Author: Will

It was time for a relaxation day. The morning was spent at a local ranch with horseback riding, games, a treasure hunt, lots of lounge chairs, and a Paraguayan barbeque. You can’t visit Paraguay without eating at a barbeque. Think Fogo De Chao at a fraction of the price. One of Paraguay’s primary exports is beef. You’re craving a good salad, it might not be easy to find. You want beef, we’ve got you covered.  I am so glad I did not have access to a scale.

Continue reading “6: A Day to Relax”

Today we visited more artisans. Itagua, also know as the “City of the Nanduti”, is home to a needlepoint lacemaking that was originally taught by Jesuit missionaries and is combined with Guarani traditions. Nanduti is a dying art form without a clear path forward. It is a very time consuming craft which is not financially rewarding. Most of the younger generation are leaving to study more modern topics and there is no one left to take over this work.

Continue reading “7: Artisans & Museums”

Friday was a fun day and the last day of the Ties trip. I am very happy the group let me tag along for a few days, and thank them for letting me share in their very special experience.  

There were quite a few futbol (soccer) fans in the group, so our visit to the South American Football Museum was a huge hit. This museum was incredibly well done and I think it tops some of the halls-of-fame we have in the U.S.  But then I shouldn’t be surprised…it is soccer after all. The museum is connected to CONMEBOL, The South American Football Confederation headquarters.

Continue reading “8: Last Day with Ties”

Okay, so we’re not quite done with the Ties trip. One of the young men on the trip contracted Tracy to take him to the city of Ciudad del Este on the other side of Paraguay. She will translate for him as he meets more of his birth family. I won’t go into detail because it’s really none of my business, but I will say it was an incredibly emotional trip for this individual that raised as many questions as it answered. It was a privilege to be let into this person’s life and to witness first hand what some adoptees face.

Continue reading “9: The Adoptee Trip & Iguazu”

Ties is officially wrapped up and it’s time for Tracy and I to get ready for our next adventure. 

We still need to figure out what is wrong with the Noah. The first mechanic tells us they can’t find anything wrong. The second mechanic tells us it could be one of three things causing the problem and he would need a few days to diagnose and repair. But, we don’t have a few days!  Do we risk having the Noah break down on the trip?  We can’t rent a car for the entire trip because rental cars are not allowed to cross borders.

Continue reading “10: Prep for the Grand Adventure”