ECHO 2002 Daily Diary

Columbia Education Center ECHO 2002

DAILY DIARY
July 11, 2002

Today's ECHO activities brought to you by

Team Trigo

Mary Molt

Cindy Garwick

Ken Garwick

Train engine at the Asuncion Train Station.	The first stop of our Asuncion bus tour was at the third railroad station built in South America, Estacion Ferrocarril Central (1856). This station closed two years ago stopping all train transportation in and out of the city. Rail line transportation lost its attraction when roads in Paraguay were paved.
Visiting the oldest Roman Catholic church in Asuncion, Catedral Metropolitana (1845), during a mass brought comments from an ECHO member that even though we were in a different hemisphere and hearing a different language the service was readily understood. This church and areas surrounding it have been a popular rallying spot for protest groups. Today the front gates were locked because of civil unrest and the protesters gathering near by. We entered through a side door.	Inside the Catedral Metropolitana
Federal Police in front of the Palace of the Governor	A Federal Police escort past government buildings and along the Bay of Asuncion (Paraguay River) provided us with a sense of security. The average salary of these young men is approximately $200 per month. We learned they have not been paid for the last few months. Federal Police are expected to purchase their own uniforms and equipment but are given six bullets per year. If more bullets are needed they buy their own.

Typical street scene...	...near the docks at the Bay of Asuncion
Our bus tour took us past many streets lined with orange trees. We learned the many orange trees were planted at the direction of an early governor who laid out the streets of Asuncion, 100 by 100 crisscrossed blocks.

ECHO 2002 Paraguay participants Welcoming reception for the ECHO participants at the Restaurant Pergola Jardin
Many Paraguayan dignitaries attended. Oscar Gabello -Multilateral Relations Director, Genaro Vincente Pappalardo - International Cooperation Department, Jose Antonio Moreno Ruffinelli - Foreign Minister, to name a few. Also in attendance was David Greenlee, the American Ambassador to Paraguay.

Ken, Cindy, Mary and Ruben Alvarenga.

Thanks to Ruben Alvarenga, International Cooperation Deputy Director for the commentary provided during the day long bus tour. We look forward to spending more time with Ruben when he rejoins the ECHO 2002 group on our travels through Paraguay.