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Mission Impossible ? <br />To travel the world and give you all a run down of adventures, experiences, things to see and the best bars in town! I may even stop here and there and earn a few bob...but after this who would have me...

South America, part VI: Uruguay

Richard Rosss
2006-04-03 12:47:22

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13th Uruguay

So I got up at 6am, and headed for the ferry terminal. Bought my ticket across the Rio Plata, then went through immigration. They always take ages now to look at my passport as they don` t know where the photo is and they look at all the stamps! It was a catamaran, and it took 2.5hrs to get across. Nice smooth crossing!

Arrived into Montivideo and checked into my hostal for the nite, which was freezing! Now the name Montivideo conjures up images of wealthy people, fast cars and casino`s...it could not be more further from the truth! The place is really run down, and the place is so slow. There is a lot more poverty is evidence than in Argentina, but its more expensive. Heaps of shops there and pizza parlours??

The country is teetering on the edge of economic collaspe as well...similair situation to what happened in Argentina, but people are too relaxed too protest.

I wandered around though, through the old city, kinda nice, but all shut. Then I checked out the presidential palace - nice, and more interesting than Argentina`s. It was so cold here, that after my subway lunch I headed back to the hostal to chill (literally!)

Sat and chatted to this old Japanese guy, who was a bit loopy and always had a fag hanging out of his mouth. I thought this was the only guy staying here, then after i came back from eating, I started to chat to this american guy from Texas! We went out for a few beers, then I had to sleep as I was knackerd. I slept fairly well, despite the cold, but I had some clothes on and 4 blankets!

Note - there is 25 U$ to the Pound.

14th

Watched some football in the morning...the Japanese guy was already down there...smoking, of course!

Me and the American went to the port area as there is a big warehouse there, and its full of meat restuarants that the locals eat at. There were about 15 of them all with huge grills and piles of meat on them...it was quite a sight. We stopped at one and ordered a plate with bits of all the meat...and a bottle of wine! Well the wine is sparkling (its some sort of tradtion here called medio y medio) and it was 11.30am! Eat heaps there, it was all really nice, for about $5! These guys take pride in their grills...its a kudos thing!

We then walked to the congressional building for the 2pm tour. It is a really grand building which houses their senate and house of representatives. It has some nice ceilings and pŕintings, but who did they call to decorate it...that`s right, us Europeans...for styńe and craftmanship there is no other! On the tour there was also a group of 12 yr school kids, who seemed to be more interested in us rather than the grand building.

Listen up factual time, Uruguay got independence in 1812 after it fought Spain for many years. Argentina helped its neighbour with arms and men. Went back via the maseolem in the centre, where the main dude`s (Artegas) ash`s are kept...nice!

I went to buy some jogging pants as I only had one pair as my Bolivan pair turned into shorts and my other pair was starting to get rather smelly!

So I grabbed the ferry back home and arrived at 10pm. Grabbed a kebab on the way home, which was really nice and checked into the hostel again. Nice to be back to some where that is hot and has hot water!

My clothes on today are British fleece, Argentine jacket and pants, Uruguayian trousars and Equatorian tshirt...talk about international wardrode!!