ASPHALT
To be completely honest, our primary motivation for entering Paraguay was to check another country off the list. We were excited about reaching Foz do Iguacu falls therefore we didn't take much time to explore alternative routes. We stuck to the principal highways which rolled along through large scale agriculture operations as well as pine and eucalyptus plantations. It was virtually impossible to safely bandit camp in route due to all of the fencing and how the population tended to live right on the highway. On the other hand, even the small towns had ample locations to rest your head for as little as $5.00 a night. It was very warm this time of year in Paraguay with temperatures reaching into the mid-90s. It was also the place to be if you enjoy eating empanadas or chipas any hour of the day. Another note to any fellow traveling coffee lover, bring it into the country because you will not find it anywhere in Paraguay. The locals religiously consume terere which in short is cold mate. It's really a wonder there is any form of productivity seeing as how much time is dedicated to preparing and consuming this beverage.
We entered the country on route 5 then headed south on route 3 then jumped onto route 8 in San Estanislao and continued south to Coronel Oviedo. Here we encountered a great place to stay by the name of 2CV-tours ran by a German expat and his wife. Here, we grilled until our hearts were content, told stories, and met an awesome Swiss couple traveling by motorcycle. I would highly recommend a visit if you find it necessary to travel Paraguay. From Coronel Oviedo we pointed east on route 7 towards Ciudad del Este. This section was the least pleasant with the traffic increasing, sharing the shoulder with speeding motorcycles, and essentially riding an interstate highway. Ciudad del Este was a sizable city where we found a nice place on the edge of town to camp by the name of Saltos del Monday.
