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.
The Asuncion bus terminal is a beehive of activity. There are buses coming and going to all parts of the city and to every single city and town in Paraguay until late at night, seven days a week. There is a restaurant which serves quite good food and you can buy everything a traveler needs from one of the many small shops inside the terminal building.
The old city center of Asuncion, with buildings dating back hundreds of years, is a charming, atmospheric place. As you walk down the main street (called Palma) you will often hear the beautiful sounds of harp music coming from many shops. (The harp is the national instrument of Paraguay). Or you will hear the melancholic sound of Paraguayan folk music gently floating on the airwaves.
There are many shops where you can buy spiderweb lace – a product that Paraguay is particularly well known for. You will find that the shop owners are not as aggressive as many others in South America. Should you, however, want to exchange money, the large number of money changers will vie for your attention in an unusually aggressive way.
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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