I just got back from a long road trip through Paraguay. Here to Asuncion, to Concepcion, to Ciudad del Este, Asuncion, Concepcion, Asuncion and back here. Total of 5500 kilometers in about 10 days.
Right now in Asuncion, a Blackberry 8520 is just under $200 USD. I bought one in Ciudad del Este for $150 USD.
Here, on Mercado libre, the average price seems to be around 1500 pesos, or $328 USD official, $238 USD blue rate. Prices are usually a bit cheaper on ML than stores.
I bought a huge stuffed bear holding a big heart, that played music when the ears were pressed. $30 USD in Cuidad del este. 500+ pesos here ($109 or $90 USD here).
A lot of other things, very inexpensive. You have to look out that you are getting original merchandise in Ciudad del Este. Usually you can tell when the prices are just too cheap. Also, go to the shopping malls to buy - not guaranteed always original but much more likely.
I bought a waffle iron in Asuncion, something I hadn't been able to even find here, for $30 USD.
Those who say that Paraguay is dangerous, that there is such a great chance for counterfeits, etc, either don't like Paraguay or are misinformed, in my opinion. Particularly when said opinion comes from an Argentino. Sorry, but my experience here with my Paraguayan family is that Argentinos are overwhelmingly prejudiced against Paraguayans.
Ciudad del Este can be dangerous, but not any more so than here. But Ciudad del Este, to me, has one prime purpose - buy stuff cheaply.
Asuncion is one of the friendliest places I've ever been in the world. I've never felt unsafe there. The people are very helpful, the food is good, the prices are 1/2 to 1/3 for most things, comparing to here. Clothes are about the same price, same situation, as here.
Crossing the border in a bus can be problematic. You'd probably have better luck via airplane.
I drove my own car. Had no problems at all in Aduana. Opened my trunk, they saw my bags, saw that I was with my wife, her sister and father, asked about my waffle iron (the only thing I'd left in its box, tohave soemthing to show). Never opened my bags, didn't ask to take them out and x-ray them. Pretty much my typical experience crossing in my own car.
As far as Paraguay being lawless - heh. Not quite. Certainly no more so than here. And I saw many more cops there than I do here on a regular basis. Cleaner for the most part as well. Unless you count the orange-ish dust that blows over a lot of things there from the soil itself, but certainly not tons of trash all over the place, particularly in smaller towns along the highway.
Right now in Asuncion, a Blackberry 8520 is just under $200 USD. I bought one in Ciudad del Este for $150 USD.
Here, on Mercado libre, the average price seems to be around 1500 pesos, or $328 USD official, $238 USD blue rate. Prices are usually a bit cheaper on ML than stores.
I bought a huge stuffed bear holding a big heart, that played music when the ears were pressed. $30 USD in Cuidad del este. 500+ pesos here ($109 or $90 USD here).
A lot of other things, very inexpensive. You have to look out that you are getting original merchandise in Ciudad del Este. Usually you can tell when the prices are just too cheap. Also, go to the shopping malls to buy - not guaranteed always original but much more likely.
I bought a waffle iron in Asuncion, something I hadn't been able to even find here, for $30 USD.
Those who say that Paraguay is dangerous, that there is such a great chance for counterfeits, etc, either don't like Paraguay or are misinformed, in my opinion. Particularly when said opinion comes from an Argentino. Sorry, but my experience here with my Paraguayan family is that Argentinos are overwhelmingly prejudiced against Paraguayans.
Ciudad del Este can be dangerous, but not any more so than here. But Ciudad del Este, to me, has one prime purpose - buy stuff cheaply.
Asuncion is one of the friendliest places I've ever been in the world. I've never felt unsafe there. The people are very helpful, the food is good, the prices are 1/2 to 1/3 for most things, comparing to here. Clothes are about the same price, same situation, as here.
Crossing the border in a bus can be problematic. You'd probably have better luck via airplane.
I drove my own car. Had no problems at all in Aduana. Opened my trunk, they saw my bags, saw that I was with my wife, her sister and father, asked about my waffle iron (the only thing I'd left in its box, tohave soemthing to show). Never opened my bags, didn't ask to take them out and x-ray them. Pretty much my typical experience crossing in my own car.
As far as Paraguay being lawless - heh. Not quite. Certainly no more so than here. And I saw many more cops there than I do here on a regular basis. Cleaner for the most part as well. Unless you count the orange-ish dust that blows over a lot of things there from the soil itself, but certainly not tons of trash all over the place, particularly in smaller towns along the highway.