May 12, 2013 - A passion for sports

Uruguayans can be characterized by many things; whether they like maté, if they go to Punta in the summer, if they belong to the Frente Amplio or the Colorado party. There is one question, however, which defines Uruguayans above all else and that is; are you for Peñarol or Nacional? These soccer clubs ignite a passion, the likes of which we didn’t understand until we went to a soccer game between these two teams last week. Tradition holds that Peñarol is the team of the ‘people’, supported by the masses while Nacional, in contrast, is...

Mar 31, 2013 - Semana de Turismo

It is Semana Santa- Holy Week- for all of Latin America except Uruguay. Here it is Semana de Turismo- Tourism Week. Uruguay is the most secular of all Latin American countries with just over 50% of the population claiming to be Catholic. Still, the message is clear- go out and be a tourist during Semana de Turismo. Since the city virtually shuts down, schools are closed, the streets are empty, and we decided to join the migration of people up the coast. The Uruguayan coastline, extending from Montevideo all the way east to the border with...

Mar 14, 2013 - Uruguay

Early morning ferry to Uruguay. Lots of waiting and lining up. Ferry full of young soccer supporters heading to game in Uruguay...lots of singing and chanting. Finally free time to wander the streets of this old town a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish architecture from the 1600's. There seems to be little overall reaction in BA about the new Pope. He is well liked though and described as a humble man. Lunch again proves to be a cultural experience what with Pimento sauces and oodles of meat...Degustation de parilla might sound interesting...

Feb 26, 2013 - Montevideo, Uruguay

Feb 26, 2013 Montevideo, Uruguay We booked a city tour and winery tour/tasting today. Uruguay is a very small country with a population of ~3.5 million people of which 1.5 million live in the capital, Montevideo. The city is centered around the main plaza with several beautiful buildings designed by architects from France and Italy. Our tour guide, Ileana, talked non-stop informing us on the history, culture, customs, politics and family life of Uruguay. Ileana, like most people in Uruguay has more than one job. Her other job is teaching...

Feb 24, 2013 - Montevideo Uruguay

Overnight we had an incredible thunder and lightning storm that lit up the dining room and continued well into the night. We awake to what else but RAIN! Oh well, what can you do, we are in Montevideo Uruguay and going to the make the most of it. After a short walk to the end of the pier and already drenched we find a local van and guide and decide that for $25 each for a 3 hour tour it is better than wandering in town in the rain. Definitely the right decision as we end up see so much more than we would have otherwise. Our guide Anna is...

Feb 14, 2013 - Uruguay - what a surprise!

Montevideo and Punta del Este are only about 50 miles apart, so I am lumping these two stops into one post because we found that Uruguay is deceptive. It is the second smallest country in South America (after Suriname). They joke that it is a “beginner’s country” for those visiting South America. The mountains are not very high, the population and size are not too large, the economy is relatively stable, and it is a good place to begin a trip into or out of South America. The rich are not filthy rich and the poor are not as abjectly poor...

Feb 10, 2013 - Back to school

Though it is still the middle of the South American summer, school has started for the boys and for me as well. I have been working at the boy’s school this year, the Uruguayan American School, as the Elementary PE teacher and as the unofficial school physical therapist. There is enough cross over between teaching motor skills to children with developmental disabilities and teaching physical education to normally developing children that it has been a comfortable transition. The biggest challenge for me has been learning crowd control. It...

Jan 8, 2013 - Espanish

With angst we made our way from the Monarca Hotel to our home stay on Sunday, Jan. 6th. We trundled our wheeled backpacks up Avenida Cordoba, one of the main streets in Buenas Aires to the bus stop at Florida. We boarded the 140 bus and spent the next 1/2 hour watching the block numbers roll by. We got off a stop too early but easily found Uriarte Calle and picked the middle of 3 addresses (yes 3--Gord had 1585, I had 1588 and the phone book showed 1594) and rang the bell. A nervous little lady opened the door, took one look and smiled. We...

Jan 3, 2013 - Montevideo, Uruguay

Today we have to pack and have cases ready for collection tonight. Made a start then decided to go to town first. Caught a free shuttle to a leather factory. This was handy as lynne wanted to check out the leather goods and it dropped us right at Independence Square between the old and new parts of the main city. From there we caught a tourisimo bus on a 2 1/2 hour trip around Montevideo with both Spanish and English commentary. It was good, what an impressive city. Uruguay is a welfare state. The streets are very clean. Monuments and parks...

Jan 3, 2013 - Colonia, Uruguay

Hola. Yesterday was a moving day. We booked, checked in and paid for the slow ferry from Buenas Aires to Colonia. What a relaxing day! We had a 3 hour boat ride, waited till most had disembarked, and were able to catch a taxi to our hostel--a stone´s throw from the terminal had we known. What´s 5 USD anyway. The meter had not even registered! We walked around the old part of the city in the evening. The hustle and bustle of the larger city is gone and much appreciated. We bought day bus tickets to Montevideo for Friday, found city maps of...

Jan 2, 2013 - Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

Today we finally ended up going to Uruguay. We took a ferry across the ocean and docked (No, this is not a pun, John) in Colonia del Sacramento, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This town was VERY cool and the historic neighborhood was extremely well preserved. We walked to the beach and observed locals fishing for their dinner and absorbed the local tea (Mate). In addition to the atmosphere, the weather was absolutely perfect!! We returned to Buenos Aires this evening and are planning to go out for a traditional Argentinian steak...

Nov 7, 2012 - Week 6 - Punta del Diablo, Cabo Polonio, Colonia (Uruguay)

On our second day in Punta del Diablo we wandered through the sand dunes to the beach accompanied by two of the dogs from the hostel. The beach was a huge expanse of windswept white sand with no one else around for miles. Walking along the coast we passed through the centre of the village. It was a shame we were there in the shoulder months as the village was full of bars and restaurants in shacks lining the beach but everything was either shut or being painted and given a new lease of life ready for peak season in January/February - one of...