Tag: Venezuela

The Missing Perspective at a Border Crossing

August 30, 2026 by Cassandra Johnson

I want to find out where the negative and sweeping misinformation develops, regarding the ease of crossing a US – Mexican border or in my other experiences, regarding the crossing of a Colombian-Ecuadorian border or the Peruvian-Bolivian border.

I had plugged into the method for reaching Ecuador by land after staying in Colombia for a few months and likewise reversed my way back into Ecuador. Seeing the respective entry and exit signs, within feet of one another was mesmerizing. Cheaper than a plane, my hesitation of doing so was surpassed by my curiosity and how much less my trip would be versus the many flights I was taking around South and North America. My trip also required taxis.

This has me questioning what does that expression of “open borders “actually refer to? When people say that, referring to rogue policies that supposedly greatly harm a nation, I am left wondering. I am not experiencing some ease of driving, walking or flying between borders. There has always been paperwork (now electronic) inquiries to complete about the purpose of the visit, the duration of the stay, and the need for a stamp and approval by officials. There is all this and the requirement of passports, Visas, IDs and permission. I see this with the many people in line ahead of me as well, so I do not get the negative presumptions and imagery of easy border crossings.

There have always been officials when I passed through. I know people can overstay their Visa or lose status. For example, their work or tourist Visa may expire. People can also be denied entry at the border, needing to show proof of their return trip or be denied for other reasons.

Still, I cannot help but think about the alleged rhetoric itself. Then alternatively, I also cannot help but think of other attempted entry points that would then be the risky and / or treacherous ones, (such as between Venezuela and Colombia). My perspective and that of other travelers counters a generic presumption of easy crossings and soft policies.

Perhaps someone can tell me here or someone can tell me out there, one day. I happen to think a perspective from experiences that I have read, experienced, and been told is missing especially since lackadaisical entrance does not make the most pragmatic sense.

In another time, could a border have been more forgiving and spoke to just the natural sense of people migrating to places back and forth, before stakes were claimed and/or taken.

My tourist stay in Bolivia was approved through the standard process along with an additional fee charged to Americans, especially for Americans. I noted it was reciprocal in 2011, between the United States and Bolivia specifically. (I am not sure what it could be now). Still there was no lackadaisical, easy process, as I would always assume there not to be.

Likewise, riding the bus from Mexico into the US ultimately led me into an office where many Mexican travelers and I were addressed and instructed by immigration officials, per the required process duly including the proven documentation of our identities, status and nationalities.

Completing the proper series of steps is coupled with following the standard protocols.

Otherwise, not crossing properly is paired with extreme risks of being targeted, exploited, and/or battling with treacherous terrain or waters.

The crossing of borders that does not also bring with it bureaucracy or risk is something I cannot imagine. The well-connected traveler could have an easier go, but hardly the ones with scarce resources, who are the very picture I see people have in mind when they start disparaging harmful narratives that begin with this idea of “open borders”.

What to Work

April 29, 2026 by Cassandra Johnson

My Venezuelan friend gave me permission she did not realize she was giving me. She okayed my desire to get a lot of work in and feel thoroughly as if I had gotten my day’s work done before I went down the street from our co-living space in Bogota, Colombia to the nearby mall.

She had given me permission to do what I really wanted to do, while most everyone else was touring. She had given me the permission to get work done and relax and maybe tour later, or not tour at all, but rather just live the local moments. She had given me permission, not literally, but by being my friend, she had given me permission to do what I wanted authentically.

Heading to the mall or store (I would see), I was remembering the options they had in the food court and heck, maybe even stopping off earlier at the store that very much reminded me of Trader Joe’s back in my country. Should I cook something simple from the place we are sharing with other travelers today or should I get some ready-prepared casual food to go? I had a chance to do a mix of both.

I cannot adequately attribute the details of the entire moments to each day. Over the variety of times, I grabbed some snacks and easy options to cook in the shared kitchen. One of my favorite restaurants, Qbano (a cute play on Cubano) was a frequent stop in the mall. I recall getting the mixed veggie bowl and crispy thick fries. I added some churros to offer my friend once I returned.

I had booked my stay in the area for several days. yet was extending my days little by little at the end, considering whether I should go to Cartagena or an entirely different country. As we sat there in the evening, in my comfort of working across from her at the large, shared desk, she was asking me if I had decided to go the next day, disappointed when I said yes and visibly relieved when I said I was staying a little longer.

She gave me the permission, without her knowing, she gave me the permission to be myself, not only comfortable as a workaholic, ticking things down off my list, but also there for the exploring, wandering, and fun.

