Travel guide Asunción

Asunción is a capital on a human scale, which is rare in South America. Bordered by the Paraguay River, it's a city of lush vegetation, invaded by mango, jacaranda and lapacho trees, with magnificent bouquets of blue, pink and yellow flowers. The historic center has retained its old-world charm, contrasting with the modern shopping malls of the Nuevo Centro. The rest of the city is made up of quiet neighborhoods with cobblestone streets. The main avenues are more chaotic: giant advertising hoardings, pineapple sellers at red lights, gleaming pick-ups with tinted windows, old farting buses speeding by with the inscription "Yo manejo, Dios me cuida" ("I drive, God protects me"), barbecues on the sidewalks... and lots of people walking with a big thermos in their hand! A city that's a little crazy, but peaceful, and a great place to live.