Two Hundred Years in One Whole Day, Asuncion, Paraguay - June 2011

We arrived in the Capital City late in the evening, after a dreadful 8 hour bus ride from Encarnacion. We rode with one of Paraguay's top bus companies and were sorely disappointed. An uncomfortable chicken bus that stopped everywhere there was a house and nearly broke down (amazingly, after coming so close to breaking down and going uphill at about 15 MPH, it seemed to miraculously fix itself. It must have been the driver's sticker, 'I drive the bus, Jesus guides me,' that helped us. We nipped out for food to a great retro restaurant called 'Lido' for steak and eggs, and then back to our bed.

We wandered around Asuncion for most of the day, just managing to find enough to do to keep us busy with a long lunch in the middle. The city is pleasant enough and feels very safe, but there is not much of interest for us as tourists.

'What can I get you sir?'
The old train car. 

A highlight in one of the cultural centres!

Football shirts hanging out for sale in the centre of town.

Richard by the beautiful Governor's Palace.

Everything is draped in flags and ribbons to celebrate 200 years of independence.

The most beautiful building in town, The Governor's Palace.

A very big flag camouflages Richard.

One of the cultural centres from the outside.