What a fantastic day in Asunción.
Today the city came alive with smiles, laughter and an incredible sense of community. Children were giggling, cameras were everywhere, and every few steps there was another moment worth capturing — a smile, a dance, a hug, a burst of laughter. It felt as though everyone was determined to photograph every breath of emotion.
The streets were filled with dancing, music and families enjoying themselves. There were special areas for children to play, places for parents to sit and relax, food stalls tempting everyone within smelling distance, and wonderful local arts and crafts to admire and buy.
After an incredible morning wandering around, I eventually found a seat beside a rather large Paraguayan gentleman — who, as luck would have it, had a brother living in Guadalajara, Mexico! His niece was also visiting Asunción, so naturally we had plenty to talk about. In a city full of strangers, it was another lovely reminder of how small the world really is.
The dancers were wonderful — from little ones finding their rhythm to older generations who clearly knew exactly what they were doing. Unfortunately, I only saw one group of Indigenous dancers, although I did manage to capture a photograph of some young Indigenous girls enjoying the celebrations on the street. Interestingly, they weren’t wearing the elaborate headdresses while dancing, which made me realise just how much there is still to learn about the different cultures and traditions here.
And perhaps that’s what has surprised me most about Paraguay.
I can understand now why it doesn’t seem to promote itself heavily as a tourist destination. There is something wonderfully genuine about this country. It doesn’t feel as though the people are performing for tourists. They are simply living, celebrating, laughing, eating, dancing and enjoying their families and communities.
And the cost of living? Food is wonderfully inexpensive. The supermarkets are fantastic — honestly, some are better than what I was used to in Cairns, Queensland. There seems to be very little that is lacking.
But today wasn’t really about supermarkets, prices or sightseeing.
It was about people.
It was about families, children, community spirit and the sheer joy of being together.
There is, however, another side to Asunción. A small community of underprivileged people lives not far from the heart of all this celebration. Their story is very different — and I will share that in my next post.
For today, though, I’ll simply say this:
Paraguay, you’ve surprised me.
And after just a couple of days, I’m beginning to think I may have accidentally arrived in Paradise. ❤️