Friday, September 28, 2012

Majed Khalil Majzoub

Majed Khalil Majzoub speaks about the history of Venezuela
VENEZUELA History and Culture In ancient times, Venezuela was paradise for the Indians who lived on its beaches, in its tropical forests, and on the gentle grassland of the llanos. There were three main groups: the Carib, Arawak, and the Chibcha. They lived in small groups and all of them practiced some degree of farming; the land, however, was bountiful enough so that this was not always a necessity. They could easily hunt, fish for, and gather their food. The most advanced of the three were the Chibcha who lived on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Though they never developed large cities, their agricultural skill were formidable: they terraced parts of the Andes and built sophisticated irrigation channels to water their crops.
Atlast Mr. Majed Khalil Majzoub got time to share his thoughts about the history of Venezuela..... Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit Venezuela. He came in 1498 during his third voyage to the New World, and landed on the Peninsula de Paria. Following the coast, he explored the Rio Orinoco Delta and concluded that he had found much more than another Caribbean island. More explorers came a year later, and it was Alonso de Ojeda who gave the country its name. Arriving at Lake Maracaibo, he admired the stilted houses that the Indians had build above the lake and called the place Venezuela - "Little Venice." A year after that the Spanish established their first settlement, Nueva Cadiz, which was later destroyed by a tsunami. Early colonization in Venezuela was much less rampant than it was in other parts of South America, and the colony was ruled with a loose hand from Bogota. It was much less important to the Spanish than the mineral-producing colonies of Western South America, but Venezuela would later surprise the world when massive oil reserves would be discovered. Venezuela may have been a quiet outpost on the edge of the Spanish Empire, but it gave birth to the man who would one day turn that empire on its head: Simon Bolivar. With the help of Britishmercenaries, Bolivar and his followers campaigned against the Spanish tirelessly, marching across the Andes and liberating Colombia in 1819, Venezuela in 1821, and Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in 1825. Much of his army was composed of native Venezuelans. Independence did not prove easy for the new nation. Civil strife, wars, and dictatorships raged in the country well into the next century. Though some dictators sought real reform, most milked their positions for personal gain. Border disputes with the British colony of Guyana erupted in the 1840s, and although they never boiled over into full-fledged warfare, Venezuela still disputes the border to this day. In the early 1900s, the conflict-ridden nation finally began to get on its economic feet with the discovery of oil, and by the 20s Venezuela was beginning to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, most of the wealth remained with the ruling class, and the plague of dictators continued until 1947 when Romulo Betancourt led a popular revolt and rewrote the constitution. The first president-elect in Venezuela's history took office the same year, the novelist Romulo Gallegos. Unfortunately, he was ousted by another dictator and the country did not experience a non-violent presidential succession until 1963. For the next 25 years, things went comparatively well. An oil boom in the mid-1970s saw enormous wealth pour into the country, though, as always, the vast lower class benefited little. Oil prices dropped in the late 80s and once again the country was thrown into crisis. Riots swept through Caracas and were violently repressed, and two coup attempts took place in 1992. Right now, the nation's stability and future are uncertain. Despite a rough history, Venezuelans are infamous in South America for their easy-going nature and fun-loving spirit. Their national mythology hails back to the days when independent and rugged settlers tamed the lawlessness of the llanos, a heritage not unlike that of the American West. Most Venezuelans them come from a mix of European, Indian, and African roots, while a minority are exclusively white, black, or Indian. Roman Catholicism is the overwhelmingly dominant religion.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Majed Khalil Majzoub

