Asuncion Trip 1
This is the first of several posts on my trip to Paraguay. After one week, I can sum up the situation easily. This is no place for the casual tourist, especially if you don't speak spanish. Asuncion is a city in transition, like most US cities. The original city center is changing into a slum, like most US cities did, and is mostly complete. There are many abandoned/vacant buildings, and buildings in late decay. Even many of the hi-rise buildings that look good from a distance are vacant and deteriorating. Urban renewal is many years in the future. The new growth is all in the suburbs, and is American style suburban sprawl. There is also in the general area of greater Asuncion/Lambaré/San Lorenzo a large population of suburban/rural poor, which complicates the growth process because there is little virgin land into which to develop. Land use patterns are awful. The suburban areas, like US suburbs, are nice places to live with a car but terrible places to visit as a tourist.
The bad thing about staying in El Centro is it is essentially a developing slum. There is nothing to buy or do. There are no good stores, no good restaurants. No place to buy wines. There are a few karaoke bars(a popular option here) and a couple of bars with groups/discos. There are no theaters/shows. There is more of this in the suburbs, but it is a G15k-20 min taxi ride away, if you can find out about it. The only thing supporting this part of El Centro is the government buildings. The good thing about staying in El Centro is it is essentially a slum that still has a few decent hotels and good law enforcement in this area. Figure it out.
El Centro is actually quite large, but the generally safe area of interest is about 3 blocks wide(From Palma, Estrella, Oliva, to Diaz) and 15 blocks long(from Colon to Plaza Uruguaya). I am told there are a lot of TVs working on the street after Diaz, Haeda, but I have not gone over there at night because I am not interested and I am sure it is a little dangerous.
The names of the streets can be confusing, because several streets in el centro change names at Plaza de los Heroes. Palma changes names to Mariscal Estigarriba. Estrella changes to 25 de Mayo. Oliva changes to Cerro Cora. Gral Diaz changes to Azara.
Others also change, but these are the important ones.
I arrived in Asuncion on a Friday. I went out and walked around El Centro of Asuncion Friday and Saturday, to start checking it out. Friday night I met a nice chica on the street, but I was too tired from the trip. Saturday I saw her again and went with her. I paid her G100K for 2 hours. She was cute, but not a good performer. I did get a BBBJ, reluctantly. I was a little too careless with my pants and she stole G120K from my pants pocket. It only took her about 10 seconds, while I washed my dick. I think she was more concerned with setting up an opportunity to pick my pocket than anything else. I did see a variety of SW on Palma and Estrella, but only 15-20 total.
On arrival, I checked into the Asuncion Palace(Estrella & Colon). It is a very worn old hotel in a decent location for action on the Colon end of the area. It was very luxurious in its day 70 years ago. The staff is friendly, in spanish. I got lucky with one of the 4 suites for $27/day. It is large with high ceilings, worn but generally clean with a nice bath and, luckily, a decent bed. I have looked in some of the other rooms and the beds don't look as good. Breakfast is not bad if you like fresh fruit and rolls, the normal continental breakfast.
During Sat-Mon I looked around for a better hotel. In the end, I decided to stay in the Asuncion Palace. For reference, I like a firm, supportive American style mattress with good springs. Many of the mattresses in Central/South America are too soft or have bad/no springs. I told them all I was looking to stay 2-3 weeks. To help others, here is a summary. Price includes tax, bkfst:
Granados Park, Las Margaritas, International:
These are upper end hotels in decent locations along Estrella. They are too expensive for long stays, so I did not check them.
Hotel Presidente(Gral Diaz & Ind. Nacional), Hotel Sagaro(Psdte Franco & Juan O'Leary): These are possible decent looking options 1-2 blocks from Estrella so are considerably less desireable locations. I did not check them.
Hotel Chaco(Cabellero & Estigarribia): A nice 2-3 star hotel on the Plaza Uruguay end. They offered a nice room with a nice view for $40/day, guests included. I did not like the mattress.
Gran Hotel Parana(Caballero & 25 de Mayo): A 2 star hotel a little more worn than the Chaco. They offered me a room for $30/day off a $50 single $64 double rate, guests included. I hated the bed.
Aspen Apart-Hotel(Ayolas nr Estrella): A newer 3 star apart-hotel. They offered a nice single room for $40, but for guests wanted $50. A decent value, but the beds weren't as good as my bed at the Asuncion Palace.
Zaphir Hotel(Estrella 955): A moderate age 2 star hotel one block from the Palace. They offered a room for $25/day, guests included. Not bad for the price, but bad bed.
Gran Hotel Armele(Palma & Colon): A nice looking hotel one block from the Asuncion Palace. They offered a decent room for $25 single with a king bed. But for guests, they wanted $40 double. The mattress was an American mattress, but well worn.
An update on the Asuncion Palace. When I wanted to have my favorito stay TLN, I learned that they permit guests for 2-3 hours for the single rate of $22/$27, but for TLN guests they want $10 per night more. I am not sure if this is the normal double rate, or exploitation which I hate. They say it is normal.
On hotels, I made this list of hotels for Nibu. These are low priced hotels in the general action area of el centro.
Plaza Hotel, Uruguay Plaza, decent location
Hotel Embassy, Uruguay Plaza, also decent location, rougher?
Hotel Miami, 25 de Mayo & Mexico, good location, this is Estrella
Hotel Amigo, Cerro Cora & Caballero, one block off Estrella
Hotel Bristol, Oliva & 15 de Agosto, closer cheap end of area
Hotel Palma, Palma near Juan de Ayalas, closer cheap end of area
The above are generally in location order, from Plaza Uruguay at one end of town to Calle Colon at the other. All look like they should go well less than $10, if you can stand them, so you kind of have to pick the best of the lot.
On Tue, I went to the Playboy club(14 de Mayo nr Estrella). G20k entrada included water/beer/whisky. The 6 women were all 30+, and much too big too be of interest to me. Generally, they were not as good as the women on the street.
On Wed, I met another nice chica on the street. She is quite small and slim, very pretty face. I went with her, G100k for 2 hours. She is my new sweetheart. She is 21, had one child a year ago. She is quiet and friendly. I saw her again on Thur and Sat.
I can now recognize most of the women on the street after 2 weeks. It is winter here and relatively cold most nights(50's). So there are usually the same 15-20 hardy souls working in the same locations of Palma and Estrella. The better looking ones tend to be on the Avenida Colon end and the older, harder, ones tend to be on the Plaza Uruguay end. I have been told that the women working in Plaza Uruguay are mostly thieves. After my experience with the woman from above Plaza Uruguay, I am prepared to believe this, so be careful. I have walked thru and past Plaza Uruguay at night without problems, but am always a little nervous. On the other side of Plaza Uruguay, it gets tougher. I would not walk to Karim(at 25 de Mayo(Estrella) and Brasil) at night. It is about 5 blocks past Plaza Uruguay, outside the centro area.
After several tours of the streets at night I have been surprised to see many of the chicas still on the street at 11:00. And, I have spotted a couple of new, interesting looking ones. So, the chicas working do seem to vary a little from day to day.
