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Social Profile
Food & Drink: Typical local dishes include chipas (maize bread flavoured with egg and cheese), sopa paraguaya (soup of mashed corn, cheese, milk and onions), soo-yosopy (a soup of cornmeal and ground beef), albondiga (meatball soup) and boríborí (soup of diced meat, vegetables and small maize dumplings mixed with cheese). Palmitos (palm hearts), surubí (a fish found in the Paraná) and the local beef are excellent. There is a wide choice of restaurants in Asunción, most with table service.
The national drink is caña, distilled from sugar cane and honey. Sugar cane juice, known as mosto, and the national red wine are worth trying, as is yerba maté, a refreshing drink popular with nearly all Paraguayans. There are no strict licensing hours and alcohol is widely available.
Nightlife: In Asunción there are numerous bars, casinos and discotheques. The parrilladas or open-air restaurants offer by far the best atmosphere, especially in Asunción. There is a casino at the border towns of Ciudad Del Este and Encarnación. The most popular traditional music in Paraguay is polcas and guaranías which have slow and romantic rhythms and which are used as serenades.
Shopping: Special purchases include ñandutí lace, made by the women of Itagua, and aopoí sports shirts, made in a variety of colours and designs. Other items include leather goods, wood handicrafts, silver yerba maté cups and native jewellery. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1500-1900, Sat 0730-1300.
Special Events: The following is a selection of special events and festivals celebrated annually in Paraguay. Contact the Embassy or Dirección de Turismo for exact dates (see Contact Addresses section).
Feb San Blás Fiestas. Apr Semana Santa (Holy Week festival). Mid-May Día de la Independencia (Independence day parades and festivities). Jun Verbena de San Juan (traditional fiesta, including walking on hot embers). Jul Expo Feria de la Industria; Nanduti Festival (traditional folk festival with arts and crafts), Itaugua. Mid-Aug Día de la Virgen de la Asunción and Aniversario de la Fundación de Asunción (religious and cultural celebrations). Sep Festival de la Alfalfa, Sapucai. Oct Encuentro Internacional de Coros (choir festival), Encarnación. Nov Festival del Poyvi (arts, crafts and music fair), Carapeguá. Dec Apertura de Temporada (opening of the tourism season), San Bernadino.
Social Conventions: Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting. Smoking is not allowed in cinemas and theatres. Dress tends to be informal and sportswear is popular. Photography: Avoid sensitive subjects such as military installations. Tipping: Ten to 15 per cent is normally included in hotel, restaurant and bar bills.
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