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BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY FRIENDS & ALUMNI
MENNONITE WORLD CONFERENCE PARAGUAY 2009  Wednesday, July 8 - Home City - Asunción– Depart home city for overnight flight to Asunción, Paraguay. Overnight:
Flight Thursday, July 9 - Asunción– Upon arrival in Asunción, you will be transferred to the Sabe Center Hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax and explore this beautiful city on your own. Overnight:
Sabe Center Hotel
Friday, July 10 - Asunción– The day will begin with an impressive tour of this amazing city! Visits will include the Cathedral and the Casa de la Independencia Museum, a national monument that showcases pieces of the country's history dating back to 1811. You will also visit the National Pantheon of Heroes, which was originally built as a chapel, and is now a building dedicated to heroes of national history. As your day continues, a scenic tour around beautiful Ypacarai Lake will bring you to the historical Hotel del Lago, where you will be served lunch. The day will conclude with a tour of Hospital Mennonita Km 81, the MCC-supported hospital founded in 1951, is the most famous leprosy hospital in Paraguay and is a referral center for leprosy services. Overnight:
Sabe Center Hotel
Guarani Girl Saturday, July 11 - Asunción - Filadelfia– This morning, you will leave behind lush East Paraguay for the stark conditions of the Chaco, the largest dry forest in South America. You will cross the Rio Paraguay via the Remanso Bridge to arrive in the Chaco Boreal, a region of land that is divided into two regions: to the west of River Paraguay, the land is flat and decorated by scrub, woodlands and forests; to the east of River Paraguay, the land is dotted with savannah grass and brush. Traveling the long stretches of the Trans-Chaco Route will give you a feeling of infinity! After stopping to take pictures, you will arrive in Filadelfia, located in Fernheim Colony, which was founded in 1930. Filadelfia is recognized as the center of the Mennonitenkolonie, and is considered the largest and most typical Mennonite community in Paraguay. The local museum documents the early struggles of the Mennonite migrations in the late 1920's, as well as the 1930's and after the Second World War. Overnight:
Hotel TBA
Sunday, July 12 - Central Chaco– Today, you will answer the questions of the Mennonite Colonies of European origin including "where did they come from, why were they called 'Little Germany in Paraguay', and why did they come"? In addition to answering these questions, you will visit some of the administrative and social institutions of the colonies. This afternoon, you will visit the private nature reserve called "Laguna Salada of Riacho Yacaré South", which is located in the ecosystem and is nearly 4,200 hectares or 10,400 acres! Annually, countless flamingos along with other birds and animals, gather during the months of June through September. Overnight:
Hotel TBA
Monday, July 13 - Central Chaco - Asunción– This morning you learn how twelve different indigenous groups, that originally lived scattered throughout the Chaco, have come together to live and how they have organized themselves largely in Central Chaco. You will return to Asunción, where you will register for Assembly 15 of the Mennonite World Conference! Overnight:
Sabe Center Hotel
Tuesday, July 14 - Saturday, July 18 - Assembly Gathered– Tuesday through Saturday will be spent attending sessions of Assembly 15 of the Mennonite World Conference at the Centro Familiar de Adoración Conference Center. Please note that the conference registration fee for the Assembly Gathered sessions is not included in the tour price. Full conference registration will include all meetings, lunch and dinner daily, along with transfers between the hotel and conference center. Overnight:
Hotel TBA
 Sunday, July 19 - Asunción - Encarnación– Encarnación was founded by the Jesuits in 1615 and is often called "The Pearl of the South". This morning will begin with an early visit to the Yaguáron Church, the famous and visually stunning Franciscan church with a polychromatic wood ceiling that offers an idea of the original Jesuits church ceilings. You will continue to San Ignácio Guazú. Although nothing remains of the original church, the well-preserved monastery has been turned into a museum which houses statues from all Jesuit missions in Paraguay. You will notice above the entrance, are the engraved names of all Jesuits who died as martyrs in the Paraguayan missions. The day will conclude with a visit to Santa Maria de Fé, founded in 1697 by French Padre Manuel Berthod. Although the original church burnt down in 1889, many precious items including statues and pictures were saved and are on display in today's church. Overnight:
Hotel TBA
Monday, July 20 - Encarnación - Foz do Iguaçu– Your morning will begin with a tour of the Jesuit ruins of Trinidad and Jesús de Tavarangué, which have been declared a Treasure of Humanity by UNESCO. The Society of Jesus is a Roman Catholic Church religious order of clerks whose members are called Jesuits or Soldiers of Christ. Trinidad is one of the most interesting missions of the region and the most visited. During your visit, you will pass through the main nave of the old church, where you can admire the high altar wall with the baroque angels and their instruments carved into the stone of the wall. Located on the opposite side of the road is Jesús. Although the expulsion of the Jesuits caused the church to remain uncompleted, it is still a sight to be seen with its Moorish-style and exceptionally beautiful entrance doors. This afternoon will include a tour of the Yerba Mate factory. Here you will learn about the distinctive tea once called Paraguay tea by the sixteenth century Spanish explorers, and later became known as Jesuit tea. You will continue to Ciudad del Este, once a dusty village, this city is now the main commercial attraction of Paraguay, with the convenience and technology of an advance modern day city! The day will end with your arrival at the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu. Overnight:
Rafaín Palace Hotel
Tuesday, July 21 - Iguassu Falls - Itaipú Dam– This morning will begin with a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the beautiful Iguassu Falls, a natural waterfall system consisting of 275 falls located on the borders of Brazil and Argentina. The Falls divide the Iguassu River into the Upper and Lower Iguassu. You will visit the Brazilian side of the Falls, which offers you a breath-taking view of the complete Falls! Your next stop will be a visit to another amazing site, one made by man, the Itaipú Dam. Located on the Paraná River, this 4.8-mile-long complex of concrete has 18 generators and is the world's largest hydroelectric power facility. An amazing fact is that the volume of iron and steel used in the dam would be enough to build 380 Eiffel Towers! The evening will conclude with a relaxing dinner and Latin American Folkloric show at the Rafaín Restaurant. Overnight:
Rafaín Palace Hotel
Wednesday, July 22 - Foz do Iguaçu - Home City– This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Contact: Tara Nisley - Menno Travel Service
210 South Main Street, Goshen, IN 46526-3723 Phone: 574-975-7766 or 866-606-6198 Email: tara@mennotrav.com |
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