Majed Khalil Majzoub speaks about the history of Venezuela
VENEZUELA History and Culture In ancient times, Venezuela was paradise for the Indians who lived on its beaches, in its tropical forests, and on the gentle grassland of the llanos. There were three main groups: the Carib, Arawak, and the Chibcha. They lived in small groups and all of them practiced some degree of farming; the land, however, was bountiful enough so that this was not always a necessity. They could easily hunt, fish for, and gather their food. The most advanced of the three were the Chibcha who lived on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Though they never developed large cities, their agricultural skill were formidable: they terraced parts of the Andes and built sophisticated irrigation channels to water their crops.
Atlast Mr. Majed Khalil Majzoub got time to share his thoughts about the history of Venezuela..... Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit Venezuela. He came in 1498 during his third voyage to the New World, and landed on the Peninsula de Paria. Following the coast, he explored the Rio Orinoco Delta and concluded that he had found much more than another Caribbean island. More explorers came a year later, and it was Alonso de Ojeda who gave the country its name. Arriving at Lake Maracaibo, he admired the stilted houses that the Indians had build above the lake and called the place Venezuela - "Little Venice." A year after that the Spanish established their first settlement, Nueva Cadiz, which was later destroyed by a tsunami. Early colonization in Venezuela was much less rampant than it was in other parts of South America, and the colony was ruled with a loose hand from Bogota. It was much less important to the Spanish than the mineral-producing colonies of Western South America, but Venezuela would later surprise the world when massive oil reserves would be discovered. Venezuela may have been a quiet outpost on the edge of the Spanish Empire, but it gave birth to the man who would one day turn that empire on its head: Simon Bolivar. With the help of Britishmercenaries, Bolivar and his followers campaigned against the Spanish tirelessly, marching across the Andes and liberating Colombia in 1819, Venezuela in 1821, and Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in 1825. Much of his army was composed of native Venezuelans. Independence did not prove easy for the new nation. Civil strife, wars, and dictatorships raged in the country well into the next century. Though some dictators sought real reform, most milked their positions for personal gain. Border disputes with the British colony of Guyana erupted in the 1840s, and although they never boiled over into full-fledged warfare, Venezuela still disputes the border to this day. In the early 1900s, the conflict-ridden nation finally began to get on its economic feet with the discovery of oil, and by the 20s Venezuela was beginning to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, most of the wealth remained with the ruling class, and the plague of dictators continued until 1947 when Romulo Betancourt led a popular revolt and rewrote the constitution. The first president-elect in Venezuela's history took office the same year, the novelist Romulo Gallegos. Unfortunately, he was ousted by another dictator and the country did not experience a non-violent presidential succession until 1963. For the next 25 years, things went comparatively well. An oil boom in the mid-1970s saw enormous wealth pour into the country, though, as always, the vast lower class benefited little. Oil prices dropped in the late 80s and once again the country was thrown into crisis. Riots swept through Caracas and were violently repressed, and two coup attempts took place in 1992. Right now, the nation's stability and future are uncertain. Despite a rough history, Venezuelans are infamous in South America for their easy-going nature and fun-loving spirit. Their national mythology hails back to the days when independent and rugged settlers tamed the lawlessness of the llanos, a heritage not unlike that of the American West. Most Venezuelans them come from a mix of European, Indian, and African roots, while a minority are exclusively white, black, or Indian. Roman Catholicism is the overwhelmingly dominant religion.

Majed Khalil Majzoub

Majed Khalil Majzoub speaks about the history of Venezuela
VENEZUELA History and Culture In ancient times, Venezuela was paradise for the Indians who lived on its beaches, in its tropical forests, and on the gentle grassland of the llanos. There were three main groups: the Carib, Arawak, and the Chibcha. They lived in small groups and all of them practiced some degree of farming; the land, however, was bountiful enough so that this was not always a necessity. They could easily hunt, fish for, and gather their food. The most advanced of the three were the Chibcha who lived on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Though they never developed large cities, their agricultural skill were formidable: they terraced parts of the Andes and built sophisticated irrigation channels to water their crops.
Atlast Mr. Majed Khalil Majzoub got time to share his thoughts about the history of Venezuela..... Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit Venezuela. He came in 1498 during his third voyage to the New World, and landed on the Peninsula de Paria. Following the coast, he explored the Rio Orinoco Delta and concluded that he had found much more than another Caribbean island. More explorers came a year later, and it was Alonso de Ojeda who gave the country its name. Arriving at Lake Maracaibo, he admired the stilted houses that the Indians had build above the lake and called the place Venezuela - "Little Venice." A year after that the Spanish established their first settlement, Nueva Cadiz, which was later destroyed by a tsunami. Early colonization in Venezuela was much less rampant than it was in other parts of South America, and the colony was ruled with a loose hand from Bogota. It was much less important to the Spanish than the mineral-producing colonies of Western South America, but Venezuela would later surprise the world when massive oil reserves would be discovered. Venezuela may have been a quiet outpost on the edge of the Spanish Empire, but it gave birth to the man who would one day turn that empire on its head: Simon Bolivar. With the help of Britishmercenaries, Bolivar and his followers campaigned against the Spanish tirelessly, marching across the Andes and liberating Colombia in 1819, Venezuela in 1821, and Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in 1825. Much of his army was composed of native Venezuelans. Independence did not prove easy for the new nation. Civil strife, wars, and dictatorships raged in the country well into the next century. Though some dictators sought real reform, most milked their positions for personal gain. Border disputes with the British colony of Guyana erupted in the 1840s, and although they never boiled over into full-fledged warfare, Venezuela still disputes the border to this day. In the early 1900s, the conflict-ridden nation finally began to get on its economic feet with the discovery of oil, and by the 20s Venezuela was beginning to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, most of the wealth remained with the ruling class, and the plague of dictators continued until 1947 when Romulo Betancourt led a popular revolt and rewrote the constitution. The first president-elect in Venezuela's history took office the same year, the novelist Romulo Gallegos. Unfortunately, he was ousted by another dictator and the country did not experience a non-violent presidential succession until 1963. For the next 25 years, things went comparatively well. An oil boom in the mid-1970s saw enormous wealth pour into the country, though, as always, the vast lower class benefited little. Oil prices dropped in the late 80s and once again the country was thrown into crisis. Riots swept through Caracas and were violently repressed, and two coup attempts took place in 1992. Right now, the nation's stability and future are uncertain. Despite a rough history, Venezuelans are infamous in South America for their easy-going nature and fun-loving spirit. Their national mythology hails back to the days when independent and rugged settlers tamed the lawlessness of the llanos, a heritage not unlike that of the American West. Most Venezuelans them come from a mix of European, Indian, and African roots, while a minority are exclusively white, black, or Indian. Roman Catholicism is the overwhelmingly dominant religion.

