Six months ago today, there was a coup here in Caracas. Soldiers dressed as civilians opened fire on people protesting against the government, killing at least 16 people. A further 25 were killed in subsequent marches, and president Chavez’ rule was overthrown, then reinstated within two days.

Today, on the six month anniversary, it is expected that one million people will take to the streets, over three times more than in April. Yesterday, we debated with our Venezuelan colleagues whether it was safe to go to work, as the march would go by our office building. The man I am training showed me a newspaper picture of himself at the coup. He was carrying a man who had been shot in the back of the head.

It was decided we would go to work, worried as we were of remaining stuck in the building if things turned violent by day’s end. As we returned to the hotel, soldiers and military vehicles lined every street. My colleagues heard gunfire during the night, but I guess I slept too soundly.

This morning, the normally bustling city was quiet. As we were having breakfast at the hotel before leaving, we got a call informing us that the Venezuelans neither wanted to go to the office, nor come to the hotel. They either wanted to take part in the protest or stay with their families.

And so I get a day off. It’s surreal to be here, in the middle of a revolution, reading my little book, watching my little DVD. Sometimes I try to understand the situation on the local news, but the Spanish spoken in the angry speeches of protestors, generals and ministers is unintelligible to me. I’ll keep you posted.