Roaming South America

Areguá, Paraguay

April 28, 2023

Areguá, Paraguay, population: about 18,000. The town is known as the "City of Strawberries" due to the many strawberry farms in the area, though in my walking around town, I saw none, so I suppose they are all outside of town. The town is known for its pottery, as well as its historic cobblestone roads and colonial architecture. Check out the pics in the photo album. Arequá is located about 28 kilometers (17 miles) east of Asunción next to Ypacaraí Lake.

Itauguá, Paraguay

April 27, 2023

Itauguá, Paraguay, population: about 90,000. Itauguá is 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Asunción. Itauguá was founded in 1728. For some years, Itauguá has been one of the fastest growing areas in Paraguay. Itauguá is famous for it's pottery, architecture, and folk music. The name, Itauguá, came from the local indigenous language Guaraní. Itauguá Being a bedroom community of Asunción one would expect it to be primarily urban as are the other similar towns around Asunción, but no, Itauguá is urban, productive rural, and natural. And I must say it is in a beautiful area.

Itá, Paraguay

April 26, 2023

Itá, Paraguay, population: about 29,000. Itá is 37 kilometers (22 miles) south of Asunción. Itá was founded in 1539. The indigenous people Guaraní are native to this region, and some of their language is blended into the Spanish they speak in this part of Paraguay. I am having difficulty understanding the people here, because what they are speaking doesn't sound much like Spanish to my ears.

Villeta, Paraguay

April 24, 2023

Villeta, Paraguay, population: about 37,000. Villeta is about an hour's drive due south of Asunción and directly next to the Paraguay River.

I was in Formosa and from there to the Asunción area there are two routes: north via bus or cross the river to a tiny pueblo called Alberdi then bus north. I chose the more interesting route - the ferry to Alberdi. Alberdi has a population of under 10,000 people, there is no supermarket and one coop bank with one cash machine (which actually accepted my bank card). Other than that, there are four hotels and one hostel, and many shops and restaurants. There are some photos in the photo album. I walked most of the streets in the town in the couple of hours that I was waiting for the bus.

Alberdi, Paraguay

April 22, 2023

Alberdi, Paraguay, population: a bit less than 10,000. Alberdi sits at the edge of the Paraguay River and across from Formosa, Argentina. I was in Formosa and from there to the Asunción area there are two routes: north via bus or cross the river to a tiny pueblo called Alberdi then bus north. I chose the more interesting route - the ferry to Alberdi. The Paraguay river wraps around the city on three of its sides. Now they have a substantial levy around the city but in the past they have endured floods which resulted in many residents leaving the town. The regioin of Paraguay near Alberdi is more water than land. There are a few farms but for the most part is all mangroves, estuaries, wetlands.