Majed Khalil Majzoub

One of the tropical countries in South America, the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela features numerous destinations that are attractive to tourists. These sites are easy to locate and are accessible to various forms of transportation so travelers will not have a hard time finding the spots. Below are the top 10 tourist spots in Venezuela. Angel Falls Also known as Salto Angel, the Angel Falls at Canaima National Park in Guayana has a height of 979 meters. To have a nice view of the falls, tourists are advised to go to the site during rainy season. Some of the activities that can be done at the place include boating and canoeing.Isla de MargaritaOne of the interesting regions in the country is Isla de Margarita. The place features a natural area with forests and beaches. Tourists who see the place enjoy swimming, hiking, trekking and scuba diving. Those who like to shop for souvenirs should see the trendy shops at the City of Porlamar. Cuava del GuacharoCuava del Guacharo is found 12 kilometers away from Caripe. This place is a popular tourist destination because it is considered as the country’s largest cave. Inside the cave, visitors can find a river. The inhabitants at the site include crabs, spiders, nocturnal birds as well as mice.Mochima National Park The Mochima National Park is near to Cumana and Puerto La Cruz. The most popular attractions in the park are the beaches and the small villages. To have an enjoyable travel to the site, it is best to try various activities like diving and hiking.Museo Bolivariano. Museo Bolivariano in Caracas is one of the historic sites that should be visited by foreigners. This place features collections of items or materials that are important to the country’s history. Some of the items inside the museum are artifacts related to Venezuela’s independence.Morrocoy National ParkThe Morrocoy National Park near Tucacas and Chichiriviche.At the park , tourists can find white sand beaches. Many people enjoy scuba diving at the site because they can find numerous coral reefs under the waters of the beaches.Parque El ZanjonParque El Zanjon at Ciudad Bolivar in Guayana is a distinct park that features huge boulders. The art gallery as well as the houses at the site are all made from boulders. This place is popular because of the minerals that can be found at the park.Gran RoqueGran Roque is one of the historic sites in the country. The tourist destination at the Archipelago Los Roques is popular for maintaining a total population of 1,000 people. The interesting sites at the village include the 1870s lighthouse as well as the brightly painted settlements. Merida: One of the famous tourist destinations in Andes, Merida is a city that has a cool climate. The teleferico, the longest and highest cable car in the world, is the main attraction in the city.Iglesia de San FranciscoDevotees who are interested in visiting holy sites in Venezuela should see the Iglesia de San Francisco in Caracas. The interior of the building promotes a colonial architecture. The attractive items in the site include the baroque altars.Venezuela is one of the South American countries that have numerous natural wonders. By looking at these sites, people can increase their knowledge on the history, culture and heritage of the country. Mochima National Park – Venezuela The Mochima National Park is one of the most stunning nature reserves in Venezuela. The park has many attractions, including its beaches and coral reefs.Visit the Mochima National Park...Related Destinations: Morrocoy National Park – Venezuela The Morrocoy National Park is widely known for its diverse wildlife and plants. The site is also a haven for beach lovers and those into watersports. Parts of the Morrocoy... Angel Falls in Guayana – Venezuela The Angel Falls in Guayana is one of Venezuela’s most famous tourist attractions. The highest waterfall in the world, it is also home to myriad forms of wildlife. If you... Isla de Margarita in Nueva Esparta State – Venezuela The Isla de Margarita is one of the most beautiful islands in Venezuela. The island boats of beautiful beaches, a vibrant nightlife and breathtaking natural scenery. Journey to Isla de... Tourist Spots in Colombia Colombia is one of the countries in the world that have numerous interesting tourist destinations. To admire the beauty of this country, For those keen on Geology, La Universidad de Oriente (The University of the West), offers the Geologic and Mining Museum in whose rooms rocks and minerals from Guayana and the rest of the country are exhibited. You can also see a scale model of El Cerro Bolivar (Bolivar Mountain) from where iron mineral is extracted. Some ancillary equipment used in the past for the iron exploitation is exhibited too.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Majed Khalil Majzoub

