When I got there it was fairly tame, yet immediately there was a tense atmosphere. People were on the lookout, some of the previous day's barricades were still there, and at the end of the street I could see the army's armored vehicles standing by. Still, my guide told me, today was quieter than usual: the counter-demonstrations last weeks have had their effect on people in the neighborhood. They are tired, but mostly scared. "What is a stick and tin we have against their weapons? We can't resist that!". As we pass the "military site" sign, we walk into the neighborhood where he grew up. Earlier that day, I took a walk around the plazas in San Cristobal, Venezuela, engaging in conversation with several supporters and opponents of the current government. Emotions run high here when it comes to politics, but over a beer you can say (almost) anything. At a time like that, it doesn't really matter if you are for or against. Downtown, everything is relatively quiet and daily life, the market and all the