I sat there, peaceful in having this time and being in the not-so-familiar position of following up to see when she would be free to grab a coffee, not happy hour, in this instance. Coffee-shop mood was the matching backdrop for our dynamic. She had introduced me to Varietale, when she could not join and was still working from our temporary place and I was looking forward to going to Liberatario with her, not too far from our place. She had good taste. Liberatario was within walking distance and Varietale had been within exercise-walking distance for me.

One night she did not seem too entirely into working, although I assumed she was, but yet as she invited me to the other side of the table to see what captured her, I was pleased to see she was enjoying the Miss Universe 2024 Pageant. She was rooting for Miss Venezuela as we gathered around her computer, I rooted for several contestants. Miss Venezuela, Miss Mexico and Miss Nigeria. Miss Nigeria, was so gorgeous. We were impressed by many, interested in all the contestants’ performances, category by category. Miss Denmark had some inspiring answers.

Another guest, also her friend was rooting for Miss Nigeria only. (Nee- her-ia) he lingeringly enunciated, lingering especially in the middle (as if in those moments, he was within momentary dreams). I giggled to myself. He was from Venezuela too, waiting for a consulate appointment in Colombia. He was always so friendly, genuinely interested in all the people circulating around this bit of office space and in and out of the adjacent kitchen.

My friend. Glad to have her for the time, if not every time. I returned to the same place months later. She had gone. I thought of her often while I conversed with others in our old space. She and I had settled into safety in everything: food, giggles, chats over romantic prospects, geopolitics, Making easy work of work, It was a need for us both, I like to think.

I remembered the story she told me of dangerously crossing the Venezuelan-Colombian border. I was impressed by the business she had grown and how social media savvy she was. I watched one of her many video presentations. I was excited when she received another new client, while we were together. Her eyes filled with happy tears from the excitement I expressed.

We sat in Liberatario the last night, shortly before I would finally be leaving. We had mentioned discussing in detail, some romantic disappointment I had recently experienced, but then, I no longer had the desire to spend those moments lamenting a jilted relationship. We could just enjoy ourselves. There is a time for venting but it dissipated in the ambience.

I just wanted the space and the time that we always made. She told me of one downside to her business experience to which I relayed some comforting advice in Spanish, that felt more as if it was being delivered through me than by me. Mostly our laughter mixed, we appreciated the artwork around us and a simple break from working – a break from trying.

I knew.

September 29, 2025 By Cassandra Johnson

The weather in Bogota, Colombia was chilly, so I was not particularly sure about enjoying a long time there. Sometimes the weather was even cooler and the nerve I had, on certain days, to also get caught in the rain! I tend to get cold easily.

I was missing the Medellin weather truly, for a beat, but had a strong feeling that Bogota would be more enjoyable for me. How is that? I knew it would not be as pricey as Medellin. I knew I could have more of a casual working life while I was abroad versus my days and nights in Medellin. It would feed my more pressing focus to earn a living and enjoy myself in my spare time. My notion stuck with me.

Tourism, nightlife and ideal weather was ripe in Medellin, in my opinion, nice but seriously distracting from my everyday routine. I was in a similar boat in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Bogota filtered in some sun as well. I was pleasantly surprised by the welcoming spaces and the absence of feeling watched or out of place, but due to my good time in other parts of Latin America, I was also not surprised. I was so affirmed by my encounters and surroundings, that this would be my trip 1 of 2 to the capital city.

I started the first trip with some mediocrity. I did not especially care for the hotel I had chosen. To my relief, I had only booked one day and decided to try a nice hostel for the remaining few days. I had flexibility and could stay or leave early. I was considering Cartagena for the next stop or leaving Colombia completely. I did not feel hurried, only limited by which way I wanted to invest my money.

Leaving the Bogota hotel, I thought this would perhaps be one of those times in which the hostel was nicer than the hotel. I was right.

Indeed, I was able to secure a nicer place by checking into a new, spacious hostel. Though a shared space, I opted for one of the all-ladies room leading to a new friendship with a Venezuelan businesswoman.

The hotel had nice amenities and a receptive staff, but the hostel was more conducive to my goals, more aesthetically appealing and the staff and other travelers proved even more receptive. How interesting that staying at the hotel, in this instance would have painted a less pleasant picture of my stay there.

Returning to Bogota about a month later, I specifically wanted to run out my 90-day Visa and I opted to treat myself. I picked the Calendario neighborhood this time and an AirBnB that also served as an upscale local high-rise. The view was amazing, the front desk reminded me of my space in DC and at the time, I felt this was the closest to the experience I would want if I chose to live in Colombia instead of Peru, so it was good to try it out. I don’t know if I would stay there for longer than 3 months. There is warmth there, but maybe I still need more. Searching.