Move to El Encarnación.
We have arrived in El Calafate. Tomorrow, we will obtain a Brazilian visa.
Here is the accommodation information:
Casa de la Y
Dormitory: 70,000 Guaraní (approximately 1,400 yen), includes breakfast.
The price of gasoline remains the same, but they are selling cheaper, lower-grade gasoline (octane 85) that is not sold in Argentina.
The food is much cheaper than in Argentina, and seems to be about the same price as in Peru.
It might be just this accommodation, but the breakfast is a little more generous than the "coffee and two pieces of bread (sometimes with juice)" that is common in Argentina. It's now "coffee and juice, lots of bread, and fruit." Eggs and bacon seem to be extra, but the fact that they are on the menu is wonderful.
Here is the accommodation information:
Casa de la Y
Dormitory: 70,000 Guaraní (approximately 1,400 yen), includes breakfast.
The price of gasoline remains the same, but they are selling cheaper, lower-grade gasoline (octane 85) that is not sold in Argentina.
The food is much cheaper than in Argentina, and seems to be about the same price as in Peru.
It might be just this accommodation, but the breakfast is a little more generous than the "coffee and two pieces of bread (sometimes with juice)" that is common in Argentina. It's now "coffee and juice, lots of bread, and fruit." Eggs and bacon seem to be extra, but the fact that they are on the menu is wonderful.
Border: Puente Internacional San Roque González (Argentina → Paraguay, El Caranacíon).
■Argentina Departure
There is a facility in front of the bridge.
At a place that looks like a toll booth, you receive the departure stamp.
Immediately after that, at another place that looks like a toll booth, you return the "permiso" and that's the end.
■Paraguay Entry
On the other side of the bridge, there is a place that looks like a toll booth, but since there is no one at the toll booth, I stopped the motorcycle and received the entry stamp at the building.
I received a "permiso" at another room in the building.
There is a facility in front of the bridge.
At a place that looks like a toll booth, you receive the departure stamp.
Immediately after that, at another place that looks like a toll booth, you return the "permiso" and that's the end.
■Paraguay Entry
On the other side of the bridge, there is a place that looks like a toll booth, but since there is no one at the toll booth, I stopped the motorcycle and received the entry stamp at the building.
I received a "permiso" at another room in the building.
Brazil visa obtained.
I successfully obtained the Brazilian visa. As rumored, it was easy. I had prepared a bank statement because I obtained a visa in Warsaw around August last year, but it seems that a credit card is sufficient here. I submitted both, but the bank statement was from April of last year, so it may have been invalid. Either way, the visa was issued quickly, in about 2 hours, as planned.
I successfully obtained the Brazilian visa. As rumored, it was easy. I had prepared a bank statement because I obtained a visa in Warsaw around August last year, but it seems that a credit card is sufficient here. I submitted both, but the bank statement was from April of last year, so it may have been invalid. Either way, the visa was issued quickly, in about 2 hours, as planned.
I successfully obtained the Brazilian visa. As rumored, it was easy. I had prepared a bank statement because I obtained a visa in Warsaw around August last year, but it seems that a credit card is sufficient here. I submitted both, but the bank statement was from April of last year, so it may have been invalid. Either way, the visa was issued quickly, in about 2 hours, as planned.
Motorcycle parts acquisition.
I replaced the helmet because the visor locking mechanism was broken and it was difficult to use.
While adjusting the chain on the dirt road with the visor attached, I fell and it ended up on top of me, and ever since then, it hasn't been working properly.
This new one looks cheap, but it has a smoked visor and a double visor, which will be useful in this hot weather.
The previous one also had a double visor, but the smoked visor on the old one was better. This new one is a little distorted and makes my eyes tired. I guess that's what you get with a cheap one.
But, they don't sell good ones here. 220,000 Guaraní (about 4,300 yen).
If you try to buy it in Argentina, it's very expensive, about twice the price of Japan, so this price is a good balance between safety and price.