One of the tropical countries in South America, the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela features numerous destinations that are attractive to tourists. These sites are easy to locate and are accessible to various forms of transportation so travelers will not have a hard time finding the spots. Below are the top 10 tourist spots in Venezuela. Angel Falls Also known as Salto Angel, the Angel Falls at Canaima National Park in Guayana has a height of 979 meters. To have a nice view of the falls, tourists are advised to go to the site during rainy season. Some of the activities that can be done at the place include boating and canoeing.Isla de MargaritaOne of the interesting regions in the country is Isla de Margarita. The place features a natural area with forests and beaches. Tourists who see the place enjoy swimming, hiking, trekking and scuba diving. Those who like to shop for souvenirs should see the trendy shops at the City of Porlamar. Cuava del GuacharoCuava del Guacharo is found 12 kilometers away from Caripe. This place is a popular tourist destination because it is considered as the country’s largest cave. Inside the cave, visitors can find a river. The inhabitants at the site include crabs, spiders, nocturnal birds as well as mice.Mochima National Park The Mochima National Park is near to Cumana and Puerto La Cruz. The most popular attractions in the park are the beaches and the small villages. To have an enjoyable travel to the site, it is best to try various activities like diving and hiking.Museo Bolivariano. Museo Bolivariano in Caracas is one of the historic sites that should be visited by foreigners. This place features collections of items or materials that are important to the country’s history. Some of the items inside the museum are artifacts related to Venezuela’s independence.Morrocoy National ParkThe Morrocoy National Park near Tucacas and Chichiriviche.At the park , tourists can find white sand beaches. Many people enjoy scuba diving at the site because they can find numerous coral reefs under the waters of the beaches.Parque El ZanjonParque El Zanjon at Ciudad Bolivar in Guayana is a distinct park that features huge boulders. The art gallery as well as the houses at the site are all made from boulders. This place is popular because of the minerals that can be found at the park.Gran RoqueGran Roque is one of the historic sites in the country. The tourist destination at the Archipelago Los Roques is popular for maintaining a total population of 1,000 people. The interesting sites at the village include the 1870s lighthouse as well as the brightly painted settlements. Merida: One of the famous tourist destinations in Andes, Merida is a city that has a cool climate. The teleferico, the longest and highest cable car in the world, is the main attraction in the city.Iglesia de San FranciscoDevotees who are interested in visiting holy sites in Venezuela should see the Iglesia de San Francisco in Caracas. The interior of the building promotes a colonial architecture. The attractive items in the site include the baroque altars.Venezuela is one of the South American countries that have numerous natural wonders. By looking at these sites, people can increase their knowledge on the history, culture and heritage of the country. Mochima National Park – Venezuela The Mochima National Park is one of the most stunning nature reserves in Venezuela. The park has many attractions, including its beaches and coral reefs.Visit the Mochima National Park...Related Destinations: Morrocoy National Park – Venezuela The Morrocoy National Park is widely known for its diverse wildlife and plants. The site is also a haven for beach lovers and those into watersports. Parts of the Morrocoy... Angel Falls in Guayana – Venezuela The Angel Falls in Guayana is one of Venezuela’s most famous tourist attractions. The highest waterfall in the world, it is also home to myriad forms of wildlife. If you... Isla de Margarita in Nueva Esparta State – Venezuela The Isla de Margarita is one of the most beautiful islands in Venezuela. The island boats of beautiful beaches, a vibrant nightlife and breathtaking natural scenery. Journey to Isla de... Tourist Spots in Colombia Colombia is one of the countries in the world that have numerous interesting tourist destinations. To admire the beauty of this country, For those keen on Geology, La Universidad de Oriente (The University of the West), offers the Geologic and Mining Museum in whose rooms rocks and minerals from Guayana and the rest of the country are exhibited. You can also see a scale model of El Cerro Bolivar (Bolivar Mountain) from where iron mineral is extracted. Some ancillary equipment used in the past for the iron exploitation is exhibited too.

