Paraguay: Where The Warmth Of The Climate Is Matched By The Warmth Of Its People

Paraguay is not on the itinerary of most travelers to South America. The reasons are various: it was for example ruled by a ruthless dictator for many years. But those days are long gone and today Paraguay is one of the best kept travel secrets of this continent. The more you get to know it, the longer you will want to stay.

Should you arrive by bus, you will end up at the Asuncion bus terminal. Don’t be put off by the somewhat seedy appearance of the surrounding city blocks. The terminal itself is modern and from here you are able to get a bus to virtually anywhere in Paraguay. City buses also leave from here – bus no 8 goes to the city center. Inside the terminal you will find a restaurant and numerous small shops.

The decaying old city center of Asuncion is an atmospheric, charming place. Walking down Avenida Palma (the main street) you are likely to hear the sweet sounds of harp music floating out of more than one shop. Or the melancholy sound of a Paraguayan folk singer singing about the wide open plains of the Chaco…

There are numerous shops offering the renowned spiderweb lace that Paraguay is famous for. The stall owners are not as pushy as their counterparts in many other South American countries. The numerous money changers will, however, accost you quite aggressively with their calls of ‘cambio, cambio!’.

Ciudad Del Este is the second largest city in Paraguay and also the trading capital. In some respects it more resembles the hustle and bustle of a Far Eastern city like Bangkok than the mellow atmosphere of Asuncion and the many small towns surrounding it. In Ciudad del Este you will find anything you can think of: from ebook readers to laptops. From motor cycle accessories to digital cameras. One traveler reports that he bought a brand new black helmet for less than 50% of the price back home.

One of the most charming aspects of Paraguay is the numerous small artist-towns surrounding Asuncion. Many of them specialize in a particular product, like spiderweb lace, or the famous little ceramic chickens you find in Paraguay. The beautifully painted ceramic pots of Aregua is also a huge drawing card for both locals and tourists over a weekend.

Should you be into scrapbooking, you will need a lot of scrapbooking paper for Paraguay. This is a place that gets under you skin very quickly and stays there for a long, long time. With a scrapbook you can make sure your memories will always be preserved.

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· Filed Under Outdoor Sports