I replaced the helmet because the visor locking mechanism was broken and it was difficult to use.
While adjusting the chain on the dirt road with the visor attached, I fell and it ended up on top of me, and ever since then, it hasn't been working properly.
This new one looks cheap, but it has a smoked visor and a double visor, which will be useful in this hot weather.
The previous one also had a double visor, but the smoked visor on the old one was better. This new one is a little distorted and makes my eyes tired. I guess that's what you get with a cheap one.
But, they don't sell good ones here. 220,000 Guaraní (about 4,300 yen).
If you try to buy it in Argentina, it's very expensive, about twice the price of Japan, so this price is a good balance between safety and price.
While adjusting the chain on the dirt road with the visor attached, I fell and it ended up on top of me, and ever since then, it hasn't been working properly.
This new one looks cheap, but it has a smoked visor and a double visor, which will be useful in this hot weather.
The previous one also had a double visor, but the smoked visor on the old one was better. This new one is a little distorted and makes my eyes tired. I guess that's what you get with a cheap one.
But, they don't sell good ones here. 220,000 Guaraní (about 4,300 yen).
If you try to buy it in Argentina, it's very expensive, about twice the price of Japan, so this price is a good balance between safety and price.
I replaced the helmet because the visor locking mechanism was broken and it was difficult to use.
While adjusting the chain on the dirt road with the visor attached, I fell and it ended up on top of me, and ever since then, it hasn't been working properly.
This new one looks cheap, but it has a smoked visor and a double visor, which will be useful in this hot weather.
The previous one also had a double visor, but the smoked visor on the old one was better. This new one is a little distorted and makes my eyes tired. I guess that's what you get with a cheap one.
But, they don't sell good ones here. 220,000 Guaraní (about 4,300 yen).
If you try to buy it in Argentina, it's very expensive, about twice the price of Japan, so this price is a good balance between safety and price.
La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná Jesuit Mission.
In this area, there are remnants of a utopian community established by the Jesuit order. This place is one of them.
When you enter the ruins, you can strongly feel an image of "a peaceful world without conflict." This was probably a place where people who gathered to create such a utopia. It is interesting.
It is ironic that, after that, it was attacked and became a ruin because it was not understood by those in power or the local people.
In the crypt (burial ground) under the church, I felt as if there were souls still wishing to create a utopia. The image is that they are waiting for a person who can become the central figure to rebuild the utopia that collapsed midway. That "chosen one" may visit this place someday (at least, it won't be me).
When that "chosen one" appears, they will become a leader and try to create a utopia with the help of the souls.
This is a place that stimulates such imaginations.
The history of the Jesuit order in South America. Interesting.
"Our 40 Years!! A Collection of Contributions from Former Passengers of the Zenchinmaru."
http://40anos.nikkeybrasil.com.br/jp/biografia.php?cod=1006
http://40anos.nikkeybrasil.com.br/jp/biografia.php?cod=1006
When you enter the ruins, you can strongly feel an image of "a peaceful world without conflict." This was probably a place where people who gathered to create such a utopia. It is interesting.
It is ironic that, after that, it was attacked and became a ruin because it was not understood by those in power or the local people.
In the crypt (burial ground) under the church, I felt as if there were souls still wishing to create a utopia. The image is that they are waiting for a person who can become the central figure to rebuild the utopia that collapsed midway. That "chosen one" may visit this place someday (at least, it won't be me).
When that "chosen one" appears, they will become a leader and try to create a utopia with the help of the souls.
This is a place that stimulates such imaginations.
The history of the Jesuit order in South America. Interesting.
"Our 40 Years!! A Collection of Contributions from Former Passengers of the Zenchinmaru."
http://40anos.nikkeybrasil.com.br/jp/biografia.php?cod=1006
http://40anos.nikkeybrasil.com.br/jp/biografia.php?cod=1006
First time fixing a flat tire.
First flat tire.
