Paraguayan road trip to Salto Cristal

We took an overnight trip to a small Japanese founded town called La Colmena, about 2 1/2 hours outside of Asuncion.  We stayed overnight here in order to visit Salto Cristal, a waterfall.  We were rained out the first day and couldn't make the trip to the falls because of the roads, so we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in town, playing at the park, eating ice cream, and drinking beer.  We were then treated to a great Japanese meal at our hotel.

Ava thoroughly enjoying her ice cream

This is our friend Molly becoming a witch.

Our crew eating Japanese food.

We woke up on Sunday to glorious weather, so we made the trip out to the falls again.  It was quite a trek through miles of sugarcane and then a steep hike, but it was well worth the trip!

The climb down

Salto Cristal

The view from the top of the waterfalls into the swimming hole

Getting a Paraguayan Driving Lisence

We've decided to buy a car (pictures to come!) and it is necessary to get a license here in Paraguay to be able to drive.  Luckily for us, they give them out to just about anyone.  Our friends with them told us stories of how confusing and weird it was and all of them had different stories and different advice.  One of the things we've come to understand about this country is that anything to do with a government system is going to be inconsistent, confusing, and illogical.  This was by far one of the most entertaining experiences dealing with Paraguayan "systems" that we've had so far.

 We went with two friends, Ali, and Molly, after a night of drinking and staying up all night for Molly's birthday. Luckily, Ali had already been once (it was closed) and arranged a for a nice Paraguayan man who worked there named Rodrigo to help us out.  We were never going to be able navigate the system on our own, with or without a good night's sleep. We met Rodrigo, handed over our passports, and hoped for the best.

It went like this.

Wait outside.
Wait some more.
Make photocopies of the passport.
Wait again.
Take a trip upstairs to a back office with a table and chairs to write 3 things on an application.
Return downstairs.
Wait some more.
Get our blood type tested.  Ouch.
Ask if we have to take a vision test or written exam.  Rodrigo looks around carefully, then shakes his head no.
Wait in the upstairs room again.
Give our passports again.
Wait.
Get our photos taken.  Get the hysterical giggles at Ali's attempts to make herself looking ridiculous for the picture.
Get a lot of weird looks from the Paraguayans.
Wait.
Hear from Rodrigo that the price for our lisences has gone up by about $20 for getting to skip the tests.  We are happy to pay since none of us know a thing about the law in Paraguay.
Wait.
Rodrigo then produces our licenses and we realize we could have made them ourselves.

Waiting in the parking lot

This is how they make the cards!  They didn't have an actual lamination machine, just contact paper

Matt getting his blood type test

This was hanging in the back office where we waited.  It's the Serenity Prayer.  I thought it was an apt adage for the moment.  In fact, it might fit all moments in Paraguay.

Success!