As the creators of the wildly popular YouTube channel ‘2LoveBears’, Venezuelans Antonella Luciani and David Tovar share their lives on social media, promoting the lesser-known charms of Paraguay. After five years of living in Encarnación, they have become cultural ambassadors for their new home country.
With over 700 unscripted, vlog-style videos, that have garnered an impressive 11 million views; the couple offers a refreshingly personal look at daily life in the country, attracting over 50,000 YouTube subscribers and 16,000 Instagram followers. This is their story!
The spark of a new beginning
Amid a life marked by constant moves and postponed dreams, Antonella Luciani and David Tovar never imagined that a football match would be the spark of a new beginning. After years living in Ecuador, Spain, and Peru, the Venezuelans felt their path had narrowed.
It was then, while watching a match between Peru and Paraguay, that a simple question arose: “What about Paraguay?”
A welcoming heat
Out of curiosity, Antonella and David searched for videos of the country on YouTube. What they saw dazzled them: green landscapes, in stark contrast to arid Lima, and an implicit promise of something new. The couple began thorough research: job opportunities, the economy, migration procedures. The signs appeared to align their destiny, and when they found affordable tickets, they did not hesitate.
Asunción welcomed them in March 2020 with a suffocating heatwave. “We wondered whether we could endure it,” they recall with laughter.
The Venezuelans had come from a warm region in Peru, yet the Guaraní climate felt extreme. Within two days, however, they already felt part of the landscape. Today, they live in Encarnación, known as ‘Pearl of the South” and proudly affirm that they prefer 40-degree heat to the winter cold.
A challenging start
More challenging than the heat, was facing the COVID-19 pandemic in an unfamiliar country. They arrived just two days before the full lockdown. Three months confined indoors, relying on their savings, was their first great test. Even so, something sustained them: the warmth of the Paraguayan people.
“We began to notice the affection, the openness,” they say. Neighbours, shopkeepers, strangers, everyone offered kindness amidst global chaos.
The couple learned to live with “jopará”, that blend of Spanish and Guaraní that initially confused them, but eventually made them laugh. They also fell in love with the local cuisine, leaving behind arepas, and adopteing chipa and tereré as part of their routine.
“We eat more chipa than arepa,” Antonella says with a smile, comparing the Paraguayan and Venezuelan bread types. They marvel at local details: trees respected even amidst asphalt, dances reminiscent of the joropo, and a love of nature that echoes their Venezuelan roots.
Paraguay, land of opportunity
Antonella and David see immense potential in Paraguay. “It is a country ready to grow and thrive,” they affirm, with the conviction of those who have risked everything.
They regret that some locals do not see what they do: a fertile land for progress. Migration brings nostalgia, but they have learned to manage it. “You cannot live with one foot in your country and the other in the new one,” she says.
Their philosophy is clear: to fall in love with the place they chose as home. And they have succeeded. Paraguay not only welcomed them, but also enabled them to return to Venezuela after seven years, something they had considered practically impossible.
Sharing their love, and their lives
As the creators of the YouTube channel ‘2LoveBears’, the couple passionately showcases their affection for their adopted home through engaging social media content. By highlighting Paraguay’s lesser-known treasures, they have captivated over 50,000 dedicated followers with more than 700 videos. Their efforts are sparking a wave of enthusiasm, bringing Paraguay’s unique charm to a global audience.
Their authentic content captures everything, from the everyday challenges of navigating bureaucracy as foreigners, to discovering hidden gems and local delicacies. What truly distinguishes ‘the two love bears’ is their ability to foster a sense of discovery for both international audiences and Paraguayans alike. Many locals express pride and offer suggestions, even inviting them to outings like having lunch or a cup of coffee, while foreign viewers are captivated by a side of Paraguay rarely seen in global media.
Future goals for 2LoveBears videos
The couple is passionate about domestic tourism and dream of showcasing places such as the Salto Ñacunday in Alto Paraná, or San Cosme y Damián in Itapúa, which are sometimes inaccessible due to few transport options. On top of that, they wish to work with municipalities and the tourism sector to change that reality. They also aim to encourage foreign investment, convinced that Paraguay has much to offer, but does not yet know how to present itself to the world.
With their 2LoveBears channel, Antonella and David are not just documenting their lives; they are actively reshaping perceptions and highlighting Paraguay as a destination rich in cultural, emotional, and natural intrigue, and a promising land for opportunities.
From uncertainty, to entrepreneurship
The COVID-19 pandemic thwarted their initial job search, but it also pushed them to create. Next to their thriving social media channels, their healthy peanut butter business was born, with Guaraní names such as “Teko’e” (life).
David, an architect, secured a job at a firm, and today they lead a small company that merges architecture and health-conscious products. The couple has found Paraguay to be a friendly ecosystem for entrepreneurship, though they acknowledge there is still a need for better dissemination of the legal tools available to new business owners.
A redefined identity
Paraguay gave them more than they had expected. They married there without bureaucratic obstacles, consolidated their business, and, above all, found a sense of belonging.
“I believe we have finally found our place in the world,” says Antonella with emotion, while David looks at her tenderly. Even after travelling to Spain, where David felt the desire to stay, something stronger prevailed: “We knew that our home was here.”
This is a love story that has withstood distance, crossed borders, and weathered adversity. Intertwining two lives into a single journey that began ten years ago in Venezuela, and today continues to unfold in Paraguay. Written delicately and enduringly, with a Guaraní accent.
Next to watching 2LoveBears on YouTube, you can follow 2LoveBears on Instagram.
