Today was an eye opening experience. After breakfast, we hopped into a cab and went to the Simon Bolivar International Bridge, which is the border crossing between Colombia and Venezuela. Lining the streets for about a mile before the border, thousands upon thousands of migrants were making their way into Colombia and beyond.
Now for those of you who are unaware of the situation, Venezuela is in economic crisis, and almost 5 million people (20 %) have fled. The US government loves to blame the socialist regime of the country, and a small amount of the blame can be attributed to it in the later years, the beginning of the downturn was caused by US embargoes and tariffs. The US government does anything it can to thwart any socialist regimes, as it stands in the way of US owned corporations taking control of another countries resources. In Venezuela’s case, as the holder of the largest reserves in the world, oil. Since the mid 1990’s, Venezuela has faced these problems, and since the death of the first president, his successor has now turned into a dictator. Combined with value of oil dropping, there is virtually no economy left in Venezuela. We have been told that the people even try to use the US dollar or Colombian peso rather than their own “Bolivar”. Even most things we take for granted people have to cross the border and bring back (we watched as pallets of Pepsi got loaded by hand cart across the border).
To Colombia’s credit, the support the government and the people are giving to the displaced is wonderful. Every single person we speak to never says anything negative and merely refers to it as a situation all must deal with. The government, although restricting vehicle traffic, has the bridge wide open with only a small amount of security on it but no checkpoint for passports. The Colombian government allows for free passage of people and supplies both in and out of the country. No bitching, no complaining, just helping fellow humans. Keep in mind, the average Colombian has a lot less to share than an average Canadian does, but still shares willingly. Remember that the next time someone you know uses the phrase “take care of our own”.
Enough of my political rant, and back to the actual border. We walk across the border, mingling with many people who are bringing goods across, once in Venezuela, we reverse our path and walk back into Colombia surrounded by many migrants. We watch as some of the people take pictures with their phones under the welcome to Colombia sign. We see some people crying with joy, others crying while in arguments with family (I am sure the stress is immense). The people you see come from all walks of life. Some are the very poor, some are once wealthy but now very poor. A few have a small amount of money left and are using it to support their travels. The streets are filled with people sleeping, eating, breast feeding their child, and carting all that is left of their possessions. Sometimes only one suitcase, some take as much as they can.
This really was something to see, and the main reason why we came to Cucuta. Something I wish everyone could see so they wouldn’t feel so inclined to complain about the little things in their life.
After the border, we did the total opposite and went to a beautiful mall and sat having a coffee at a Juan Veldez Coffee Shop. The privilege of our travel life being realized. We meet a nice young guy from Venezuela, from a more affluent background, who is on his way to Bogota and then on to Virginia to “visit” family.
We end the evening on the streets near the hotel, even at 8pm on a Sunday, absolute chaos.
A day I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced the way I did, and not the way most have to.
Colombia Motorcycle Ride 