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Published: March 15th 2006
As I mentioned in the previous blog I wanted to take a bus to Asuncion which is the capital of Paraguay. As it goes with plans they are made to be changed and so I did. I met a polish guy at the bus terminal in Montevideo and he had the plan to get off in the first city in Paraguay to see some old Jesuit ruins. As I didn’t want to see another city I decided to go along with him. We got dropped off in Encarnacion at 3am in the morning after 15 hours on the bus. The bus ride itself wasn’t that bad at all and we even got lunch and dinner. The latter was served late as usual at 10.30 pm! including super sweet coffee
As you can imagine we were in quite a state and were happy that we were still able to get a room at that time of the night. The same morning after breakfast of dry bread rolls and coffee we went of to see the Jesuit ruins.
The
Jesuits were a catholic group founded quite a while ago which set out into the world to provide the natives with the "benefit" of western civilization (including all the diseases) and religion. While doing this they also build some quite amazing monasteries, got quite rich (wonder where they got the money from) which attracted the attention of others. As the story goes they were forbidden a while after and they left the monasteries to be rediscovered. Have a look at the pics. At least they knew how to build solid which cannot be said about the present day Paraguayans. The monastery in the pictures was founded in 1706 and by 1728 it already had a population of over 4000 local people.
Now to the more interesting bit the Carnival. Unbeknown to us the local Carnival was also happening at the same day. Originally we had the plan to go back to Argentina on the same day but that plan was also forgotten and we stayed for one more night. Not sure how I can describe what was going on so I use simple words. “Lots of women in next to nothing dancing for 5 hours” is I think a fair description. Looks all a bit like what you expect to happen in Rio.
Have a look at the pictures (bet you did already) and you see what I mean. I don’t know where the girls hide during the day as you hardly see any pretty ones while the sun is up. Unfortunately it is looking only and you cannot participate.
More pics of the Carnival can be seen
here
Next stop Iguazu falls.
This is where Paraguay is
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