Venezuela's economy rises and falls with the oil market. As the country attempts
to maintain a stable economy that doesn't depend on oil, Caracas chugs along in
its infamous traffic jams and revels in the smell of excellent coffee. The catchy beat
of merengue and the mix of colonial and modern architecture enchant visitors. The
magnificent Avila Mountain, a lush national park separating the capital from the
Caribbean, overlooks the slums of the capital.
