Going in Asuncion, Paraguay for three months in january.How to make friends? Gimme tips Whatodo?
>>2743609If you ever find yourself near Ciudad del Este don't just cross and do Iguazu. Do Saltos del Monday as well. NOBODY will be there and you'll have the falls and the cafe thingy next to it all to yourself.
>>2743609>Going in Asuncion, Paraguay for three months in january.Why?
>>2743883Because. Kill yourself.
>>2743609I have never been to Asunción so I can't give you any tips. However, I can recommend you a Paraguayan movie, 7 Cajas, which is a great way to familiarize yourself with how Paraguay people speak. They have this weird dialect with constant code-switching between Spanish and their Guarani native language, it's fascinating and very weird. It's a very alien country, even for other Latin Americans, just remote, poor, isolated, and different. I'm sure you'll find it interesting.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1ax_XInBLE(The movie is pretty good too).Also since you are in the region I'm seconding what this anon said >>2743869, do visit Ciudad del Este, Saltos, Iguazú and Iguaçu. The falls are beautiful, the widest and greatest waterfalls in the world in terms of the amount of water that flows through them, it's mesmerizing to look at them, you've never seen so much water falling at the same time. It's actually trippy. And you can brag about having being to 3 countries, even if it's just for a day each.
>>2743909Also don't get scared by the movie trailer, Asucion is a modern city, that movie is just "poverty porn". (But it's pretty good)Also, re: the dialect. Most city dwellers probably speak perfect Spanish and you can get along just fine with Spanish or just English in the tourist spots of Asución. But that's how the majority of them talk among themselves so perhaps it's interesting to you. We (other Spanish speakers) need subtitles to watch the movie.
>>2743884no help for entitled zoom zooms
Which South American country offers the best value for cost these days? Paraguay? Peru?
>>2743609I was in Asuncion a few weeks ago. Just for a few days.Culturally, there's not a lot to do in way of museums, or art galleries. And that also depends if they're open. Museums sometimes are supposed to be open, but they're not. Downtown was pretty dead on a weekend for me. Cost of food/drink in Asuncion is dirt cheap. Remarkably, it is the least expensive country I've visited in Latin America (and I've visited quite a few.) The people are friendly and conservative leaning, but keep to themselves. Not in a mean way, but in a non-aggressive, insular sort of way. It's not super outgoing unlike Peru where the culture is much more extroverted. Little observation: I noticed the only people with tattoos are bikers, kind of like how it used to be in the West. You will never see a tattoo or an unusual piercing on a woman in Asuncion (unless it's highly discreet.) The gastropub scene is great if you're into beer. Paseo Carmelitas is where you want to go for nightlife, chill, pub-like experiences. You can buy cocktails on the side of the road, pretty cool. Like a lot of cities in Latin America, the mall is a big deal. That's where del Sol and Galeria del Paseo come in. I'm not much of a mall person but it's the watering hole for people.As I said, I was only there for a few days so I didn't experience much, but I had a nice time. Oh, and cars are how you get around in Asuncion. In other cities like Lima, and Quito often times walking or the metro is nice -- especially in Quito. Asuncion is all about driving, which can get old after awhile. If you're seeing natural sights, or terrain I cannot comment on that, but I have overheard people talking highly of green sights in Paraguay. Seems like more of a place to do 'nature plays' than enjoy city experiences. If you're looking for a fun, ruckus, city experience, whilst still being affordable -- Lima is far superior (party scene, ease to know people, art galleries, museums, food, etc.)
>>2745168>Cost of food/drink in Asuncion is dirt cheapHow cheap are we talking anon? Got any examples? How good is the food?
>>2745182NTA but the food should be good. Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) are all known for high-quality and cheap beef, and they have a common trade bloc (think South American EU) with each other.
