Thursday 12th August 2004. We are here in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay. Bus journey here was 6 hours, and our first proper taste of real South America - grotty 40 year old bus, slow, uncomfortable seats, poor roads, no stops, toilet has an army of beasties crawling in and around it. Nice. The day in Asuncion was a rest day. A few bits of sightseeing. Nothing too exciting, but a good experience nonetheless. Back to Brazil next for a few days in the Pantanal region. S.