Since we'd paid a ton of money for our visas to Paraguay (the visa fee + my flight to the Paraguayan consulate in Los Angeles), we decided to take a day trip to the beach in Encarnación. Anyways, everyone said the beach in Encarnación was better than in Posadas. Note, the beach is not an ocean beach; it's a beach on the Paraná River.
Just when I was thinking that we were the only Americans at the beach in Encarnación, I heard English being spoken. Of course they were a small group of Peace Corps volunteers! We had a nice, short conversation with them. It's hard to believe that it was 15 years ago that we were Peace Corps volunteers living in Curuguaty, Paraguay.
We enjoyed our mini adventure in Paraguay but didn't return again during our 6-week Misiones/Corrientes trip. I feel a bit guilty because Paraguay has a special place in my heart and I would definitely like spend more time there. It's just that crossing borders (especially with a rental car) is challenging and I had a lot of work to do researching yerba mate in Argentina. I had considered seeing carnival in Encarnación during the weekend but after learning more I decided it wasn't appropriate - too late at night and too much adult content for the boys. Also, although swimming in the Paraná River was enjoyable, there was too little shade and too much sun. Even with the beach umbrella I still got a sunburn....We visited Paraguay in July 2015 and we'll visit again another time.