Caracas’ best attraction
may be its people. They are a diverse, young, and lively population
that colors the streets of the capital with laughter, music, and unrestrained
enthusiasm. The sophisticated tastes of the 4 million inhabitants demand
the endless parades of boutiques and fine restaurants that crowd upscale
commercial areas. Caracas features an enormous cultural center called
Bellas Artes, museums and concert halls. This capital city is hip,
fast paced, and altogether cosmopolitan. At the same time, the people
exhibit a special warmth and hospitality.
Although Caracas is a sprawling
metropolis, its places of interest can be explored comfortably in a day
or two. Caracas can be divided into four principal areas of
interest: the downtown El Centro district and its monument packed Plaza
Bolívar; Parque Central and the surrounding Bellas Artes cultural
district; Las Mercedes and the Bulevar Sabana Grande, with its many boutiques
and restaurants; and the residential, very wealthy suburbs of Altamira
and La Castellana. Few of the museums charge admissions fees,
and there is plenty to see and learn in this South American capital.
Worldly museums and cultural
centers, lively bars, and refined dining establishments are all interconnected
by the city's clean, efficient subway system. The weather, too, facilitates
exploring: At 3,000 feet above sea level, Caracas has one of the world's
most comfortable climates, with an average daily temperature of 75°F.
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