“Eh… you go Paraguay, cheap electrical good no?” um, actually we’re going to see the UNESCO world heritage site of the Jesuit Ruins of Trinidad “Oh…” the gruff Argentinean seemed dejected by our response “you buy cheap camera no?” no, ruins “ahaha… yes yes yes…” he rolls back and chuckles ”but you buy cheap electric too!”
Every taxi driver in the city had stopped work to crowd around a small TV in the taxi stand to watch the football. We enjoyed a drink on some chairs outside a bottle shop and reflected on Paraguay, for we had been there for half an hour and knew everything there was to know already. From the outset it felt more third world than Argentina and immediately I felt more comfortable than the polished bars of Buenos Aires. Cars started flying down the streets; hooting and tooting, people waving football flags out of the window. I guess the local team won.
It’s bucketing down when we wake in our hotel that resembles a prison, not only in looks but also in service. The forecast for the next few days is rain, rain and more rain. We speak with some French people we met at the border and decide that we may as well head off to the ruins, despite the horrible weather, as it doesn’t look like it will get better in the following days. A strike of lightening and a deafening crack of thunder mark our ‘loco’ decision.
The ruins themselves are quite impressive – an old Jesuit mission decayed into a labyrinth to explore. The bucketing rain heightened the beauty of this crumbling society. There was no information when we were there, so we know very little about the ruins themselves, but I understand they were constructed in the early part of Spanish colonisation to improve the living standards of the locals and were considered by some as utopian mini cities.
We woke the following morning to glorious sunshine and clear skies as far as the eye could see. I guess weather forecasts are never correct, more so for South America than back home. We caught a bus to Cuidad del Este on the border with Brazil so Jon could get his visa. For some reason Australians are charged to get into Paraguay and Brazil, whilst British people (like me) get through without paying. What ensued was a lengthy wait at the consulate, back and forth to get documents and a return the next day to have it finalised.
Thus another night in Paraguay was inevitable, so we took to the markets to search out these electronic goods we’d heard so much about. The quantity of cameras, phones of all shapes and sizes, dvd players and all things electrical that filled the dark malls was mind boggling. Caution finally let way to temptation and I’m now the proud owner of a Nikon Coolpix 225 camera – one that fits into my pocket so I can take it to scary places where I’d be too scared to bring out my real camera.
So with my new camera for scary places, and Jon’s crisp and expensive visa we head out of the most corrupt country outside Africa and head into the wild expanses of Brazil. Bikini ladies here we come!
-a-
JON’S FOOTNOTE: After 2 days, my shoes are now dry. Alex bought a camera for $200; I bought a talking watch for $5! It tells the time in Spanish!
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