Second Week in Asuncion: Part 3

 Thursday and Friday May 1 and 2, 2025

The first few pictures document the evening activities of Wednesday April 30. If you read Part 2, you may recall that Clark and I enjoyed some sight-seeing in the morning and took lunch at O Gaucho. Later, after all our lessons wrapped up, the kids were hungry, so we gave them a few nearby choices since lunch topped us up. It was just SO much food! The kids decided they wanted to walk down and try one of the food courts at the mall.

One thing about Asuncion (and maybe other Paraguayan cities...there are 3 major ones)...is the apparent love of shopping malls. These aren't your run of the mill malls. Clark finally came up with the closest thing we knew to what our experience has been here...the Las Vegas strip. These shopping malls are full of high-end retailers and premier American brands, offered at a fraction of the cost we can buy products in the states. The streets in and around the malls are filled with lights and there is typically a quadrant type park nearby. Oh! I can't leave out the restaurants. A person could eat a new restaurant every day for a year and probably not hit them all and I'm not sure if there's a such thing as mediocar food its just good, better, and best.

        

Because the following day was a work free day, the courtyard was packed on this Wednesday night. The picture doesn't do this scene justice. The mural, lights, and happy people combine to produce an energetic vibe.

The kids chose this local fast-food burger joint reminiscent of Carl's Jr. I saw this place on a different day and was super curious about it so I'm glad they chose it. Can you believe that burger covered in queso cheese? Check out those smothered chicken nuggets in the lowest right corner!! If this isn't taking lessons from the USA, then I hold my peace.

     

Of course, we had to stop off for a treat at bakery kiosk. Rosabel went with a variety of macrons, I chose a chocolate tres leches, and Craig stuck with his go-to ice cream. 

One the way home, in a parking lot within vicinity of our apartment, we noticed this mini cooper. How could we NOT? It's like a prop straight out of Mr. Bean.

It was teacher appreciation day this week and Clark was gifted a luxury box of alfajores. He also tried out his mate for the first time. We didn't get a taste for it...pretty sure it's acquired.

On Thursday, Clark's day off since it was Labor Day here, Clark decided it was a good day to go check out the train museum. I thought we were taking a risk trying to sight see during a federal holiday, especially given the museums are government operated but Clark wanted to give it a shot anyways. Soon after climbing into our Uber, I suspected we were going to be out of luck because there was ZERO traffic but onward to a new adventure. We got dropped off near this park and then heard some loud booms and drums. We thought there was a parade, so we hurried up and down the streets to catch up to the procession. Turns out it was a worker's protest.

Interesting playground equipment and a statue of a famous guy.

This is a taxi stand called a "parada de taxi". 

Murals in and near the park.

These two identical buildings were on opposite sides of the street but one is restored while the other is still abandoned.

Views of downtown Asuncion and a protest.

We eventually reached the train museum which was...surprise...closed. 

I still snapped some pictures of it. There were some old train cars inside. This was enough to satisfy the kids curiosity. Across the street from the station was this other building that I believe at one time was part of the train system.

 

We headed back to the apartment and decided to go back out for some lunch. We took a gamble and headed over to a Peruvian chicken BBQ we'd seen a couple times. On the walk over I snapped some things of interest to me in the neighborhood.

I don't think anyone lives here. We've walked by it numerous times and it's eye catching...a work of art.

An example of the beautiful wood doors seen on the homes. Each one is unique and of excellent craftmanship.

This place has an open rotisserie. We could smell it from four blocks away.

Our selections. Whole roasted chicken, traditional Peruvian casado, and below is Peruvian style arroz con pollo.

More neighborhood sites...

Signs upon signs on a street post.

This vine is gorgeous!

This is Frangipani aka Plumeria. These always remind me of my mission because they are all over Australia, my first introduction. The Polynesians use them to make leis.

On Friday, we were preparing for our excursion to Iguazu Falls. Of course, we had to take a break to go hunting and gathering. Since we had tested Indian cuisine in every country so far, we decided to try it out in Paraguay. They had this fun welcome board. In being focused on the food, I forgot to take pictures. It was tasty food but didn't beat the first place we went to in Costa Rica. Next up: our journey in to Argentina!

Interior including intricate tile work.