Obviously, I was on a mission. To rescue my US dollars from their imprisonment in my bank account where they would slowly (or not so slowly) lose value over time. The mission commenced on Friday, at 630am when I set out for the port to catch my ferry to Colonia. Caught the ferry and promptly fell asleep only to be awoken by the infinitely quease- inducing sound of people throwing up. I thanked my dad’s sailor genes for a strong sea stomach and went back to sleep and woke up only to disembark and board the bus from Colonia to Montevideo.
The green pastures of Colonia
Colonia, Uruguay, Nov 2013
The journey passed in a blur and ta-dah, I was in Montevideo!
Av. 18 de Julio
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Started off on foot (traveller’s best friends – left leg and right leg) toward Ciudad Vieja where the elusive Citibank ATM was located. It was a very pleasant walk, but I’m still not sure how I feel about Montevideo. Lots of old buildings,
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Cervantes standing guard at the National Library
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Spot the replica of a famous statue!
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
but many of them very poorly maintained. Honestly, I felt like it had no business being so expensive, considering how many derelict buildings there were.
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Very astute observation by a delinquent
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Nevertheless, I enjoyed simply being there and soaking in the atmosphere.
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
The old and the new
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Hmm, I wonder what’s for lunch today…
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Horse-drawn (garbage) carriage, anyone?
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Interesting thing about Montevideo is the obsession with mate. At least half the people I saw in Montevideo were carrying their little mate cups and a thermos of water as they went about their daily business. It was very curious way of life.
Mate, mate, mate!
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
That evening, I went to a tango bar with some Brazilians I met at the hostel to watch a live tango performance, complete with tango singers. It was really lovely, and the band that performed at the end was pretty good too. All in all, a good first day in Montevideo!
With my Brazilian friends at a tango show
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Well, Montevideo is pretty small, and all the tourist spots are concentrated in Ciudad Vieja and Centro, so I had seen most of them during my 6-hour walk the previous day. I ended up Skyping my sister/brother/brother-in-law/father for a while before heading out. Wandered around a different part of town, not really knowing where I was going but ended up at the weekly fair held on Saturdays.
Dubai! But in Montevideo?
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Tyre swing!
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Flea market
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Next on my agenda was the Rambla. The weather gods had also listened to my pleas and it was hot and sunny, almost blisteringly so. I took a very nice and relaxing walk along the Rambla for a couple of hours, before heading back to the bus station for my bus, and subsequently, ferry, back to Buenos Aires.
Gandhi approves of Montevideo
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Meow.
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 2013
Montevideo was theoretically nice, but somehow, I didn’t quite feel anything for the place. Arriving back in Buenos Aires showed me why – I didn’t feel the vibrancy that resonates within Buenos Aires.
Random party in the middle of the street
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov 2013
I realize I’d gotten so caught up with recollecting my love affair with the city that I’d forgotten about my mission! The mission was a success and I think I’m armed and ready to take on (some part of) Argentina!
