Wednesday, February 8. Montevideo, Uruguay...

Shirt sleeve weather.  

Uruguay is a nice little country that one never hears about, it is sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil, two very large countries. Montevideo is the capital. The city is a mix of old, [Spanish], architecture and some rather ugly modernish buildings. The country looks like it is sort of stuck in its position of just fine, but not really going anywhere. Not sure on that, it is just my sense of it. 

We four walked off today, in search of leather and a good meal.   At the end of our short day we had sort of accomplished both, well fed but not what I had hoped for regarding leather purchase. We did manage to eat our small share of beef for lunch, we were not over stuffed, at least I was not. 

We four were here some several years ago so we were content with a gentle day of window shopping and people viewing. We got in here at 10:00 am and sailed at 8:00 pm. 

Tomorrow we have a long day tour, 15 to 16 hours, flying to Iguazu Falls which is a bit less than a two hour domestic flight in Argentina, where we sail to overnight, arriving in Buenos Aires early AM. 

There are 60 people on the tour. The falls are twice as high as Niagara Falls and comprises some 250 cascades in width. It is a bit of a stretch re endurance but we are up to it. Jim and Gail are off to a ranch and gaucho show tomorrow and another beef feast so we will see them in Buenos Aires Friday, I suppose, where we also intend to walk off and have another easy day before heading further north to Brazil.

The day was not spectacular for photos but we four needed such a day, Jim in particular who is recovering from a cold, the air and walk did us all some good. 


An early morning treat, the QEIII steaming past us heading south like a Gray Ghost as they called the Queen Mary during WWII.

Off we go on another adventure into the unknown...

Nice climate here indeed. 

These are friends awaiting newly married couples emerging from the civil marriage ceremony. I believe they are done enmasse. They are then showered with handfuls of rice and off to a party I imagine. Everybody is holding a handful of rice.

The usual graffiti but of poor quality. 

We popped into the Carnival Museum as we strolled about. South American countries are famous for their 40 day party time, before lent.

Some really lovely old buildings are still around.

The German Heavy Cruiser Graf Spee was scuttled outside the harbour here during WWII when it came in for repairs but was forced to leave as it was in neutral countries and could not stay in port. All the crew remained in Uruguay, or got off, the captain committed suicide. The British had the port blockaded. This is its anchor.

They seem to be stuck in the past a bit here. Very old Coca Cola ads seem to be everywhere, this one is about 1946?



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