Americas

[Visited: January 2023]

When I arrive in Filadelfia from Mariscal Estirribia, it feels like a deserted town. As soon as I leave the tiny bus station behind and walk into the dusty streets, I notice I am the only one on the streets. It is a summer afternoon, and the sun is burning relentlessly on my head. Before I know it, I am soaking wet, especially with the luggage on my back. When I see an accommodation, my hopes are low to find anyone inside, but to my surprise, someone shows up. She gives me a room, and as soon as I leave my bag, I see a scorpion on the floor. It confirms that there aren't many clients here. I start exploring the town, the capital of the Boquerón district. It is clear that this is a mostly German speaking colony: names of streets and shops clearly indicate that. It doesn't take long before I come across a Fernheim factory. It is omnipresent in town, which can easily be called Fernheim town. Virtually every resident is directly or indirectly connected to the company.
When Russian Mennonites escaped the Soviet Union in the late 1920s and early 1930s, they did so because of persecution under Stalin's terror. They initially moved to Germany, but eventually ended up here, founding Filadelfia. Some of them also founded the Fernheim factory. It is active in the agricultural sector, and indeed, the lands around Filadelfia are clearly used for growing crops and cattle. After a visit to the old war site of Boquerón, I continue exploring the wide, empty and dusty streets of this fascinating town. Unfortunately, I am here in the weekend; the museum of the town, that I had wanted to see, is closed. There is still old machinery outside the Fernheim factories, that were once used to plough the lands. Near a small park on the Hindenburg avenue, I find the Portal de Libertad, the portal of freedom. It is a replica of the gate between Russia and Latvia through which the founders of Filadelfia and Fernheim once travelled to escape the dictatorship of Stalin.
There are many more monuments: the one on Religion, Unity and Work, another one on Living together and Development. Especially the latter is a massive construction at the south entrance of Filadelfia. Then, I also see various Mennonite churches. I will end up attending a service at the church of Loma Plata. On my way back from there, I get off the bus at the first house of Filadelfia, and walk the streets towards the city centre. It is a Sunday afternoon, and again, I am the only one around. I see several churches - they are all closed. In fact, everything is closed. After having walked more than 20 kilometres, I am both starving and in need of liquids, but all shops and restaurants are closed, too. I eventually buy something in the small shop of the only petrol station in town that is open. After dinner, it is time to take a night bus to Concepción in a totally different part of the country.

Around the World in 80 Clicks

Personal travel impressions both in words and images from Filadelfia (Paraguay). Clicking on the pictures enlarges them and enables you to send the picture as a free e-card or download it for personal use, for instance, on your weblog. Or click on the map above to visit more places close to Filadelfia.
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Filadelfia > Paraguay > Americas

[Visited: January 2023]

Around the World in 80 Clicks

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