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 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 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.
The second largest city of Paraguay is Ciudad del Este in the east of the country. In many respects the atmosphere of Ciudad del Este more resembles that of a city in the Far East, like Bangkok. Travelers often compare it one huge shopping mall. Here you can buy virtually anything you can think of: from the latest electronics to spiderweb lace. From ebook readers to an old used black helmet. Prices are generally very competitive.
A lot of Paraguay’s charm lies in its countryside. Around Asuncion you will find a number of small towns where the artists specialize in one type of product. Whether it’s nanduti lace or the cute little ceramic chickens that have become so popular, you are sure to find something that will forever remind you of this most special of countries.
If you are into scrapbooking, make sure you have large amounts of scrapbooking paper. Your memories of Paraguay will soon become your fondest travel memories and you will want to preserve every moment you spend in this wonderful country, with its warm, friendly people.



