Once the stately mansion of the brother of one of Paraguay's many dictators, few elements of the palace remain, namely the columned entrance, tall ceilings and shuttered balconies. The rooms while not fancy or especially clean, the floors were swept daily and the mildew in the shower was minimal, a tough task in Paraguayan heat. My room had a rather robust AC and through the duvet was a bit thread bear I welcomed it at night. What I did not welcome was the cac...

The Lido Bar was awash in tangerine and beige. Tangerine colored bar stools flashed themselves as a cross section of Paraguay saddled themselves up and down around the Lido's beige speckled horseshoe shaped counter. Tangerine aproned women, under tangerine caps waddled amongst each other delivering empanadas, sandwiches and Paraguay's national dish Sopa paraguaya (corn bread cake) from behind the bar. Tanned and quaffed women sipped fruit drinks next to labor...