Images of Latin America

Some people may say that I did not experience real Mexico because I went to a border city Tijuana via the Greyhound bus.  It was just a day trip from Los Angeles.  Despite my short stay, I enjoyed the exotic atmosphere of Tijuana.  I was a little bit surprised how smooth and easy it was to cross a border from the United States.  Because of that experience, I thought that it should be easy again to return to the United States.  However, I was wrong.  I saw many cars lining up in front of a port of entry at the border.  It was a long wait time (maybe a couple of hours) to reach the passport control.  It was the same border, but entering Mexico was much easier than leaving Mexico. 

I was lucky to have a business trip to Venezuela.  Otherwise, I would not have been able to visit there because of the political turmoil in the country.  I stayed in a hotel next to the client company.  It was a two-minute walk to the company, but I was every morning picked up by the company's people for my safety.  One day I heard a gunshot from the outside of the hotel when I had a dinner at the patio.  A waitress told me that the hotel inside should be safe.  Despite the thrilling environment, I truly enjoyed experiences in Venezuela.  My Venezuelan co-workers took me sights and activities that are truly Venezuela.  I did not know that the Venezuelan cuisine was so good until I tasted it there.  (Hush hush!)  I also ventured out at a shopping mall next to the hotel and joined a day trip to the world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls alone.