Asuncion, Paraguay isn't on most travellers list of top ten destinations, but I can give you a few good reasons why it is on mine! I spent 6 months in Paraguay a few years ago working as a volunteer in Asuncion. My work was with the local people and gave me a fascinating insight into the local people. For a start Asuncion is usually hot, humid and slow moving in every aspect! I found that the people were on-the-whole very friendly and generally interested in people from the West. Paraguayans are a very proud people speaking not only Spanish but the native indian language of Guarani. You will find the Spanish spoken here quite different to that spoken in Spain, almost spanish without the lisp! The public transport in Asuncion was pretty good. We tended to rely on the buses and they did come regularly if a little overcrowded. Taxi services were quite good too, but be careful they don't rip you off, we did experience threatening behaviour a couple of times in cabs we flagged down. In Asuncion itself don't miss visiting the government buildings and the palace - you can't miss them they are the wealthiest looking buildings in the city! Also go to Mercado 4 the market - very smelly, but amazing, very south american. Another interesting visit is to the Botanical gardens which are just like a big park, but inside is the Natural History museum which is a must if you aren't sqeamish! The museum consists of 4 rooms of stuffed animals and jars of pickled animals and animal parts uugggh. Beware of the toilets in the Botanical gardens as they really pong! If you want western shopping in Asuncion visit Shopping del Sol where there's a Burger King, Benneton and other big stores! You can find local craft stalls dotted around the city centre and in the parks. For a good view of the city go up the Marlboro building in the city centre and have a drink. There are a good range of pubs in Asuncion and everything is really cheap, if you want a pub to meet lots of travellers in try Spurs or Britannia. Circus Circus was also good. The bus terminal in Asuncion is a good place to get good, cheap but comfortable bus rides to cities all over South America.
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Jul 3rd, 2000
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