The first time I had heard about this country was when I was in third grade. My father had brought home the very first issue of “Anandamela” (a Bengali publication for kids). A few issues later, there was this whole article about the FIFA Soccer Cup.

I had learnt that the very first FIFA Cup was held in this country. And the host country became the champions that year, beating their next-door neighbor in the finals. [As an aside, believe it or not, the USA came third! This is in 1930!]

That is pretty much all I ever learned about the country.

That problem should be fixed by tomorrow morning!!

Uruguay!

I was waiting to check into the hotel in Punta del Este when I noticed this interesting decor in the lobby. It looks like a tree made from long tapestry of paper coming out of typewriters!! Felt very jealous that they have so many typewriters!!

Did you know that typewriters were originally created to write page number in books?

I saw some bicycles outside the hotel. I asked them if they rent them. They said No. They give them free to their guests!!

Spent four hours going around the city driving along the peninsula exploring all the beaches!

This sculpture in the middle of the beach – that of a humongous hand emerging from the sands – is a major tourist attraction here. On my bike ride, I went to this spot first. The original sculptor – who is from Chile – apparently finished this in 6 days one summer. He had then replicated the same in Madrid, Venice and in the Atacama desert in Chile.

One of the two famous beaches of Punta del Este. This is on the Atlantic side. It has some angry waves and is ideal for surfing. As you can see, it is a full house today. Apparently, today has been a great day weather-wise after a few days. It is always windy since it is a peninsula stuck between two large bodies of water, but the sun is out in full glory today!

This is on the Rio de Plata side.

Was getting a tired of biking in the sun. Decided to sit down in the shade of a tree and get some mindful time.

This is the other famous beach in Punta del Este. Like Playa Brava, this is very crowded too!

Rode down south along the waters from Playa Manas. Eventually, came to a point where I could take the bike and go down to the rocks. It was fun navigating the rocks.

Then we took pictures of each other!!

The bike road was about fifteen feet above the rocks where the waves were lashing. While watching the water slip in thru the rocks, I noticed something interesting. The object kept moving in a way that seemed like it was self-propelling. Then, I realized that I was looking at a jellyfish!

Do you see it?

This memorial for peace was constructed after the residents of Punta del Este became accidental witness to the largest naval battle in the mouth of Rio de Plata in the Second World War.

The board claimed that I had reached the southernmost tip of Uruguay. Although, strictly speaking, there is a small island south of here – Isla de Lobos. You can go there by ferry or helicopter. I did not have much time to go there. Apparently, there are lot of seals to be seen there.

I was at the southernmost point of mainland Uruguay. There were these beautiful houses that looked out onto the water. Something caught my eye…

Do you see a cylindrical structure with a chimney-like thing on the top of the house on the left? What is it?

The next house also seems to have a similar structure, sans the chimney.

Is that a pizza oven? Anybody in the know?

Around the Puerto de Punta del Este area

Apologies for that terrible cross-language pun!

The yachts looked beautiful in the dusk, though.

Made the 2 hour plus car ride to Montevideo and checked in. Was hit with this view from my room.

It is a covered area with a lot of shops for knick knacks, souvenirs and food. Reminded me of the one in Tallinn. Only much smaller.

There is a very long promenade by Rio de la Plata in Montevideo. And I mean, really long. I walked for one and a half hours and landed up in an Indian restaurant!