Finally… we made it to the ranch! What a journey. The roads were more mud than road, and along the way we shared the adventure with three enormous double-trailer trucks heading off to the abattoirs, a family of five capybaras, one very dead snake, and plenty of friendly Paraguayan chatter.
And then there was Hotel Iparoma. Simple, yes—but absolutely wonderful. It’s already feeling like a little slice of rural Paraguay, with plenty of animals needing attention.
My first job? Bottle-feeding Pancho the lamb, who seems to have decided I’m his new personal milk machine. There are also guinea fowl, ducks, chickens, geese and two very entertaining pigs.
The staff are incredibly friendly and, thankfully, communication won’t be a problem. Everyone is Paraguayan, with Albert having spent several years living in Canada, while one German lady has now become a permanent Paraguayan. Between the two of them, Marilyn and a little English from everyone else, we should manage just fine.
So, the adventure at the ranch begins… and somehow I suspect Pancho is going to be running the place before long!
