Paraguay from every angle
Life, culture, landscapes. All that is Paraguay, and my life here
Land where once there was water
The rocks that underlie central South America are on the whole stable and ancient. These rocks know as craton represent old stable continental crust that has remained unaltered through eons. As might be expected though this does not represent the full story. Here in...
Always frost, Never snow
Some may consider winter in Paraguay to be a mere technical term. Something marked on the calendar. However there are days when it is truly cold. The months from June to August are considered to be winter. For much of the time the weather does remain warm and sunny....
Firewood for cooking
On most days of the year firewood is my cooking fuel. There is also a small electric oven for those wet days when the woodpile is rain soaked. However most days the sun shines and the wood is dry. Of course the cooking arrangements are a little more advanced than a...
Free Range Poultry across Paraguay
Across Paraguay chickens wander free and unrestricted. Around the country many household own a few chickens. Out in the countryside almost every house has its population of poultry. Paraguay is a good place to be a chicken. Until it is time to go in the pot that is....
Watching the hummingbirds.
The bird life in Paraguay comes in all colours and sizes. One of the most colourful and distinctive is the humming bird. This being something I would never see in the wild in England is always a pleasure to watch. There are numerous species of humming bird to be seen...
Lapacho. The Paraguayan national tree
The lapacho is the national tree of Paraguay. It is a common sight across the country. When in bloom it is a very distinctive and easily spotted tree. In Guarani the lapacho is known as tajy and has varieties with various colours of flowers. They are all however...
The hill of the rock arch
Across Paraguay there are many out crops of rock rising abruptly from the surrounding flat lands. One such out crop forms a small hill not far from my house. In front of the house across the valley rises a wall of cliffs. These rise a hundred or more metres from the...
Toads and other amphibians
In many damp dark corners of Paraguay lurks a toad. If not a toad then something smaller such as a frog may have taken up residence. The toads of Paraguay a big beasts. They are several inches long and are solid, chunky animals. These creatures are the stuff of every...
Asuncion International Airport
Asuncion International Airport is formally named Aeropuerto Silvio Pettirossi. It is the main international airport for flights to and from Asuncion. Before I continue with this article I must explain that it is written reflecting more normal times. I expect the...