Centro Venezolano Americano

Las Mercedes, Caracas

Advanced Studies
Module 2

A modest Merida review

Teacher Student information

Yánez, José Braz, Daniel
C.I: 29.611.014
Caracas, November 11, 2017
 Venezuela is a wonderful country because it has diverse climates, landscapes and
extraordinary environments. It can be said that Venezuela has a mainly tropical climate, but
in spite of this it can be found in the country, places with very low temperatures that even
snow. These places are located in the southwest of the country and the area is known as the
"Venezuelan Andes"; where are the Trujillo, Merida and Tachira states. For me, the Merida
state is the most complete state of all in Venezuela since in a few hours you can pass
through a very hot, almost desert environment like the town of Chiguará (where
strawberries are usually grown); to a much colder environment such as the area of the
moors called "Apartaderos". This is my favorite city as it is simply wonderful and very
entertaining.

A little of history about the city of Merida. It was founded in 1558 by Captain Juan
Rodríguez Suárez, forming part of Nueva Granada, but later became part of the Captaincy
General of Venezuela and played an active role in the War of Independence. Merida is
officially known as Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida and is one of the principal cities
of the country. This city sits on a tableland nestled in the valley of the Chama River, which
runs from end to end. The town of Mérida is located at an altitude of 1,600 meters. As
background, on the horizon rises the country's highest summit: the Pico Bolívar with an
altitude of 4,981 meters.

This city is really special. It is a city surrounded by soaring mountains and beautiful
landscapes, with a colonial center of singular beauty, colorful parks, etc. It is home to the
University of Los Andes (ULA) and the Archdiocese of Merida (one of the most
spectacular archdiocese from Venezuela. It also has the highest and longest cable car in the
world which was inaugurated a short time ago. It is the largest student and tourist center of
western Venezuela. The mass transit system (Trolebús Mérida) is available as a means of
tourist transport. Even though it is a bustling city and the traffic is awful, one of the most
striking aspects of the city is its friendly, kindly, and hospitable people who do honor to its
nickname, which is “City of Gentlemen”.

Merida state is full of point of interest. Merida contains numerous historical squares
(like Beethoven and Bolivar square), colonial houses, natural parks, churches, and
government buildings that make up the most of its sightseeing spots. Moreover, the
educational development of the city due, for the most part, to its university (ULA) that has
contributed to the creation of museums, libraries, and centers for scientific research, such as
the Center for Astronomy Research. In Merida is also located the most famous ice cream
parlor in Venezuela that broke a Guinness World Record for being the first and unique ice
cream parlor with more than 600 different flavors of ice cream. There is also the Main
Market of Merida which is very haphazard and you can find a lot of tacky things like
souvenirs, clothes, shoes, and other things. Other attractions are: the cable car of Merida
and some cool theme parks where you can spend your whole day; such as “Los Aleros”
(typical Andean village where you will receive more than one scare), “The Mountain of
Dream” (it is based on the history of the media in Venezuela, where you have the
opportunity to be the protagonist) and my favorite one “La Venezuela de Antier” (it is set
on the 20s, when Juan Vicente Gómez ruled the country; it is a really interesting, hilarious
and entertaining tour for all ages). Furthermore, there are many natural parks where you can
observe the most awe-inspiring and beautiful landscapes of the cold part of Venezuela.
Among this natural parks are: Mucubaji’s lagoon, Collado del Condor, Sierra Nevada y
Pico del Águila (in this last one if you are lucky and you go on the right time and day, it
could snow).

To sum up, I think that Merida state is just a wonderful place, because each time I
visit it there are plenty of interesting activities to do. Furthermore, the typical food is
fantastic and very delicious, for example: Pizca Andina soup, Chicha Andina and trout.
Therefore, if you are a cold lover, you want to leave your daily routine, breathe fresh air,
relax, share great moments in family, have unforgettable experiences and much more; you
should come to this incredible city named Merida.