We seemed to have arrived in Asunción at a weird time; the long weekend. It's a national holiday, Chaco Armistice, and I guess they celebrate by closing everything. But that don't get us down! In the heart of the city are beautiful colonial buildings which are now mostly museums. And if you go just outside of the historical center, you'll reach the suburbs that are full of shopping malls and bars. It even has the South American Futbol museum.
It's a giant building with a giant futbol. The museum is dedicated to the futbol history and talents of all the countries in the Confederación Sudamericana. The first thing you see as you walk in is a line of all the South American trophies including the World Cup in glass cases. I tried asking if I could hold the Copa American Cup but he said it weighed 12 kilos. That was either his polite way of saying no or that I look too tiny.
In complete contrast to the super modern South American futbol headquarters lies the Museo de las Memorias, an unassuming building that served as a prison and torture chamber under the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, from 1954-1989.
While Asunción was resting, we took a short trip to Salta Cristal recommended by our Returned Peace Corps Paraguay Volunteer friend. The guide books only have a short blurb on the 90meter waterfall which is a pity because it's definitely worth a visit. It's probably less mentioned because it's harder to get to - you have to take a bus to La Colmena and then drive a 4x4 or hire a guide through acres of sugar cane and eucalyptus fields. Fun fact: La Colmena is the first Japanese colony in Paraguay.
Our other day trip was to Areguá - a cute little town full of ceramics and a lake. I can see why locals come here during the summer and gorge on strawberries.
-Priscilla
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