before you reach the park.

Even though when we set out there were a few scattered clouds, it was drizzling when we arrived. The park is made up of vendors selling a lot of the same things we saw in Colonia Tovar: strawberries, peaches in whipped cream, strawberry/peach preserves, and flowers galore. If not for the clouds, we would have been able to see a great view of Caracas from several viewing points (they also had telescopes).

We were there around lunch time and decided to have lunch at what looks like the fanciest joint there called Restaurante Fondue (right above the Arepa Socialista restaurant). True to its name, each table was fitted with two burners. My husband tried a fish dish and the rest of us had a sort of sampler dish that came with fresh vegetables, french bread, chicken and beef; all to be dipped in cheese fondue and five different sauces. The interesting part was that the chicken and beef were served raw and we got to cook them in one of the burners to our liking. Overall, it was very nice.

A couple hours later, we made the trek down and it was completely overcast by then. I was glad I swallowed my fear and took a few on the way up. Admission for adults is 35 BsF., children 5 and over are 15 BsF. and children 4 years and younger ride for free.

It was worth putting my anxiety aside to visit the park, but I will not be doing it again

Like most parents, I am very vigilant over what my kids (especially the 7 year-old) are allowed to watch on TV. Up until I now, I keep the sexual content to a bare minimum – violence is also a no-go. While I think that I will soon begin having conversations with my daughter about the birds and the bees, I don’t particularly agree with the way relationships are displayed in movies and on television. I’d like to think that for now their dad and I provide them with an example of a healthy relationship.

Well, no one warned me that walking around Caracas can be like watching an “R” rated movie. Now, I am usually oblivious to public displays of affection, but you can’t miss these. I mean, it’s quite common for us to see couples much more heated than this picture here – in the morning in a public park.

Thus, this has created a dilemma for talking to my daughter about the who, where and why. It doesn’t seem like she pays much attention, but I know she sees/hears everything. I was thinking of waiting for her to ask a question, but I’m wondering if she may be feeling awkward and afraid to ask. The plan is next time we come across a scene – which I’m sure will be the next time we step out of the house – to casually bring it and see what she says.

I may have been caught off guard with this phenomenon, but consider yourselves forewarned