Another Tourist Train
Trip Start
Jan 20, 2004
1
64
88
Trip End
Feb 01, 2005
Aregua,
Paraguay
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Tourist Train
The train line to Aregua, complete with steam train, was reopened in January and offer day trips to Aregua. Purchasing my ticket was made very easy in the Central Station with very helpful staff. I had what they said was an unusual request, as I wanted to go on Saturday and come back on Sunday. Since the train only runs on weekends I thought I might as well stay over a night by the lake. I had to pay an extra Gs5000 (AUD$1.25) for that privilege.
There weren`t many passengers for the train, I think the overcast weather had something to do with it, and I think that there may have been more staff than passengers.
The train left from the station at the Botanical Gardens, so I was up early to get a bus out there again.
Although it was only a short trip to Aregua (1.5hours) the trip included roving comics and musicians, a stop in the town of Luque, and something to eat and drink. I got talking to Francisco, the guy with the voice over the PA. He was a very good looking guy in that smooth, 5 o`clock shadow, dark good looks kind of way and I think he`s interested in me!
When we arrived he pointed me in the direction of the town, although after seeing a really nice church I realised he`d sent me in the opposite direction to the lake and the place I wanted to stay at.
Hotel Ozli
I stopped in at Hotel Ozli, which also had a restaurant and a pool. I sat in the sun for awhile and then sipped a Coke while updating my journal.
01 The Train
There was a family from the train and they were playing in the pool before heading back to get the train back to Asunciòn.I went to my room and before I could leave again, it poured with rain, so I was stuck inside for the rest of the evening, but that was okay as I left the windows open to soak up the smell of the rain.
Over breakfast the next morning I looked out over the rain-green soggy garden and wrote some more in my journal. I then decided that I needed to go for a walk, and slipped off to the lake, which was quite dirty and looked like the river that comes from the mines in Potosì.
I was sitting on the end of the pier talking to myself (well no one else here speaks English!) and just relaxing when the boys playing soccer jumped in the lake and headed towards the pier. They disturbed my peace and quiet and splashed me, so I took off back to the hotel to read some more of my book.
Paraguayan Backyards
It is amazing how popular the train is. The kids all run out to see it going past, and the kids and adults both wave to the train. We could see into lots of people`s backyards, and they were relaxing on a Sunday afternoon, sharing their mate. Everyone looked happy (except one little boy who threw something at the train) and the people who lived in houses and the people who lived in shacks looked at the train with equal enthusiasm.
I felt my heart fill with joy at watching the Paraguayans, and I knew that this was fast becoming my favourite country for the genuine and friendly people and the relaxed, rural lifestyle.
Things I Learned
* Paraguay should be renamed Paraguapo for all the good looking people here (guapo means good looking)
* You don`t have to go far from the city to get into the country
* I like not running into other tourists or English speakers
