The Middle of Nowhere...And Then Some

Last-minute excursions seem to be becoming a theme of my life here in Paraguay. This past Saturday my mom told me she would be taking a trip the next day and invited me along. When I asked her where we’d be going, I wasn’t given a concrete answer. It was clear that it was in the “interior” of Paraguay, near a very old town called “Villa Rica”, but the uncle we’d be visiting wasn’t exactly living in civilization. Without much information past the 5 AM wake-up call, I happily agreed to accompany her.

Sunday morning, literally at the break of dawn, after quickly picking up my grandparents from their farm, we set out on our 3 hour journey. Admittedly I had been planning on sleeping most of the way, but having been designated the server of the mate (very hot version of tereré) I decided to fight my heavy eyelids. We took a main highway most of the way, but then turned onto, get this, a “sand” road, it wasn’t even structured enough to be called a “dirt” road. I knew we were close. 7 Kilometers later the road ended…and we had arrived. My mom found it quite comical that I am now able to say “I’ve followed the road all the way until it stops.” I suppose I’ll have to show her both of “The End” signs you can get to after traversing all of Sitka’s 14 miles of road!

Getting out of the car I spotted something long, green, and slithery and quickly decided I am not a fan of snakes. After notifying everyone of what I saw, my grandfather nonchalantly, but to my eyes quite courageously, picked up a sturdy branch and swatted “el serpiente” away. Mid-morning was spent sipping tereré in the shade, chatting in Guarani, and lovingly laughing at the fact that I didn’t understand a word of what they were saying. Lunch consisted of marinated beef, chicken, and of course, mandioca (the Paraguayan potato). As afternoon and the accompanying heat set it, we stuck to the shade, drinking even more tereré, and watching the cows in the field meander our way and into their pen all on their lonesome. I was quite impressed with them. The farm also had a small patch of grapes that I owe so wanted to try despite my mom's warning of their hard and still to sour to eat nature. I tried them. They were hard and sour...

I was beginning to get eaten by the bugs, which my mom tells me is because they get my skin confused with milk (I’ve definitely darkened down here, but I’m still nowhere near the Native Paraguayan). We said our goodbyes, buckled up, and headed on our way. I slept most of the return trip, but awoke to watch our roadside transaction with what seemed to be a 6 year old girl. A crate of tomatoes…only 15 mil Guarani (near 3 dollars). Cheap and fresh produce will definitely be missed.

Pictures featured include: The sunrise turning on to the main highway, “El serpiente”, the infamous tereré (the shot looks into the “guampa” showing the green stuff aka yerba and the metal straw aka bombilla), the “road” we used, and finally a pretty sunflower field we passed on the drive.