Uruguay 8 - 14 November 2011

Like many deep water ports which receive and distribute containers, Montevideo was no different. It reminded me of Hull. Unattractive and slightly intimidating.

However, amongst the dross there is usually a gem. We stumbled across what turned out to be a small concert featuring some of Uraguay's more senior celebraties crashing out some of their greatest hits. We were the youngest in there but the music whilst in Spanish was excellent! We took in the atmosphere over a pizza and a few bottles of Patricia, the local brew.

The following day we wondered into another market place sheltered by an ornate cast iron framed pavilion.
A well built chef invited us to his piece of the market to eat. He was cooking all kinds of meat, guts 'n all, over a cattlegrid sized BBQ. The smell was great and watching someone cook over burning timber entertaining. The chef asked Lucy if she would like her picture taken in front of the BBQ and so she posed whilst holding what looked like a whole lambs leg drumstick.

The following morning we took a bus to Colonia. After checking into our hostel, a former office, we went walkabout.
If I had a couple of quid to spend renovating old buildings, Colonia would be a dream come true. The old town is full of solid looking colonial properties looking for lick of paint and the odd new window here and there. Most of the decorative mouldings and stone spindles are still intact.

Colonia is very popular with Argentinians who arrive by ferry from Buenos Aires. They normally spend their weekends here enjoying live music, good food and people watching.
One of the highlights of our stay was the sunsets. It was nice to see the old current bun disappear into the sea leaving a temporary terracotta coloured sky behind. A lot of people turned out to him go to bed whilst messing with their cameras in an effort to find the best setting. I prefer just to watch.

We dwindled away several days here, wondering around the cobbled streets, lounging on the soft sand banks and sipping the infamous medio y medio (half and half- champagne and wine), before steaming ahead to the bright lights of Buenos Aires.