Blogs from Paraguay, South America - page 32

A bridge is all that separates the cities of Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. Getting stamped out of Brazil we walked with our packs across the bridge which was busy with traffic and people. The arched bridge is 500 meters or so across and we had a fantastic view of the river below covered in morning mist. On the other side we were presented with a grubby, dodgy looking Ciudad del Este. Quite a contrast from the controlled and relaxed and safe city we had just come from across the river. It was known for its smuggling and black market. With no desire to hang around we got a pretty stamp in our passports from the immigration man and grabbed a taxi. The ride was overpriced and the driver tried ... read more

Downtown Asuncion is a fairly miraculous place. It is the capital city of the country, and the one major, major city of the country. Thus, it has the elements of being both the cultural capital (like a New York or San Francisco) and the political capitol (like Washington D.C.). Walking downtown, this is what I saw on one corner: on one side, one of the hippest eateries in Paraguay, the Lido Bar. They serve delicious empanadas and other local specialities. On the other side of the street is the Panteon de los Heroes, which is the Hall of the Heroes--kind of like the Arlington Cemetary, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument rolled in one. There are many ceremonial caskets of leaders and generals along with many statues, plaques, and a shrine. Armed soldiers standd outside at attention, 24 ... read more

So the cargo boat left Asuncion at 7am on Wednesday...apparently. We boarded at 6.15 (so we could get a good spot amongst the chickens. Around us we watched 11892 eggs (I counted), 1600 tomatoes, 3 beds, a moped and a sofa. Amongst the odds and ends arriving on board, 2 scraggly travellers joined us. Unheard of! People actually travelling through Paraguay. So we got chatting. Played some cards. They were Jimmy and Kev - an Irish and Englishman, who had just met a few days prior to the boat. Come lunchtime, we realised that the boat still hadn't departed. We were chuffing boiling. Hot hot hot. Come 4pm we were told it was going at 5. Come 5pm they said the next day. We weren't entirely sure why we wern't going. Then the TV crews ... read more

well, I'm not there yet, so it's a bit of hopeful thinking, but I soon will be, if all goes well. It's been a while since I wrote a blog, and there's a good reason why, so I'll try to write one now. I'm just waiting for my bus, to take me away to new lands where I wasn't expecting to go they weren't expecting me, I'm always a stranger surrounded by foriegners cause I'm the foriegner... Last night, I went to the bus terminal in la paz at around nine, thinking to go to Sucre, and from there to paraguay. Turned out all the busses had left at about 6 for sucre, and I'd have to wait for tomorrow. OK where can you take me? I asked. Cochabamba. What is in cochabamba--well, the biggest jesus ... read more

La patate ce matin, je dois me faire les chutes côté argentin et visiter la ville frontalière de Puerto Iguaçu, je suis ravi. Problème... il fait super gris. Je prends mon ti-déj seul dans la salle, il n'y a pas d'autres pensionnaires en ce moment. Merde, il flotte et franchement en plus ! Je suis déçu, il va falloir que je modifie mes plans, j'irai aujourd'hui à Ciudad del Este et a Itaipu. La nana de la pousada m'explique où prendre mon bus et me file les dernières recommandations : rien dans les poches (pas mal de pickpockets dans ce bus, ils savent que les gens ont du fric sur eux pour faire de gros achats à Ciudad)... Après 50mn de trajet pour 5km, le bus me pose de l'autre côté du pont de l'amitié qui ... read more