Monday, September 24, 2012

khaled khalil majzoub

Majed Khalil Majzoub – Sun Channel, channel dedicated to tourism in Latin America generated in Venezuela, made his debut in Argentina with a reception at the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The meeting was to officially announce the entrance of the channel on basic services and Multichannel Cablevision (Channel 78) and Telecentre (Channel 83) of Argentina. The launch, on 30 June, attended by a large crowd of artists, models, directors, journalists and people from show business. All figures were present channel of both Argentina and Venezuela, who traveled specially. As a special attraction, participants were able to take pictures in four environments like the beach, vacation, snow or casinos. Both glamor noticed more than ever with a Buenos Aires from influenza quieter on a night when Disney decided to postpone the relaunch of Jetix and Disney XD. This grand entrance in Argentina, which surprised most of the regional average, positions Sun Channel and reinforces the work of Hector Bermudez as head of the channel and branding campaign of Carlos Arroyo, current VP of marketing and AdSales, since its launch and four years in the Tepal convention held in Guatemala. The entry into Argentina came from the hand of Nara Ferragut, who besides being the sales manager in the country is host of programs and destinations Stepless palate, and the image of Sun Channel in Argentina, along with other known figures as Jessica Cirio and Sergio Goicoechea.Ferragut was one of the stars of the party, and invited to take the stand to Majed Khalil, one of the main shareholders of the channel, who traveled especially from Venezuela for the opportunity. In Buenos Aires, founded and led by Nara Ferragut Innovo Productions, which specializes in filming, pre and post production editing of TV programs. Drive the magazines produced in air channels (Latin TV, Channel 9 and Channel 7) and cable as CM and C5N, and is key in this new phase of the channel. Angostura bridge over the Orinoco river Ciudad Bolivar is one of the Venezuelan cities that keep more history on its streets, squares and museums. Formerly named Angostura because of its location on the narrowest part of the majestic Orinoco. Site of many independence battles and one of the first regions in the country to be freed from the Spanish bondage; it was declared interim capital of the newly formed republic in 1818 by the Liberator Simon Bolivar. From here, a year later Bolivar addressed the country his famous "Discurso de Angostura" (Angostura's Speech), in which he gave up all the special powers The Congress had granted him and laid out the new republic paradigm. Colonial house on the Orinoco walk Angostura congress house.A place worthy of being visited is La Casa de San Isidro (San Isidro's House), property of the Cornieles family, often visited by the Liberator and where he wrote the Angostura's Speech. Presently transformed into a museum where you can glance at the colonial lifestyle and admire the gorgeous surrounding gardens. Gardens at San Isidro house Reproduction of the desk used by Simon Bolivar to prepare his speech at the Angostura congressIt was also in Ciudad Bolivar where the first Venezuelan newspaper El Correo del Orinoco was printed. The newspaper house is today Bolivar Museum. Among its exhibits you can see the press used to first print the Correo del Orinoco and works of many Venezuelan artists such as Tito Salas, Lopez Mendez, Marisol Escobar, Alejandro Otero, Cruz Diez, Alirio Palacios and Hector Poleo among others. There also are objects of Pre-Colombian art and some petroglyphs. Cathedral FacadeA most attracting place in the city is the Bolivar Square surrounded by The Angostura Congress House, The Cathedral with its peculiar salmon color, The Piar House where Manuel Piar was kept prisoner before being executed, The Parish House and the colonial Governor's House today's Town Hall. Another historic monument is El Fortin Zamuro (The Zamuro Fortress) which played a decisive role in the victory of Ciudad Bolivar, where the independence revolution was definitely consolidated in 1903. One of the prettiest sights Ciudad Bolivar offers is the Angostura Bridge over the Orinoco River. The bridge links Bolivar State to the rest of the country. One of the river islands, called by Humboldt The Orinocometro is used to measure the water level. In the picture shown here, which was taken during the rainy season, the island ground shows a low level above the river. During the dry season the island ground may reach 18 meters over the river waters. OrinocometroThe Jesus Soto Modern Art museum is one of the marvels Ciudad Bolivar possesses that New York, Paris or any other great metropolis would proudly count among its treasures. The city named the museum after its illustrious son the plastic artist Jesus Soto. This museum founded in 1972 has eight rooms and several inner gardens aesthetically adorned with fine works of sculpture. If you are an art lover this visit is a must; if not, you might as well relish the exquisite atmosphere of the place. For those keen on Geology, La Universidad de Oriente (The University of the West), offers the Geologic and Mining Museum in whose rooms rocks and minerals from Guayana and the rest of the country are exhibited. You can also see a scale model of El Cerro Bolivar (Bolivar Mountain) from where iron mineral is extracted. Some ancillary equipment used in the past for the iron exploitation is exhibited too.

