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.
Nanduti 
Nanduti Dress 
Selling Flowers 
Nanduti
From there we moved on to the city of Aregua, which is know for pottery crafts ranging from cheap figurines and garden decorations to a local gallery that features high-quality hand selected pieces. I agonize every time we visit the gallery because I don’t know how to get the art home in one piece. After a great buffet lunch we had some free time to wander the shops and then everyone met at a historic train station. Paraguay was the first country in South America to have a railway, a fact they are very proud of. The visit to Aregua ended with a visit to the beach Playa de Aregua. Tracy contracted a local harpist to come out on the dock to play a few songs for the group. The water levels were very low as it is not the rainy season. And, as you can see, one boat in particular was having a rough day.
Train Station 
Our Tour Bus. 
Our Bus Driver, Danny. 
Iglesia de Aregua 
Rough Day.
For those that were interested that evening, we visited the Museo del Barro, which houses native, contemporary, and urban art from all of Paraguay. As in many parts of the world, religious art has a significant place in Paraguayan culture.
Until next time…Will