Continuing the string of visitors we were able to welcome to Paraguay… Two of Alli’s best friends from childhood came at the very end of August to see a few sights in both Argentina and Paraguay.
So here is a reflection on the trip from Sarah and Molly. Enjoy!
We always talked about traveling to South America to visit Alli and Dylan, and it feels like the stars aligned at just the perfect moment. We had our tickets booked, and both managed to hit a few weeks off before we started new jobs…it feels like a long time ago now, but here are just a few memories!
- Flew from MN to Toronto to Santiago to BA to Mendoza – lovely few days in Mendoza exploring Chacras neighborhood and wineries
- We met Allison at the Iguazu Jungle Lodge, where the staff at the hotel did NOT think we would have enough time to see the falls, but Alli (experienced Falls veteran) knew better and we totally had time. Iguazu Falls was AMAZING.
- Delicious dinner at La Rueda
- Breakfast at hotel before 4 hour bus ride, ferry and cab to Alli’s site – we were all very tired, thirsty and hungry when we arrived, made popcorn with fresh lemon juice from the amazing lemons that look like oranges in Alli’s yard
- Met Michimi!!! Molly thought he had a terminal eye condition but he’s totally fine 🙂
- Met Mika (dog who thinks she lives at Alli and Dylan’s) and their adorable neighbor Ema, who we drew pictures with to teach each other English/Spanish. Dylan arrived (with their boss, who was in town for a meeting)! We all went to get some delicious (and very cheap!) ice cream.
- On our way back to Alli and Dylan’s we ran into Santi in the street and it was a beautiful meeting as we all realized who we were. In all of the excitement (but mostly due to the downed fence in the yard) Sarah tripped and fell in Alli & Dylan’s yard, skinned her hand open and bruised up her knee. Dr. Friedemann did a very good job dressing the wounds.
- Lovely dinner at Santi’s family’s house – Santi made tacos with homemade tortillas, Molly and Sarah tried queso Paraguay (Paraguayan cheese) and liked it! It tasted like beer or wine, nowhere near as bad as Alli and Dylan make it out to be 😉
- The next day we met Alli & Dylan at the municipality, met the Mayor and their friend Daisy, had delicious veggie egg scramble breakfast at Alli & Dylan’s, met their neighbor and landlady Margarita and drank Tereré in her yard and saw all of her incredible plants (which Sarah was very jealous of)! Then we went to the Salto falls with Alli and saw the awesome trails Alli & Dylan have built and sat by the upper falls, so peaceful. We stopped by Margarita’s art show on our way home (we left early, and got called out for not staying for snacks!)
- Went grocery shopping for dinner, met more friends, made more popcorn, Alli made delicious veggie curry for dinner, sat in the yard and chatted with Andrew (who Sarah could actually converse with because he speaks English!)
- There was the most beautiful night sky on the walk back to the hostel that last night
- Our last day in Yatytay we had breakfast at Alli & Dylan’s before catching the 8:30 bus to Encarnación with Alli (where we had to switch to another bus halfway there, still not sure why…). In Encarn we ate delicious empanadas and ice cream for lunch. Had a very relaxing last day sitting by the pool in Encarnación, but Sarah was dying of the worst seasonal allergies of her entire life.
- The next morning we had an early breakfast at the hotel before we parted ways, Alli headed to the grocery store before back to her site and we headed to the airport in Posadas for our flight to Buenos Aires (Alli had the BEST recommendations for BA, Las Pizarras and Sacro were meals we will never forget!)
Overall, it was an incredible trip and we feel so lucky to have been able to see Alli and Dylan’s life in Paraguay and meet their beautiful community of friends (and Michimi)! Excited to hear about their adventures in the Chaco!
Xoxoxo,
Sarah and Molly