Friday, September 21, 2012

khaled khalil majzoub

n ancient times, Venezuela was paradise for the Indians who lived on its beaches, in its tropical forests, and on the gentle grassland of the llanos. There were three main groups: the Carib, Arawak, and the Chibcha. They lived in small groups and all of them practiced some degree of farming; the land, however, was bountiful enough so that this was not always a necessity. They could easily hunt, fish for, and gather their food. The most advanced of the three were the Chibcha who lived on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Though they never developed large cities, their agricultural skill were formidable: they terraced parts of the Andes and built sophisticated irrigation channels to water their crops. Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit Venezuela. He came in 1498 during his third voyage to the New World, and landed on the Peninsula de Paria. Following the coast, he explored the Rio Orinoco Delta and concluded that he had found much more than another Caribbean island. More explorers came a year later, and it was Alonso de Ojeda who gave the country its name. Arriving at Lake Maracaibo, he admired the stilted houses that the Indians had build above the lake and called the place Venezuela - "Little Venice." A year after that the Spanish established their first settlement, Nueva Cadiz, which was later destroyed by a tsunami. Early colonization in Venezuela was much less rampant than it was in other parts of South America, and the colony was ruled with a loose hand from Bogota. It was much less important to the Spanish than the mineral-producing colonies of Western South America, but Venezuela would later surprise the world when massive oil reserves would be discovered. Venezuela may have been a quiet outpost on the edge of the Spanish Empire, but it gave birth to the man who would one day turn that empire on its head: Simon Bolivar. With the help of Britishmercenaries, Bolivar and his followers campaigned against the Spanish tirelessly, marching across the Andes and liberating Colombia in 1819, Venezuela in 1821, and Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in 1825. Much of his army was composed of native Venezuelans. Independence did not prove easy for the new nation. Civil strife, wars, and dictatorships raged in the country well into the next century. Though some dictators sought real reform, most milked their positions for personal gain. Border disputes with the British colony of Guyana erupted in the 1840s, and although they never boiled over into full-fledged warfare, Venezuela still disputes the border to this day. In the early 1900s, the conflict-ridden nation finally began to get on its economic feet with the discovery of oil, and by the 20s Venezuela was beginning to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, most of the wealth remained with the ruling class, and the plague of dictators continued until 1947 when Romulo Betancourt led a popular revolt and rewrote the constitution. The first president-elect in Venezuela's history took office the same year, the novelist Romulo Gallegos. Unfortunately, he was ousted by another dictator and the country did not experience a non-violent presidential succession until 1963. For the next 25 years, things went comparatively well. An oil boom in the mid-1970s saw enormous wealth pour into the country, though, as always, the vast lower class benefited little. Oil prices dropped in the late 80s and once again the country was thrown into crisis. Riots swept through Caracas and were violently repressed, and two coup attempts took place in 1992. Right now, the nation's stability and future are uncertain. Despite a rough history, Venezuelans are infamous in South America for their easy-going nature and fun-loving spirit. Their national mythology hails back to the days when independent and rugged settlers tamed the lawlessness of the llanos, a heritage not unlike that of the American West. Most Venezuelans them come from a mix of European, Indian, and African roots, while a minority are exclusively white, black, or Indian. Roman Catholicism is the overwhelmingly dominant religion.