In front of the presidential palaceCompared to other South American cities, Asunción is decidedly calm and on the outskirts, still has quite a rural feel, with single storey houses set in lots of space. In the centre, there are some lovely, old crumbling colonial buildings, grand official buildings and modern office blocks. 
An old photographic studio
The center is laid out on a grid system and most of the buildings are only 2 or 3 stories. This is due to a paranoid general some years ago who, to avoid assassins, insisted that he could see on to rooftops and in all directions when he was about town on his horse.
A central museum
We were here over a weekend and except for the football match on Sunday (separate entry of course), the centre was deserted, with hardly any cars and the odd rumbling bus.
One of the main squares
We enjoyed wandering around the few central sights, including a couple of squares, the presidential palace and the cathedral. 
Saturday night was party night and after a couple of warm-up beers and caipirinhas we ended up in a bar/club called Piratas (pirates) determined to dance despite the totally random music policy which jumped from cheesy techno to Latin pop, indie, regaeton and, disappointingly, American college rock and Latin American takes on the same.
Dance we did thanks to some strong drinks as modelled below by Eileen.
Asuncion is a fascinating place: it's hard to believe you're in a large capital city when everything is so friendly and relaxed. It is though, exactly the right sort of capital for the country in which we encountered nothing but friendly, relaxed people; our kind of place.
A friendly, relaxed person with a splendid new cap from Manduvira Sugar Co-op.
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