Living as I do in the Paraguayan countryside there is always impressive scenery to be seen.
I am fortunate in that a blanket of green extends in every direction. Amongst it few signs of human habitation can be spotted.
This makes the air here in Piribebuy clear and clean. Pollution is almost unheard of. The only instance in which it occurs is if a grass fire creates clouds of thick white smoke. Pollution from industry and transport does not exist. Just clean country air.
And do I have to go far to find this green and unspoiled paradise?
No, not at all. I just step out doors and am at once surrounded by nature.
The views extend in every direction so I need not go far to find the perfect one.
My house sits on the gently sloping side of a valley.
In the valley bottom runs the road. A thin line of brown earth that weaves its way out to the main road. The valley bottom is also where the majority of the houses that are scattered along the valley lie.
Sitting up on the valley side my view is unobstructed by all that.
Instead looking forward from the house there is an unbroken line of tree covered cliffs running from horizon to horizon. In places where the cliffs are too steep to support trees bare patches of grey rock are exposed.
These cliffs form the leading edge of range of hills running between here and the town of Piribebuy. A second valley parallel to this one divides the hills which then rise once more before dropping into Piribebuy.
Directly across the hills Piribebuy is much closer than the 15km the roads are required to take. On a clear night the lights of the town center can be clearly seen from my house glowing above the ridge line.
This hillside view has patches of managed land on it flatter parts but on the whole is natural woodland.
I look along it studying its contours trying to estimate where the passes over the hills may be. For the cliffs do not form a solid wall but instead individual rock outcrops stand a different distances. Only from a far appearing as a solid wall of rock.
The trees that cover the hills are mainly palms which are very common in the area. Along with this are a wide mixture of other trees types representing the local flora of Paraguay. Then high up on the ridge line half a dozen trees stand proud. These must be very tall tress as they rise clearly above all that surrounds them.
Every day when I wake this is the view that greets me.
Behind the house the valley side slowly rises to a broad plateau. The view in that direction is not as dramatic but is not spoiled by a single building or artificial light.
To get the best out of the views behind the house it is necessary for me to cross over onto my neighbours land and take the short walk up to the rock outcrop that stands at bottom of his land.
These mark the high point of this side of the valley and beyond them the ground drops away steeply into the next valley.
Some of the highest rocks require a bit of rock climbing. However walk up through a high natural stone arch and you find yourself on a broad rock platform overlooking the surrounding countryside.
From here only one or two houses are faintly visible through the sea of trees that stretches out unbroken in every direction. The wildlife also knows this is a good place to live undisturbed and amongst other things vultures nest high up on the cliffs.
The rock themselves are not that high but standing at the top of the valley side they are at a height that looks down upon all that is around them.
In the far distance even the main road running 5km away can be distinguished and if the wind is in the right direction car travelling along it can be heard.
Mostly though the view is huge and relaxing. Everywhere the trees and grasses appear to extend to the horizon and beyond. A view only cut short by hills and rocky outcrops. It is not surprising that this a place popular with tourists.
I like them could sit up there for a long time taking in the view and enjoying the silence.
Unlike the tourists though afterwards I walk back to my house and remain in the landscape.
Then every day as night arrives I have yet more relaxing views to enjoy.
First there is sunset. From my house I watch the sun sink below a low ridge line. Upon this grow palms between which the sun decends.
As it does so almost without fail every evening the sky is filled with colour.
The setting sun illuminates the thin clouds which form at that time of day. These then burst into colour with vivid oranges and reds and even the occasional purple.
Watching the sun set across the garden is a pleasure.
Then finally the lack of street lighting allows the stars to glow. There is not a single light behind my house and so almost every night they put on a brilliant display.
The Milky Way runs across the heavens and everywhere the sky is filled with stars. The constellations here display far more stars than those seen from less rural areas. And most nights are cloudless.
In this most natural of environments there are though man made objects to be seen. Low to the horizon satellites slowly make their way across the night sky.
This then is a place to be with nature and look out in every direction upon its glories.
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