Guaranie- This is the name of the indigenous inhabitants of the land (before those pesky Spanish turned up and conquered the place). Carlos proudly informs me that this is one of the only two nations in the Americas (Canada being the other) with two recognised national languages. Here it is Spanish and Guaranie. As such it lends its name to a football team and the currency. Guaranie is spoken and understood by most people but the words used differ across the country, to the extent that often people from the capital have difficulties understanding those from the countryside. Mind you I have problems understanding those with a broad accent from Gloucestershire, UK (just watch the movie ‘Hot Fuzz’ to understand what I mean).
Money, Money, Money- Like many South American countries the currency has been devalued a number of times. As such you talk in ‘000s or 10s of ‘000s. I took out 500,000 from an ATM, but Rene informs me that this is about €100 (£85). But, unlike Argentina, you can withdraw dollars (US) here quite simply.
Three Bullies- In the mid 1800s Paraguay had a President who was educated in Europe and subsequently brought many ideas back to the country. This made it one of the most propose regions in South America. The neighbouring countries got jealous of this. As such Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay (known as the Triple Alliance) got together and went to war with Paraguay (known locally as the Great War). 2000 Paraguayan men died in the most bloody conflict of the era in South America and, apart from loosing some territory in the south of the country, Paraguay (a vastly smaller nation) won. As such if you are British and an Argentine bothers you about the Falklands simply respond with ‘If we give you the Falklands you will obviously return Corrientes to Paraguay?’ (Worth noting at this point that the Falklands was under the control of the British crown before Argentina was ever formed as a nation. In contrast Corrientes (where they still speak Guaranie, the other language of Paraguay) was part of Paraguay for a hundred years before it was taken over by Argentina. So, in my mind, Paraguay have more claim to Corrientes than Argentina to the Falklands… Debate?)
Signing off with love from South America
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