>>2745182Overall, food and alcohol in Asuncion is cheaper substantially. Lunch off the street will be $2-3, a nice high quality lunch in a higher end hotel maybe $8-12 (like an entree, soup, and an international beer.) The local Paraguayan cuisine is nowhere near as good as Peruvian food (although Peruvian food is pretty exceptional and competitively so, Peruvians treat their favorite ceviche spots like Europeans treat their football teams -- with undying loyalty, and they will furiously debate you if you disagree.) Peruvian food is also heads and shoulders above anything I've had in other South American cities. Then again, I love fresh fish, and I love spice, so Peruvian is a no-brainer. The aji pepper they give you at those ceviche spots is dope as hell. Also the pic attached is of a fucking awesome fast food spot in Lima -- they do burgers, and chicha morada. I'm not even a fast food guy, but they knock it outta the park every time.Regardless, if I were tasked with stretching a dollar in South America, and I had to stick to the main cities, and security/safety was a high priority of mine -- I would make a beeline for Asuncion.
>>2745208Sir I am sad now. Please asking why. Because I am asking for foods and examples in Paraguay but you give me Peru opposite country
>>2745168Thanks for coming through with some Real Traveler experience, anon. The part about Paraguayans behaving properly and keeping to themselves is very attractive to me. I would get so annoyed with random low-class people in Colombia imposing their company on me. Being the only pedestrian in sight suits me fine as well. Paraguay in winter seems very pleasant, even as most of Asia in that June - September period is disgustingly humid and drenched with rain, and most of Europe is overrun with tourists and charging obscene rates for a room.
>>2745292Another country that might call your attention is El Salvador. I only visited before the crackdown, but reputably it's far more secure now. San Salvador is a well-put together city, and the foodie scene is insane. Tourism is usually very low (especially when you have Guatemala for the ruins, Costa Rica for greenery, and Panama for everything else.) El Salvador gets lost in the shuffle, the local culture has a similar rap sheet -- hard working, conservative, entrepreneurial, Catholic majority, etc.
>>2743609Speak spanish or local dialect as zero English except maybe hotels.Always get Uber/taxi never walk anywhere at night mostly because infrastructure is so poor you will fall to your death down giant holes in street/sidewalk or walk right into falling down powerline. Water cuts and power outages common so be prepared.Bats everywhere so don't be eating bat poop covered fruit wash everything and peel it.Don't trust any airbnb they are overpriced and no security while a hotel is cheaper unless it's 'superhost' tier. Once there you can rent an apt for $350/m but have to hope no ant problems.Lots of blonde hookers that are 'students'. There's nothing to do except drink or eat tasty beef bbq asado which they do every Sunday.Crime isn't bad there's guys on motorbikes robbing people like all of S America and deranged crackheads running wild in some parts but nothing like Colombia n sheeit. I went there for a blackhat compsci security conference thing in 2018 before covid so no idea what it's like now.
>>2745547El Salvador was fun to go to after the crackdown and seeing all the happy people smiling so hard that their country is free. Made me very happy although it is still very poor and not much.
Round trip airfare from Miami to Asuncion starting at $650, not too bad.Interesting to compare Laos to Paraguay as they are both landlocked tropical countries with similar population sizes. Paraguay pulls ahead in most metrics, while the cost of living does appear sizably lower in Laos, and Laos has far more interesting terrain. I can probably expect my $22/day average spend in Laos to increase to $35/day in Paraguay.>>2746879The small size of El Salvador is a downside. Not much ground to cover there. June to September is rainy season there so it's hot and humid. >>2746545Tramp around Third World countries enough and you learn to watch your step. Airbnb in general is a ripoff option trading on its brand recognition.
>>2745182I've been multiple times and I'm going back in May. Regardless food is more savory and bland. You will find >rotisserie chicken which in my opinion is quite good>mbeju which is like a cheese pancake which is mostly eaten in winter>chipa guasu which is like taralli>sopa paraguaya which is not a soup but more like extra soft and wet cornbread>sopa so'o again but with meat>lomito arabe which is shawarmaBut in general expect a lot of soup and meat and mandioca. Not much flavor other than richness and unfortunately a lot of salt. Don't shy away from cheese rice
