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Ciudad del Este
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If you read the Lonely planet, you would believe that Ciudad del Este is full of criminals, with everyone running around in black and white hooped tops, and big bags saying SWAG slung over their shoulders. Ciudad del Este has a bad reputation because it uses it´s geographical posistion bordering 2 strong rich countries, Argentina and Brazil, to flog cheap and knocked off goods to it´s more affluent neighbours. Our experience in the city was very pleasant, after a bit of confusion about geting our passports stamped, the only problem that we experienced was that Paraguayans are very bad at giving directions and either walk very fast or do not know how long 10 minutes is. After getting our stamps we saw some fellowe travellers from the bus get in a taxi, not having any Paraguayan money, we thought it would be easier and thriftier to walk. So we asked some one where the bus terminal was, and how long it took to get there, only 10 minutes walk that way. Sounded easy so we shouldered our packs and set off. 10, 20, 30 minutes later and we ask some one else, "10 minutes that way". So off we set again, enjoying our pleasant surroundings as we passed playing fields and parks a plenty. 10, 20, 30 minutes later and we ask again, "2 blocks that way". Ok 2 blocks we are getting somewhere, what the kind Paraguayan did not mention is that one of the blocks was a park that spanned 3 football pitches, and then some smaller pitches. Getting disheartened we stop at one of the smaller pitches and have a bit of a kick around. My Swedish companions had made the inspired decision to buy a football. Soon we had a couple of local kids playng with us, mirroring the World Cup group, England, Sweden and Paraguay, all we needed was for Dwight Yorke to turn up to represent Trinidad and Tobago...
He didn´t and if our little tournament is anything to go by Paraguay will be soundly beaten, and Sweden will finish top, but there was two of them, and they are both younger than me, but without Rooney, perhaps it will prove to be an apt indicator.
So after a conversing in the universal language of football, in Paraguay they do not speak Spanish as a first language, we asked the way to the bus terminal, "10 minutes that way", came the familiar response. 10, 20, 30 minutes later, after heading in the wrong direction for 10 minutes, we are eventually given some useful directions, behind the football stadium and to the right.
Eventually we arrive at our destination, and meet again the fellow travellers from the bus, it would have been a pleasant walk except for my 20 kilo home strapped to my back, I´m beggining to hate my backpack.
A quick eat and we get the next bus to Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay.
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