People from every corner of the globe are drawn to Asunción, where Paraguay’s laid-back capital has quietly become a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and ambition. Each Tuesday evening from 18:00 to 21:00, digital nomads, expats, and friendly locals come together at the ever-popular English networking event organised by The Asunción Times. Held in a different charming bar or restaurant across the city every week, these gatherings offer the perfect blend of Paraguayan warmth and international energy. In this People of Asunción series, we introduce the inspiring individuals who make this scene so uniquely alive. In #26, Marcelino Hudalla from Germany.
Meet Marcelino Hudalla
Marcelino Hudalla, 77, is originally from Germany and arrived in Paraguay in May 2025. After spending many years living in Düsseldorf and later Cologne, he now dedicates his time to exploring Paraguay, improving his Spanish, and discovering the country’s culture one conversation at a time.
What are you doing in Paraguay?
“Enjoying life. Studying the country, studying the city, travelling around, listening to immigrants, listening to native people, studying Spanish. I love it. I want to speak Spanish, not only a little. I want to speak the language very well, so I am working on it every day. It is a little difficult, but I see progress. I am also studying online. One thing I am very interested in now is passive income. I never gave it much attention in the past, but it is never too late. You always need to have a target to follow.”
What is your favourite place in Asunción, and why?
“My favourite place is Ñu Guasu park. I go there two or three times a week. I love that place. I also love the Municipal Theatre Ignacio A. Pane. Shopping Mariscal is another favourite because of the marketplace outside and all the local people who gather there. And I love Río Paraguay because my home cities are on the banks of the Rhine River. My office was there, where I lived, and I used to jog along the river every morning. The Río Paraguay gives me a similar feeling.”
What is your favourite place outside Asunción, and why?
“I have been to Salto Cristal, the waterfall, and it is, of course, very special. It is beautiful. There is also a restaurant outside Altos. It is run by a German guy and his Paraguayan partner. It has a beautiful garden and a beautiful restaurant. The food is delicious, and the decoration… Oh my gosh. I love to go there.”
What do you love most about Paraguay?
“I could be an ambassador. People tell me I talk about Paraguay as if it is Singapore. No, it is not Singapore, but it is so beautiful. First of all, 300 days of blue sky. That gives you a good mood. Then you go outside and see fruit trees everywhere. You walk through the streets and there are pink flowers, red flowers, yellow flowers. It is so beautiful”.
“And I will tell you something surprising. I love the broken sidewalks. Because you do not have to go to the gym. You step here, you step there, you have to look where you are going, and you learn dancing. I always look for the good side, you know, so I love Paraguay. And of course, the people. The people are very friendly. It is really a good place to live.”
What do you miss from home?
“At the moment, I do not really miss anything. Of course, I need personal contact with friends, but today we have video calls and all these things. I was planning to go back to Germany in July, but then I thought, ‘No, I want to stay here.’ I am not a person who looks too much into the past. Maybe I miss my family a little bit, but they can come here. It is not a one-way street.”
If you were to move away tomorrow, what would you absolutely take with you from Paraguay?
“I would take the good spirit. The people love their own country, they love their food, and they love their families. In many other countries, families have broken apart, but here they stay together. When you stand at the airport, you see entire families waiting to welcome someone home, even little children. That makes me really happy. I would take that positive spirit with me.”
Meet Marcelino
You can find Marcelino in person at one of The Asunción Times English Networking events every Tuesday from 18:00 to 21:00. events – every Tuesday from 18:00 to 21:00, popping up in a different lively bar or restaurant across Asunción. Check our What’s On Guide to find out exactly where the next one will take place.
Read previous episodes of People of Asunción:
People Of Asunción #25, Micah Koppang From The U.S: “People Are Amazing Here”,
People Of Asunción #24, Enzo Ferreira From Paraguay: “Warm-Hearted People In Every Corner”,
People Of Asunción #23, Ryan Aranda From The U.S: “Paraguay Gave Me A Sense Of Belonging”.
