My other close relatives I have in Ciudad Guayana live in Curagua. A maternal aunts, her husband and a couple of their children (the other two left the country; one is in Chile, the other one stuck in México while he was trying to reach the USA).
Like my uncle and his family, I used to visit my aunt's quite often. Either they travelled to Sucre or we came to Bolivar.
However, the revolution happened and widened the gaps that sepárate families. Last time I visited them was probably 2008. I completely forgot how to get there.
My girls could not come with me because they were very busy getting ready for the graduation party, which was yesterday night (hair, makeup, etc). I called my aunt, asked for directions and started walking to the bus stop (I could have taken a taxi, but I was running short already).
For a Saturday at about 10 am, streets were kind of empty.
I was told there was a line of carritos somewhere around this área that I could take to get to my aunt's, but there wasn't any available.
I was told to turn around this corner and wait for a bus there.
I started to remember the área now. Things change easily here. Businesses open and close (come and go) and the points of referente blur.
After asking a few buses, which were heading in a different route, I finally got the right one.
I had to get off at a certain mall, but the driver told me they don't stop there anymore. It would be either the block before or the block after.
That wasn't so bad. I called my aunt and she sent her husband to pick me up.
We got a bit of a mess-up. I got off the bus and crossed the avenue while he was crossing my way. I did not see him, he did not see me 🤭
I was shocked at the changes: whole new buildings that were not there last time I visited. I was not sure if the street that led to my aunt's house was to the right of the new building or to the left.
I finally made it to the house. I was glad to know my aunt is doing well (after a biopsy scare) and that her son, who could not cross the border, is working on México. Their two children who are still here live independently and just come to visit.
My uncle-in-law finds company in this little one.
One of their children came. I met his wife and son, who coincidentally also graduated from HS.
We chatted for a couple of hours, trying to get updated on one a other's lives.
The little one listened intently.
They served me lunch. We had a couple of drinks, and then it started to rain and I had to go back to my daughters to get ready for the party.
That is a story for next post 😁🎊🎉