Roaming South America

On the road, again

March 10, 2025

Yes, I'm on the road, again. If you have been following my journey across and up and down South America, you might remember I wrote that I was in Paraguay and planned on staying there. Well, I've changed my mind.

This time my visit to Encarnación was during the summer months - mid-December to early February. And my word, it's hot! After seven years in Tucson, Arizona, and 9 years on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, I thought I was well acclimated to hot weather. But I certainly wasn't acclimated enough for the hot summer in Encarnación!

Comparing Tucson, AZ, Encarnación, Paraguay, and Barranquilla, Colombia

February 25, 2025

A chat with ChatGPT

You said:

When looking at the globe on Google Earth and comparing the locations of Tucson, AZ (approx. 32 degnorth) and Encarnaction, Paraguay (approx. 27 deg south) - It's interesting comparing the climates. I've lived in bothcities and it seems Tucson is actually a more mild year-round on average climate than Encarnacion.

ChatGPT said:

That is an interesting observation! Looking purely at latitude, Tucson and Encarnación are insomewhat similar positions relative to their respective hemispheres. However, their climates are shaped by vastlydifferent factors. Comparing Climates: Tucson vs. Encarnación

Encarnación, Paraguay Expatriat Community

January 27, 2025

Here in Encarnación there is an expat group meetup twice a month. I'm surprised by the number of expats in this small city. Many of those expatriates (expats) come from Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian World Congress, there are supposedly 40,000 Ukrainians living in Paraguay. Ukrainians first came from Argentina, just across the Paraná River from Encarnacón, in the 1920s due to the economic problems at that time. They started arriving in Argentina in the late 19th century.

Encarnación, Paraguay

December 14, 2024

After a quite stormy afternoon and evening in Paraguarí, I arrived in Encarnación in the afternoon on the 11th.

Paraguarí, Paraguay

December 12, 2024

Paraguarí, Paraguay, with a population around 23,000, was founded in 1775. Paraguarí is called "Cradle of National Independence", since in the Cerro Mba'e fight, of January 19, 1811, the Paraguayan army defeated the Spanish army from Buenos Aires. That win lead to the independence of Paraguay. In the early-to-mid 17th century the Jesuits were expelled from Paraguay by order of the King of Spain, then soon after, the town of Paraguarí was founded.