Parque Cerro Cora

11/27/09

This morning we got up early and stocked up on food and water (lots of water) because we are heading into the wilderness for a night. The bus drops us off at the side of the highway and we start along the 1km track to the park office. Just before we reach the office, we get offered a ride by a Brazilian church group. They are on a day trip to see the monument to the war of triple alliance.

Back in the day the Paraguayan president managed to annoy Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay so much that they put aside their mutual loathing and formed the triple alliance against Paraguay. It didn't work out so well for Paraguay. Paraguay lost over 1 million people out of a population of 1.3 million, including almost all males of military age (and many that weren't).

The Brazilians drop us off at the park office, where we discover that the park has free (which we knew about), air-conditioned (which we didn't) accommodations available (which we were hopeful about). After a little rest, we head out of an evening walk. On the way back from the river we spot a small anteater scurry across the trail in front of us. We also see a few giant spider webs containing dozens of spiders. The webs stretch from trees on one side of the road all the way across to the other side of the road, at least 30 feet.

Dinner consists of cold empenadas, bread and fruit. We eat early and go to bed because we have an early bus to catch tomorrow (It's becoming a trend).

P.S. Ben Franklin was wrong. Early to bed, early to rise actually makes a man hot, tired and grumpy.