and I am not talking about the mad drivers -the Venezuelans manage to make the Brazillians look like good drivers.

Caracas has a a somewhat unsavoury reputation as an unsafe city (even by South American standards) and I have been commiserating with everyone else here at the backpackers' hostel as nearly all of them have had something happen to them - knives, guns, getting grabbed and pickpockets-

Then, last night, and ironically I was actually walking along with Peter the Swede (having been wandering around on my own for weeks) when I sensed something was up and told him to move away from me - he had been on the receiving end of some of my self defence lectures lately so he did as I said and then this bloke suddenly lunged at me and grabbed my (cheap) watch - which amazingly didn't come off. I was SO angry with him that I ran after him to hit him - but then he looked so scared when I got him cornered that I just shouted at him. Meanwhile Peter the Swede is standing there with his mouth hanging open not quite taking in what was going on!

Hopefully that little incident will be a warning to all the local muggers not to mess with me.