There are various things scattered on the roads in Paraguay, and there are shards of broken glass bottles everywhere, and I have stepped on them many times. Also, there are several things that look like nails, and you can clearly see them.
Because of this, I was very careful and thoroughly checked the tires, but I quickly discovered a flat tire. Something that looks like a nail is stuck in it, but it doesn't seem to be losing air. I wonder when it got stuck? I may have missed it because I've only been checking the side that's facing up, or it may have just been stuck recently.
I drove about 20km back to Encarnación and showed it to a motorcycle shop along the highway, and they pointed to a makeshift shack and said, "Go there." When I went there, they fixed it quickly. I also had them adjust the chain position, and the total cost was 10,000 Guaraní (about 200 yen). That's cheap.
When I looked at the photos closely, the side facing the road was worn, so it might have been stuck there for a while. The repairman was able to remove the metal, and the air didn't immediately come out, so it's possible that it was stuck for a while without penetrating.
Anyway, I had never seen a tubeless tire repair up close before, so I learned a lot.
I'm glad this happened in Paraguay and not in Patagonia.
There are various things scattered on the roads in Paraguay, and there are shards of broken glass bottles everywhere, and I have stepped on them many times. Also, there are several things that look like nails, and you can clearly see them.
Because of this, I was very careful and thoroughly checked the tires, but I quickly discovered a flat tire. Something that looks like a nail is stuck in it, but it doesn't seem to be losing air. I wonder when it got stuck? I may have missed it because I've only been checking the side that's facing up, or it may have just been stuck recently.
I drove about 20km back to Encarnación and showed it to a motorcycle shop along the highway, and they pointed to a makeshift shack and said, "Go there." When I went there, they fixed it quickly. I also had them adjust the chain position, and the total cost was 10,000 Guaraní (about 200 yen). That's cheap.
When I looked at the photos closely, the side facing the road was worn, so it might have been stuck there for a while. The repairman was able to remove the metal, and the air didn't immediately come out, so it's possible that it was stuck for a while without penetrating.
Anyway, I had never seen a tubeless tire repair up close before, so I learned a lot.
I'm glad this happened in Paraguay and not in Patagonia.
Jesús de Tavarangüe, Jesuit Mission of Jesús de Tavarangüe.
This place is also peaceful.
I strongly feel the image of the Jesuit order's philosophy of peace.
It is a place where such imaginations come to mind.
I strongly feel the image of the Jesuit order's philosophy of peace.
It is a place where such imaginations come to mind.
Oil change.
I got an oil change in Paraguay.
Since I brought the oil myself, the cost was only 5000 Guaranis (about 100 yen). It's cheap. In Argentina, it's normal to be charged 100 pesos (about 900 yen).
While I was cruising in Patagonia, I was running the engine at 8000 rpm, just below the red zone, and I noticed that the oil was decreasing quickly, so I brought 1 liter of oil with me just in case. I didn't end up using it, but I escaped Patagonia, so I used that stock here.
I could have had it done in Argentina, but I felt a little hesitant to bring my own oil to a place with high labor costs like Argentina, so I chose Paraguay.
As expected, they did the work without any complaints, quickly and efficiently.
In Paraguay, there are many motorcycles on the road, and many of them are old, so there are a lot of motorcycle repair shops along the highways.
Since I brought the oil myself, the cost was only 5000 Guaranis (about 100 yen). It's cheap. In Argentina, it's normal to be charged 100 pesos (about 900 yen).
While I was cruising in Patagonia, I was running the engine at 8000 rpm, just below the red zone, and I noticed that the oil was decreasing quickly, so I brought 1 liter of oil with me just in case. I didn't end up using it, but I escaped Patagonia, so I used that stock here.
I could have had it done in Argentina, but I felt a little hesitant to bring my own oil to a place with high labor costs like Argentina, so I chose Paraguay.
As expected, they did the work without any complaints, quickly and efficiently.
In Paraguay, there are many motorcycles on the road, and many of them are old, so there are a lot of motorcycle repair shops along the highways.
