I also was in Caracas in 2006. I remember seeing graffiti "Vota Por Chavez" and the next day "Vota Por Chavez Jodete", the last part added overnight. It all depends on where you were (this was near parque del este, a more middle-class pro-opposition area).

I went in expecting a dictatorship and left feeling that it was a democracy. Or at least much more than a hopeless dictatorship as all the articles I read made it sound. There did exist fear about expressing anti-Chavez sentiment in and around the barrios[1], but this was mainly due to fear of the people in these areas being dangerous and potentially lashing out. And in fact, many people were just scared of the barrios period.

[1] Poorer, temporary-turned permament housing throughout the city, if anyone isn't familiar.