Today I learnt a little of Marilyn’s family history — and suddenly Filadelfia felt like so much more than a town. The Mennonites began in the Netherlands more than 500 years ago. Their beliefs included living peacefully and traditionally refusing to participate in war. Religious persecution eventually forced many to leave, first settling in Poland…
The room cost 100,000 PYG — about AUD $24.00 — and apparently toilet paper is a luxury extra, adding another 3,000 PYG to the bill. 😂 If you don’t specifically ask for a towel or blanket… you don’t get one. Thankfully, when I asked, I was presented with a rather fetching microfibre blanket decorated with…
Paraguay’s weather seems to be having a little identity crisis. My first few days were beautiful—sunshine and temperatures happily sitting in the high 20s to 35°C. Then yesterday arrived, and suddenly summer disappeared. The temperature struggled to reach 23°C and the skies opened up, producing heavy, steady rain throughout the night. Thankfully, it eased this…
A little collection of Asunción — colourful streets, historic buildings, local life and some beautiful textiles and crafts from local artists at the cultural centre.The handmade work really caught my eye, with bright colours, traditional patterns and plenty of Paraguayan character. Sometimes there isn’t much to say — just let the photographs tell the story.…
Paraguay has surprised me. To a traveller carrying foreign currency, it can feel inexpensive — but for Paraguayans earning local wages, the picture is rather different. The minimum wage is around ₲3.04 million a month, roughly ₲702,000 a week (US$116) or ₲36.5 million a year (about US$6,050). An average salary in Asunción is estimated at…
One thing that has certainly caught my attention in Asunción is the Cambio men. They seem to be everywhere! Groups of them standing on almost every corner of the main street, ready to change your money. I honestly don’t know how they all make a living — there are so many! It did make me…
The tree is a Ficus, and the way those hundreds of small fruits are packed directly onto the trunk and major branches is characteristic of a cluster-fruiting fig (Ficus species). Ficus racemosa is one possibility because it produces exactly these dense trunk-and-branch clusters and its fruit is edible. But it is not recommended for eating.…
What started as a Sunday stroll turned into 12 km of walking, a motorbike ride, a car ride, a bus trip, a wildlife museum, a zoo—and a lost handbag adventure! My map was wrong, so I asked a local for directions. His answer was, “I’ll take you on my motorbike.” Well, yes please! I wandered…
The ages of the dancers vary from 30 to 75 years of age.