Hotel Boggiani II Asuncion

... despite the bleak atmosphere of this country, and we've found enjoyment in playing online games, joking around, and acting really stupid.

Unfortunately, most of my time here has been spent sitting at a desk, but Tamara and I were able to get away for a weekend to visit Iguazu Falls (on the border of Brazil and Argentina and near the border of Paraguay). To get there, we had to go through Ciudad del Este, Paraguay's notorious border ...

Left the camp on route to the capital, Asuncion. The road was in a good condition and although we did have a couple of tolls to pay it was reasonably cheap. On arrival at the town we knew we could camp at the zoo, but as usual there were no sign posts and the roads were a bit of a mixture. In some cases the main roads were wide thorough fairs, whilst in others they were quite narrow streets. As a result of this, and because we knew it was near we went to ...

... not pleasant to bathe in the stream when it is cold and windy. The family I am staying with is very loud. There are 5 sisters all in the their late teens or 20s, and they are quite loud. And 4 of their kids live with us too, so there is never a quite moment. They put the radio on full blast starting at about 630 in the morning, and there is not a quiet moment after that. I am looking forward to peace and quiet and privacy when I move in on my own.

... signe devant la porte c'était en fait une maison privée. Nous avons frappé à la porte, et une dame qui de toute évidence était en train de souper est venue nous ouvrir, et nous avons essayé les guitares dans l'ancien garage de la maison... :) Et finalement, une jolie guitare en bandoulière, nous sommes rentrés à Asunción dans le petit bus aux roues carrées, hilares. :D

Après ça Daniela a repris son avion pour Santiago, alors pour des raisons de budget je suis retourné dormir ...

It´s been a busy week, and unfortunately i am pressed for time, so I will try to write what I can. This weekend was a pretty fun weekend. My host father is coach of the local soccer team, and they are building a new field in the pasture by our house. There is a big scandal in town because the guy who has rented the land for the field for the last 23 years has decided not to rent to them again this year. It's all anyone was able to talk about for while, that and the ...

... 4, in Paraguay in 1 to 50000. We are living like millionaires. After a 6 hour truck ride we have pulled in to the capital of Paragay for 2 days. The difference from the countrie we have been to is mind blowing the standard of living is much cheaper in Paraguay and ther is a lot more povety. The temp is also rising its around 39 degrees. Nice hotel with AC that works.

... before it's getting better, then I'll have to hurry. I get a front row seat on a double-decker bus and head off into the Argentine night. Any thought of missing the scenery is probably misplaced. Argentina rolls under the bus like Nebraska and her mother-in-law, just going on and on about nothing, vast plains dotted with towns and cows. It's big and it's beautiful, but in that subtle American way, vast and brooding. It resembles both the US and ...

Arrrgh, firefox shut down in the middle of my post, and I'm way too tired to type it up again, so quick recap... we (Joaquim and Sandra, Igel and Paola and their dog Rambo, Adri, and I) headed out on the 4x4 through some small towns to a beautiful waterfall where I swam and hung out under the water. Before arriving there, we stopped ...

... finally 3 days ago the government finally gave in and decided to buy back the titles to the hospital. That's one win for the little guy. I think the puts the tally at, oh say, a million government to 3 people. Now there is some celebrating going on, but as I've learned in Paraguay they better not celebrate too much until the first doctor starts seeing appointments. The radio program for NPR, that we helped with ...

... my hits to the group of Paraguayans that I befriended on the bus. Yet, after a half hour past the border, our bus broke down! Fortunately it was only an hour wait, which seems to be nothing for me these days. Funny thing, we were only about half a mile from the terminal. Asuncion I met up with some Couch Surfers, Miguel and Adri. Miguel showed me around ...