Paraguay from every angle
Life, culture, landscapes. All that is Paraguay, and my life here
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...
Panteon de los Heroes, Asuncion
Standing in the center of the historic old town of Asuncion is the Panteon de los Heroes. It is one of the principle sights of Asuncion and so belongs on all visitors list of places to visit. The Panteon de los Heroes is located on Calle Palma Asucions principal...
The long road home
Travelling across Paraguay and it does not take long before you leave the tarmac behind. The lines of tarmac tend to be the strings joining one town to the next. The web of roads linking all places in between is surfaced with dirt or occasionally cobbles. My home is...
Jesuits in Paraguay
The ruins of the Jesuit settlements of Trinidad and Jesus are Paraguays World Heritage Site. Deservedly so and belong very high on every tourists agenda. There were eight Jesuits settlements in Paraguay. Of these the best preserved and easiest reached are the Missions...
Controlled use of fire
The use of fire in a controlled fashion is an effective way of clearing ground for planting crops. The important word is controlled for without controls a fire will soon run wild. The stubble left from the previous planting along with grass and weeds that have...