Asunción Day 1

Well today was certainly not the first day in Paraguay that we expected. After leaving Buenos Aires around 1715 last night, we knew we were on a long bus to Asunción due to arrive around 1245. We didn't know what to expect at border control, but it seemed pretty chill at the Uruguay border so I was hoping for something similar. Boy was I wrong.

The bus was absolutely freezing with blasted air conditioning. There were fat snoring men, kids running past me in the aisle, and an occasional baby crying near the front. Some guy two rows up also decided from the minute we boarded the bus, that he was going to provide entertainment and had music on full blast for several hours. I was not impressed. My little earplugs were not doing the job.

After managing a tiny bit of sleep, we were woken up on the Argentina side of the border. I thought this was strange because crossing into Uruguay, we didn't stop at the Argentina side either time. This trip, however, we sat on the Argentina border for an hour and a half at least, got off the bus, waited in line for a migration officer to check us off the bus manifest, and got back on the bus to drive 5 minutes to the Paraguay side. Luckily this was a bit quicker. A woman came onto the bus from migration, spoke some quick Spanish to me and Allan, and then stared at us. The only word I understood was 'application'. I was worried thinking we missed something when we checked the requirements. I told her in Spanish I didn't understand. She asked us where we lived, how long we'd been in Argentina, which I could understand and respond with. Then she translated 'vaccine application' to which I interpreted she wanted to see the yellow fever certificates. This was the first time a country asked to see them despite all of the countries requiring it that we've visited thus far! After she took some pictures of it, it was all good, or so I thought. Soon after she left, the bus conductor motioned for me and Allan to get off the bus. Queue panic again! We were brought to a desk and had our passports stamped. Phew! We were the only foreign tourists on the bus that needed this done.

After all the border control stuff was finished, we had just over 6 more hours to go until Asunción. Unfortunately, the bus took the longest route every single time the road split. 6 hours became 8, became 10. By the time we reached the bus station, we'd been on the bus for almost 25 hours. I was pretty fed up by that point and so glad to be off.

We managed to get an Uber fairly quickly and got to the hostel painlessly. The woman greeted us, and knowing we'd had a long trip, left us to get settled in and told us there was no rush to pay her (so kind). Our room is nice with a cute little sink and portable burner. We also have our own bathroom which is a nice treat.

After a much needed shower, we went out for some breakfast groceries and were pleasantly surprised to see cheap groceries. We then went out to dinner at Bolsi, a recommendation from the hostel. It was an interesting place, half informal cafeteria style and half nicer restaurant. We sat in the cafeteria. We ordered some traditional Paraguayan bread and fajitas. The bread was very good, and Allan and I agree those might have been the best fajitas we've ever had. The size of the meat and vegetables was perfect, nicely seasoned, cooked brilliantly. They were amazing! We also each got a beer because it was less than £2 for a pint. After the expensive prices in Patagonia and Buenos Aires, these prices are a welcome change. On our walk back, we noted some nice buildings that we will have to take a look at while we are here. Allan wrote a few emails while I looked at Asunción, and then it was time for some much deserved rest, horizontal, in a bed.Read more