Asuncion
On the long straight road from Asuncion to Ciudad del Este Lost somewhere in the middle of the giant fertile plains A butcher’s shop sells one of the best meat of the Americas A land of plenty half-tamed and poor but not hungry Huge cattle herds and high per capita consumption of red meat Photo […]
Holy family and saints roadside sale Cellophane-wrapped figurines to go For a few more Guaranis, have an absolution The take-away blessing for a safe journey home Heaven’s toll-gates are just miles away The merchants now own the temple.. Photo Hugh Ardoin The Americas Gallery
The Che’s footsteps still resound in the Paraguayan Chaco After many vain sacrificial wars and a resilient poverty The ghosts of the Cristeros and the Knights of Columbus Dead Solano Lopez still standing in his bronze boots A population wiped out in 1864-1870 by the Triple Alliance War The scar remains in the minds, but […]
Sitting with a large stock of ice and Coca Cola as the days narrows The street vendor relies on the weather to bring harried customers with the gringo fever Slowly edging out the traditional Maté the soft sugary bubbly drink is here to stay Even the road signs carry the iconic name the hundred years […]
A street vendor offers inflatable dreams Shapes of water to come in many colors The fantasy of the amphibian origins Rubbery and sleek awaiting the last puncture Will the latex save you from your impending deluge ? Photo Hugh Ardoin The Americas Gallery
Watching nature’s show from the rooftop bar of a hotel The last fires of a tropical sky outline a hazy, almost hesitant skyline The city lights like many fireflies seem to dance over the city Ready to blast away in space and become the stars for tonight It is the hour when daydream changes into […]
While we are sitting idle waiting for the Apocalypse The tide of our own garbage continues to rise The horsemen of Apocalypse will not be what we expect Here comes the recycling cart and his riders Too little, too late… Photo Hugh Ardoin The Americas Gallery
A tropical sunset needs only few words The skyline will change over the years But the sky changes everyday Yet it is the same to our eyes A photograph makes it both unique and generic Photo Hugh Ardoin The Americas Gallery
The favourite game in Asuncion is bus-spotting The harsh light of sunset keeps commuters guessing Finding the right number is almost like winning the lotto Scanning the deep end of the avenues for a sign to refuel hope Photo Hugh Ardoin The Americas Gallery
On the road to Asuncion in the middle of a diluvial storm It was almost night in full daylight like an eclipse of the sun We came to a stop at a surreal toll gate in the pouring rain There was this bishop standing at the gate under an umbrella A premonition of the ferryman […]