Paraguay - Granja Mariposa

Saturday, November 2 was a rainy day. The skies ranged from mid- to heavy-overcast. A day without sun is a nice day to photograph flowers; the harsh contrasts created by the sun are absent. The rain that fell intermittently throughout the day just made for prettier pictures.

So we stayed put at the lovely Granja Mariposa and enjoyed a day of rest and relaxation.

This one is either a melon or squash. I found it in the vegetable garden.

Christ Thorn

Christ Thorn

Passion Flower

Passion Flower

Cactus Flower

The Missions - Jesus of Tavarangue Jesuit Guarani Mission

We visited two mission ruin sites. The second was the Jesus of Tavarangue Mission. This site wasn't as large as "Trinidad," but was impressive in its own right, as it seemed to be in better shape.

You can get an idea of just how BIG this is - Our friends are the tiny specks in the middle of the image.

This is a taxi. It was definitely a step up from the "moto-taxi's" we saw skittering between Cuidad del Este and Foz de Iguazu. Those were downright scary!

The fine sands making up the shore of the Piranha River in Encarnacion, Paraguay. Across the river - Argentina. 

A dental office - really!

The Missions - La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná.

In southern Paraguay, and founded in 1712, La Santisima Trinidad de Parana was one of the biggest Jesuit missions in Paraguay. Prior to our trip, Craig suggested we watch The Mission - a 1980's movie starring Robert De Niro, that accurately portrayed this period during the Spanish colonization of South America. To walk these ruins was to step back in time, and into another world.

It's pretty unusual to see an owl during the day, but we did, and it allowed me to get pretty close.

Exploring the ruins.

I want to see what's on the other side of this door.

I call this image "Stairway to Heaven." Just look at the wear marks on the stairs. I had to climb them :) 

The pulpit

I think Craig is in awe of his surroundings.

Tombs of priests are placed down the center in this image.

Don and Craig