FIRST OF ALL

ASK IF YOU NEED A VISA, CALL THE PARAGUAYAN CONSULATE IN YOUR COUNTRY.

I’M SURE AMERICAN CITIZEN NEED VISA TO ENTER IN PARAGUAY, BUT THEY NEED TO GET THE VISA IN THE USA, THE PRICE IS AROUND 65.

PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND TO AVOID A BAD TIME.

Last time I traveled to Paraguay was in may (2006)

Ironically it takes more time to travel from Seattle to Paraguay than to china.

It was a long trip, I had connections in Miami, Sao Paulo and finally arrived in Paraguay, it was “just” a 24 hours trip, sometimes it may take longer.

After we finally arrived at Asuncion’s airport Silvio Petirossi, we got out the plane and while standing in line to go thru migration suddenly a guy came can took my passports out of my hand.

I was surprised and asked what was he doing, and he said that I should not worry, he would let it stamp for me so I would not have to stand in line like the others…and then he disappeared with my passport and I was like..huh?what’s going on here? as I followed him but he just vanished….

I just freaked out while waiting to get my 8 suitcases off the carrousel…He came back with the passport properly stamped, he returned them to me and with a cart helped me with my luggage.

WOW, I was totally impressed, 2 other guys helped him because I had so many suitcases…we walked thru customs and a guy there opened just one of the 8 suitcases, and asked me if I had bought anything, I told him the truth that I was caring some personal devices, presents, and clothes.

Then he let me go without saying a word, the others took my luggage in 3 carts to the airport parking lot where my brothers and friends car ware parked.

All were so nice to me; I had done all this process in no time!!…but then I got suspicious…we got to the car, and they “main guy”, (the one who let the passport stamped) kindly said to me that what he did for me, was a “service” almost a favor…that customs didn’t open to check my suitcases and all thanks to him…yeah right, he was asking me for a good tip for a thing that I didn’t ask him to do for me.

I’m a national here visiting my family, I’m and not a smuggler, I was tired, it was a long trip…so, I gave him 10$ for the carts pushers,  which I thought it was fair , and obviously he was not happy, he complained a little and said he had to split that with the costume guy, and the 2 other that helped him to push the carts ,etc.

In Paraguay people think that if you come from Europe or North America you will bring money and by serving you in anyway they expect you to be generous with them, they mostly leave it to you to tip them.

Just beware of that and tip what you think is fair.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 28th, 2006 at 10:48 pm and is filed under Paraguay. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.