Areguá, Paraguay - Polarsteps

Areguá, Paraguay, population: about 18,000. The town is known as the "City of Strawberries" due to the many strawberry farms in the area, though in my walking around town, I saw none, so I suppose they are all outside of town. The town is known for its pottery, as well as its historic cobblestone roads and colonial architecture. Check out the pics in the photo album. Arequá is located about 28 kilometers (17 miles) east of Asunción next to Ypacaraí Lake. The Mbyá Guaraní people inhabited this area before the Spanish arrived and founded the town in 1538. by the end of the 19th century, the area was well known as a retreat area for writers and artists. The town's main road goes from the church at the high point in the town and down to the lake and was designated a "National Heritage Area" by the Paraguayan government. There are several art galleries, a museum, and many shops selling pottery and ceramics of all kinds in every imaginable color. So, my impressions: This is a very nice little town. It has a big supermarket, a couple of ATMs, a couple of gas stations, a couple of coffee shops, a couple of ice cream shops, and just about any other shop you might need. And, being close to Asunción, you'll have no problem with any major shopping. The area is beautiful, the lake is calm, and there is fishing on the lake. I saw some row boats but no motor boats. Several people here have told me how secure and safe they feel.