|
| |
Home
Anaco
Anaco Gallery 1
Ralph Ward
Ralph Ward contacted me and he provided photos taken in Anaco, Barinas and
Guico. I asked Ralph to provide us with a little biographical information. See
below for a snapshot of Ralph's background.
Mary & Ralph Ward - 2012 |
Ralph writes: After graduating from the University of Oklahoma (OU)
in 1957, I signed on with Mobil Oil International. After brief stints of
work in California and Texas, we left for Venezuela in 1958. Our first
assignment with MobilVen was in Anaco, where we lived in a cruddy
trailer that was purchased from the Orinoco Mining Company (due to
MobilVen’s never ending housing shortage). We moved to Guico a year or
so later into a labour camp home [ah yes, the accommodations shortage
issue again]. The housing was so bad, most of us spent a lot of time
outside having a good time. We then moved back to Anaco into a new home
in the “subdivision” of La Palmas. In 1966 it was off to Barinas into
another decrepit residence. This place had a backyard containing 10
Mango trees, which of course attracted monkeys and flocks of parrots. We
have not eaten another Mango since! Excitement in Barinas consisted of
local fairs, bullfights, travelling in the Andes and touring the country
side. Throughout, everyone looked forward to going on vacation, which
was two months every two years. You then purchased clothes, shoes, etc.,
for the family-hopefully enough to do for the next two years. We left
Venezuela in 1969 assigned to Mobil’s office in Paris, France. All in
all, Venezuela was quite the life experience in a great country with a
great climate, beautiful beaches and friendly peoples. Our kids said
they would never trade where they were raised. Well, we still have a
bit of wander lust left. Attached find an image of us in China in 2005
and again on an 8 500 km return road trip to Alaska in 2012 (not
counting double ferry rides between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy). Click
on the pictures to enlarge.
 |
|
