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Published: August 27th 2006
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House of indepence
Oh those uniforms... So lots has happened since the last enstallment. We hung out in Campo Grande for a day and our fearless tourleader decided that since were staying in the red light district anyway that we should explore. This involved sitting in a bar with hookers drinking beer. Actually we had a blast. Very bizzare place. The madam unfortunately took a shine to me...proceeded to demonstrate Scottish highland dancing (whilst trying to pull down her denim mini skirt) and wanted me to dance. She slipped Maurice round the ear for laughing so much....Jo was commenting on how feminine those lads looked...they were girls. We got drunk enough to fall asleep on the night bus which was the entire point I suppose.
So we arrived in Foz de Igassu early in the morning and actually were a day earlier than planned. So we decided to take a day trip to Paraguay. Interesting palce where jaguars are more common than backpackers (we didn´t see either species). It also has a reputation (fairly) as being the country most full of bribes out of Africa. It turns out that Canadians and American citizens need a visa to enter Paraguay (one time entry $65 dollars so nobody
Colonial buildings
The rain had started to drain away... bothers). Our Canadian in the group ( who will remain nameless) handed over his Canadian passport (with no visa), with $30 beside his photogrpah. 2 minute later he had an entry stamp and we were on our way. Good to know for future travelling...never offer a bribe , just give it!
So passed from Brazil into Paraguy and the crazy busines of dutyfree stores, electronics etc. We bypassed this and hired 2 taxis to drive the 5 hours to the capital Asuncion. To set the scence imaging 35 degrees with no air conditioning. Not too nice. Also there are 5432 guaranis to the us dollar (similar to the lire- eh Vanessa!) and dengue fever is rife in this country! To pass the time we drank beer, kept stopping the cabs to buy more beer and swaps cars. yes we got hammered (or Heathered as the group refers to that state of mind - see blog on Bolivian nightclub). Asuncion is a rather bizzare place...or in fact the entire country is. There are a whole bunch of rich mennonite farmers here who drive new Mercedes...ans then there is everybody else. The country has had a string of millitary dictators and
not much luck. One of the first presidents in 1865 decided to simultaneously declare war on Brazil, Urugauy and Argentina. Not the smartest move ever made!
So for one of first times on this trip it raining. And boy did it rain, luckily mostly overnight, but with torential rain and thunder/ lightening. The Lonely planet talks about the city being pleasamt apart from the waterfalls of water streaming down the streets after the rain and the deisel fumes from the buses. We were lucky enought oexperience both of these delights!
We did a city tour this morning and found the restored old buildings pleasant. The presidential palace was guarded by soldiers in cammo ponchos and rubber boots. They refused to have their photos taken with us. Mixed in between the old colonial buildings were tower blocks that reminded me of the old easter block countries. Truely it felt like a banana republic.
We found the house where independence was declared in the early 1800s and it is now a museum. The weird thing here was the brand new and very stunning legitature building has within 100 feet the dangerous slumms close by the river paragauy. We couldn´t beleive
If it wasnae for yer wellies...
Should be standard for the british army! that the government would leave these slums so front and centre.
We then found Man U vs Watford in spanish on TV before catching the bus back to Brazil. It was an interesting day trip...deep into the heart of a country untouched by tourism.
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Richard Wilson
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Taxi
Your taxi looks like it has comfortable seating for four, although could be wet while raining. A nice view all told.