Spent yesterday afternoon gunning down beers at an alarming rate, then listened to some ESPN radio baseball until the business from which I was stealing the signal apparently shut down. The internet in the Asunción Palace finally went up for a while, then down, then up, then when it came up more permanently the signal was not strong enough. For that reason and the street noise I moved today to the Armelé for a couple of dollars more a night, an interior room, after gorging on the excellent Palace breakfast, where I met four gringas who were in the Peace Corps. I was armed with top secret intelligence and knew one of their names, which astounded them. They were all dogs, although at least they were not fat. Around 11 PM I went out. I thought about going to Toc Toc but it was still early for that. Went back to the Chopería which had live music. Ordered a 630 ml Pilsen for 11k and alleged tacos for 12k. Or maybe it was the other way around. The last time I ordered tacos was in Concordia and they were not really tacos but it was very good. What I got on this occasion was chopped up meat rolled in a stale tortilla. Nothing else. No cheese or onions. Did get two little things of hot sauce, one green and one red. Waitress said the red was hotter. I immediately dumped the entire contents of both ramekins on the thing, which alarmed her. Started eating it and it tasted a little spoiled but I figured the hot sauce would counteract or else die of ptomaine, one or the other. It was not that spicy and not that good (bad, actually; tough and gristly) and I did not eat the stale tortilla. But, I did not get sick either. I do have a head cold now, though. Felt myself coming down with it so I added extra beers to my diet and ate some limes to ward off scurvy.
Although the food was not very good, neither was the live music. But then a decorated city bus showed up and about twenty women in costume piled out. A bachelorette party. I am thinking,"Great, some drunk chicas to hit on." The bride to be got up on stage and did a bit of bump and grind with the organ player to the tune of Joe Walsh's "You Can Leave Your Hat On." Looked promising. But then I noticed one gal had a big cardboard sign saying something about "prendas." I could not read the whole sign but it soon became obvious they were hustling contributions for the wedding dresses, or maybe baby clothes."Prendas" means like articles of clothing. Then they all left to repeat the procedure somewhere. Else. I thought briefly about Toc Toc but then I remembered I was thirty years too late for that. Thought maybe Viking Bar but that was full of fat Germans so I went to bed.
After completing my move in the morning, I rested a bit and then headed to Elite Productions at Cerro Corá 217. I did not like this place. Was presented with six flabby chicas, who introduced themselves from five meters away to where I could barely hear their names. For research purposes I was going to fuck the least flabby one but was quoted 100k for half an hour vs. The posted 80 so I left. The madam slammed the door behind me. Suggest avoiding. I believe this was another place we walked out of on my first trip. So then I had promised to go to Azará 479, Morena Mía, to see if it was really open on Sundays for my friends who arrive tomorrow, but crossing Caballero I remember a 903 on the list and figured to go there.
At Caballero 903 I was buzzed in and there were four chicas just standing in the living room. I do not like that set up too much either, because you have to face the ones you reject. But I am a cold hearted bastard for the most part so I looked at the cutest one by far and said,"¿Vámonos?" and she nodded. I asked,"Cuánto es el arancel?" and she looked nervous and confused. Another chica, chubby with a fishnet top and no bra, took charge and said,"70 la media hora, cuarenta minutos 100, 120 la hora, lo normal." I interpreted "lo normal" to mean "typical pricing." Went in the room with the chica, a very short morocha with a cute face and decent teeth. She left and came back and asked if I wanted "normal o completo," at which point I realized I had misinterpreted the earlier statement about "normal." To quote one of the famous Peruvian sisters from Buenos Aires, referring to "completo," "Esto es para putos." Not my thing. So I said "cuarenta minutes, normal."
This chica was an ignorant campesina. How ignorant? She actually believed me when I said I was from Bolivia. Probably could not find Bolivia on a map. But I am not here for intellectual pursuits. She knew sexo, though. BBBJ and was not stopping and and it was very good and I wanted to CIM but could not. I do not know what she would have said or done if I had but she sure did not seem too worried about it. Said she had only been there since Monday and that is probably why. She has not yet learned she is supposed to be cold and detached. Lots of kissing too and she was wet as hell. So it was very fun. She has three kids already so her pussy was loose but a good time was had by both parties. I am probably the first gringo she has ever met. Pamela is (not) her name and she said I should come back on Monday and if I went with anyone else she would be mad. I said I would definitely be back but of course I won't be. Bathroom here was out of both soap and toilet paper. I always bring soap though. I think maybe the chicas live here. It was quite an informal atmosphere and for the sleazier among us, could be worth a visit for a gang bang. I think this would be a good place to go to shit faced. Not open Sundays.
Grabbed a cold beer which was 4k in this 'hood vs. 4.5k around Colóand, a huge savings of 12 cents or so. I was dizzy from the sex so I slammed another one, which for some reason made me even dizzier. That made me think I should sit somewhere and pound a liter but mindful of my obligation, I deviated almost a block to Azará 479, rang the bell, and confirmed they are open on Sundays and in fact are open 24-7. Or, a chica lied right to my face. That has happened maybe once or twice before in my life. I guess tomorrow we will know for sure.
Then I went to El Lido, a diner on Palma and I think Chile. This place is great. Fat, old, professional waitresses. I was a line cook for a lot of years and worked in a couple of diners so it was fascinating to me. Had a really good slice of ham and cheese quiche and an ice cold 630 ml Pilsen in a bucket of ice, and flirted shamelessly with the two women having lunch next to me. Gato Hunter, this is not the place they burned the burgers. I might eat here every day. Slammed two more cans of beer on my way back to the hotel and I think a nap is in order.
Oh yeah, the drinking age here is 20, unlike most places in Latin America. I am sure it is rigorously enforced. Although, the doormen at Toc Toc were definitely checking IDs last night. Also 2011 is Paraguay's bicentennial in case anyone gives a shit.
