Paraguay
Trip Start
Mar 28, 2008
1
10
98
Trip End
Mar 27, 2009
Asuncion,
Paraguay
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Today we decided to go to Itaipu Dam (it´s one of modern wonders of the world!). Unfortunately we only had time to do a short tour of the outside - not really our thing but impressive all the same. It supplies 90% of Paraguay´s power and 20% of Brazil´s - it´s huge!
We then went to cross the border into Paraguay where we changed our money into Guarani´s. Everything is in 1,000´s so 9,000 equals 1 pound. It was very confusing but we felt rich for the day!! The change in currency is very confusing in the 2 weeks we´ve been here we´ve used US dollars, Reals, Pesos and Guarani´s - all with different exchange rates. We wish we bought a calculator!!!
Across the border is Ciudad del Este where the Brazilians buy everything because it is so cheap compared to Brazil - you can buy anything and everything here. It was absolute carnage - we were glad we were in a bus.
We then waited in the bus station for another air conditioned bus to take us to Asuncion for 2 hours. Once the bus arrived, we discovered it was not air conditioned and it was 40 degrees - it was hell for 6 hours and the bus driver stopped for 15 minutes to buy 20 child size chairs - very random!
Once we arrived in Asuncion we all went out for tea to a buffet restaurant where you pay by the kilo. This is a great idea and the food is superb. We discovered the beer was 80p a pint and the caiprinha´s were 1 pound each. We had a meal for 2 and drinks for 9 pound 50. We like this place already!
Julie had 5 caiprinha´s because they were so cheap but has learnt her lesson after been violently sick everwhere in the middle of the night! I wasn´t impressed being woken up in the middle of the night to projectile vomiting!!!! Sorry Mum i´ve learnt my lesson!
Friday
Asuncion is the capital of Paraguay and you can definately tell the difference in infrastructure and economy between Paraguay and Brazil. Paraguay is not looked after at all and is very dirty. There is very little to do in Asuncion but enough to do in one day.
There were various types of Police everywhere with very big guns and at the moment it is election time with lots of Rally´s going on. We´re not sure how safe we are here, a bus just passed full of riot police. We can´t wait to leave the noise at night is unbearable!
Today it was 40 degrees with no wind - we have never sweated so much!!!! It was unbearable especially for Julie with a raging hang over.
Everyone in Paraguay drinks Mati (a herbal tea drink drank hot or cold) - they all carry around flasks and a cup and metal straw. It is quite strange to see the whole nation drinking this awful stuff. Our tour leader let us try some and it is rank!!
