Caracas Chronicles

Remember when you used to bar hop in Las Mercedes in the early 2000s? Well, kids nowadays are doing something similar, only that now one must bring everything, including the ice and cooler. Chamos are now house-hopping with a drink in one hand and an ice box in the other.

During our college years, we partied at night clubs. This statement sounds obvious, but remember, this activity today is reserved for people with bodyguards and incomes in dollars, euros or pounds.

Back then, you’d park in a relatively safe street of Las Mercedes and “safely” bar hop from a nightclub to the other. If you went to Centro Comercial San Ignacio, the infamous “CSI”, you would take only five steps between tugurios. The biggest concerns for ladies were wearing comfy shoes and dodging — à la Matrix — the drunken advances of disoriented guys. For dudes, it was really all about the ladies and where to park.

Good old shallow Caracas with its wannabe first world problems.

Back then, gatherings at houses were reserved for the predespacho, to get a few drinks in your system before heading out. Although “bring your own bottle” (BYOB) was always appreciated, hosts were stacked with a full bar. Remember, these were the years of subsidised Scotch.

A junior analyst at Carlos’ and his friends host Bring Your Own Cava (ice box) Parties: every guest or group must bring their own ice, glasses, liquor, sodas and snacks.

However, as the economic crisis and crime epidemic accelerated, many came up with new ways to party. Some clubs went bankrupt, or relocated abroad. Partying in Venezuela is expensive and dangerous.

This was the beginning of the Una Parrillita en la Casa Era.

A friend with a relatively big house and a grill would invite you over for some parrilla or choripanes and beer. BYOB was encouraged.

We went from “I’ll provide snacks and you bring whatever you want to drink” to “let’s buy everything and split the bill” — and even further, to “keep the bottle for our next party” and “I’m taking my bottle with me.”

The scene for younger generations kept evolving.

A junior analyst at Carlos’ office told him that he and his friends host Bring Your Own Cava (ice box) Parties: every guest or group must bring their own ice, glasses, liquor, sodas and snacks. And if you have another party in your agenda, you take your ice box there too.

If you think about it, the bring your own cava party (let’s call it “Lacava Party”) is not just a reflection of the crisis; it’s clear evidence that Venezuelans are doing their best to keep each other company.

Evidence that Venezuelans don’t give up.