Speaking Guarani

Jaguar. Piranha. Toucan.  Those are Guarani words.

It’s the national language of Paraguay, and I can’t say that I knew that before visiting.  Apparently it’s pretty colorful, too.

For example, when you say something along the lines of ‘he says,’ it translates to ‘from his mouth’ When you say ‘she says,’ it translates to ‘from the devil’s mouth’.

Just south of the repressa Itaipu is a Guarani cultural center and small zoo. A free private tour is the only way to see it. As far as I can tell, this was created to house the animals displaced by the building of the dam.

They’re well fed and cared for, for sure. Bode enjoyed seeing the big cats (lots of them) up close and personal. But, I always end up a bit depressed after seeing wild animals pacing back and forth inside a tiny cage. It’s just not right.