La Francia building on Plaza Bolivar, a late art deco building which has acted as a gold market since the 1950s. (Charlie Devereux/GlobalPost)
On Chavez's whim, a gold market no more
Few colonial buildings remain in Caracas. Is Chavez changing that or just haphazardly seizing buildings?
CARACAS, Venezuela — Standing at the corner of one of Venezuela’s most historic squares, the Francia building always looked a little incongruous among the Spanish colonial mansions.
But for many, this late art deco construction holds fond memories — it housed Caracas’ largest gold market for more than half a century. Many came to buy engagement or wedding rings...
Recent on Venezuela:
Venezuela tries to make it rain
Charlie Devereux - Global Green - February 11, 2010 06:58 ET
In desperate need of water and electricity, Venezuela is "bombing" clouds and praying for rain.
Venezuelans protest closure of TV station
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - January 26, 2010 08:22 ET
Students march against the shuttering of an opposition TV station popular as much for its soap operas as its news reporting.
Venezuela converts tourist destinations into farmland
Rachel Jones - Global Green - January 25, 2010 06:59 ET
Government says land needed for food security but conservationists fear for the region's fauna.
Venezuela's kidnapping express
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - January 8, 2010 06:32 ET
The preferred method for Venezuelan kidnappers involves driving victims around while families get the ransom together.
Travel restrictions crimp shopping sprees
Matthew Walter - Venezuela - January 1, 2010 16:35 ET
Venezuelans must now tell the government where they are traveling and what they are buying.
Newly rich, now under attack
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - December 19, 2009 09:07 ET
They made their money in Chavez's revolution and seemed untouchable. Now they are in jail.
The rise of a southern axis
Nick Miroff - Cuba - December 17, 2009 10:55 ET
How a socialist alliance outlived a free trade agreement and helped cement Hugo Chavez's status as the new leader of the Latin American left.
Venezuela to ban violent video games
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - November 25, 2009 06:47 ET
Why Hugo Chavez hates World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike and The Legend of Zelda.
Facebook: A tool for cops and robbers
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - November 16, 2009 12:58 ET
In Venezuela criminals use Facebook to research targets. Cops use it too — but not always for scrupulous purposes.
Soccer team's murder leaves villagers scared
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - November 4, 2009 06:55 ET
The murder of an amateur soccer team has heightened tensions between Colombia and Venezuela.
No watching "Family Guy" in Venezuela
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - October 28, 2009 12:04 ET
Venezuela thinks "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons" are unsuitable. But it's OK with "Baywatch."
Saving the leatherback turtle
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - October 10, 2009 08:04 ET
Stamping its identity on the chocolate market
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - September 28, 2009 05:57 ET
Venezuela produces some of the world's best cacao — so why doesn't it make chocolate?
Inside Venezuela's beauty factory
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - September 25, 2009 08:01 ET
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Stanford scam bilked Jews out of millions
Todd Bensman - Commerce - September 24, 2009 13:50 ET
A GlobalPost Passport investigation finds that the $8 billion Stanford Ponzi scheme decimated the savings of Jews in Mexico City and Caracas. Were they explicitly targeted?
"Loin steaks" on the pageant stage
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - September 24, 2009 06:09 ET
Video: Venezuela spends millions of hours and dollars grooming its candidates for beauty competitions.
Anti-Chavez and anti-Uribe protesters face off
Nadja Drost - Colombia - September 6, 2009 14:59 ET
Social networking organizes international protests against the Venezuelan president.
New waves of displacement
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - September 4, 2009 15:18 ET
Colombia's offensive against armed groups has increased the flow of refugees across the Venezuela border.
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Caracas: more expensive than London?
Charlie Devereux - Venezuela - September 2, 2009 11:31 ET
How can a city in a developing country be the world's 15th most expensive — and how do the poor get by?
Global Blogs:
BUSH DOG!
Venezuela and Europe - Venezuela - February 23, 2010 08:31 ET
The bush dog or in Venezuela perro de agua (water dog) is a strange little fellow. It lives from Central America all the way to Southern South America...but it is rare everywhere. I have heard people talking about it but I have never seen one myself. I read one was spotted in...
The Falcon and the Strongman: Henry vs. Hugo
The Devils Excrement - Venezuela - February 23, 2010 07:30 ET
Somehow I feel like I have to make a comment about Henry Falcon even if I really don’t want to. To me Falcon’s resignation from Chavez PSUV party has little to do with the opposition and...
Chavismo inner trouble might be major than expected: rats abandoning ships or...
Venezuela News And Views - Venezuela - February 22, 2010 14:04 ET
The day surprised me with the announcement that Henri Falcon, Lara State governor, decided to abandon Chavez party, the PSUV. But he did not go to the opposition, he requested to enter to the PPT, a Chavez/PSUV junior coalition member, giving them a rather poisoned...
The debates
A Gringa Diary - Venezuela - February 18, 2010 21:56 ET
One comrade said, during our Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning study sessions (7am-9am!), “The situation in Cuba is really serious… and Cuba is depending on us, how full on..”The debating is endless…its during the study sessions, its before communal council...
Venezuela News
GlobalPost has firmly established itself as a pioneering resource for Venezuela news coverage. Our correspondent intimately explores Venezuela's political, economic and social issues including everything from its crime rate and political instability to cult religions and entertainment industry. Through our engaging Venezuelan news stories, photography and video, we seek to educate readers on this oil-rich nation's most important events and happenings.
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Reporter's Notebook
It's another year and another verbal skirmish in the will-they-won't-they relationship between Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and the U.S. President...Read more >
A rumor that had been circulating in Venezuela for some time was confirmed on Friday — and then quickly retracted. On Friday,...Read more >
It was high drama at the Miss Venezuela beauty pageant here last night. Miss Miranda, Marelisa Gibson, the 21-year-old brunette featured in our...Read more >
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