Venezuela: 1905

Can you imagine what this picture in color would have actually looked liked? This one has it all going for itself. If there ever was a time capsule shot--this is it. Great Picture.

I wonder what the cords or wires are that run out of the frame at the top-right and left middle. Electricity? There is what looks like a knob insulator below the rafters and above the Lamp at the right. Would they likely have electricity in a "country store" 100+ years ago in Venezuela? There are other lines or scratches in the photo at the top left of the frame.

[Telephone. Telegraph. Hello? - Dave]

Venezuela has been a great example of beautiful integration and coexistence between the European settlers, the natives, and those of African descent.

You can see how comfortable these children are among each other.

However, before this period, there were many confrontations between the Indian chiefs (Caciques) and the Spanish, similar to what happened in the U.S. with the British.

You can see some of these "soldier vs. native" scenes depicted on the pictures on the wall.

The parrots (Loros) are very common in Venezuela due to its location near the rainforest. Venezuela is about the size of Texas and it has some of the most varied terrain in South America, ranging from areas of year-round snow, up in the Andean mountains, plains, deep forests and arid desert.

The sandals (alpargatas) are a traditional symbol of Venezuela.

This is an awesome picture that captured a period of prosperity and hope in the country.

Today, Hugo Chavez, like many of the previous presidents, is helping to dismantle that beautiful balance. But the people of Venezuela still hangs on to the hope for a prosperous future.

There is only one woman in this shot.

Yo Quiero Taco Bell.

These are the first burros I've seen in quite some time that weren't on a Jersey beach. Also, some of these gents are sporting awesome mustachios.

There's definitely some diversity in this shot. I would love to see what the cartoons on the wall are about.