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!

As is my wont, I had found an Indian restaurant in the city I was visiting and headed there. Instead of taking an Uber from Mercado de Puerto, I decided to walk it up through Ciudad Vieja and along the long promenade on the Rio de La Plata. As a result, by the time I reached the restaurant – about an hour and fifteen minutes later – I had worked up quite an appetite.

There was nobody inside. I was afraid they might be closed. Everything in the market seemed to be mostly closed. Apparently, I had landed on Children’s Day in Uruguay. A very friendly lady came up and said something to me in Spanish.

In Uruguay, English is barely spoken. All menus, signs, and instructions are in Spanish.

“No habla español. ¿Hablas Englsh?” I tried my best.
“Sure. Please come in.”

That was a big relief. I finally found somebody who could speak English. As I mentioned, there was nobody else in the restaurant. That gave me an opportunity to get to know Annie and learn about her life story.

“Were you born and brought up in Montevideo?”
“No. I am from Venezuela. And you?”
“I am from Atlanta. In the US”

That could have become awkward given the current geopolitical tensions between the USA and Venezuela. But it turned out I didn’t have to worry about anything.

“Where in Venezuela? I have not been to Venezuela, but I have been to your neighboring country, Guyana.”
“Not too far from there, actually – Bolivar.”
“So, how did you end up in Montevideo?”
“Well, I got my degree as a doctor in Venezuela…”

“Wait a minute,” I interrupted her. A doctor waiting tables did not fit my picture of the world.
“… you are a medical doctor?”

“Yes. And so is my husband.”
“So, why are you working here?”

Fascinating story. The economic situation was so bad in Venezuela that they got out of there two years ago. Came to Uruguay since it is easier to get a residency. However, there are many doctors in Uruguay. Plus, the country is very small. Only about 3.5 million people. 1.5 million in Montevideo, and the rest are strewn all over the vast country.

“So, your degree is valid here?”
“Yes”
“But you get no patients?”
“Yes. There are so many doctors already.”
“Wow! Same thing with your husband?”
“Yes”

“So, how did you meet your husband?”
Annie got animated at this question. “I have a very interesting story. Do you want to hear it?”

“Of course!” I said, looking around and finding no food at the table nor any guests for her to attend to.

It was an incredible story of coincidence. She and her husband, Johny, worked at the same hospital but did not know each other. It was a case of a particular patient that both of them had to tend to separately. Ultimately, it was the patient who brought them together. Unfortunately, the patient eventually died of the ailment. But their relationship held ground!

A bell rang. My food was ready.

At the same time, a couple walked in. Seemed local, based on how they ordered without even looking at the menu.

Everything said and done, Facebook contacts exchanged, I finally took leave.

“Next time, bring your family.”
“Sure. I would like to meet Johny too.”

And that was how yet another stranger became a friend. Hopefully, the birthday calls will keep the contacts going, and one fine day, you never know… maybe we will all meet each other again! Life can work in very strange ways.

Strangely, I was the only one around in the Fort. One guard came out to collect the entry fee and then it was just the fort and me!

I can remember seeing a lot of cannons, but I’m not sure I have ever seen cannonballs.

The reason for coming to the fort was to get a panoramic view of the city and the river. The clouds intervened with clear view. It was still an impressive view…

Right next to those centuries old cannons was a slightly beat up Fiat!!

Needed to pick up some Yerba Mate and those fancy cups with metal “straws”. The market is filled with grills like this and the meat was literally flying off the ovens!!

Desperately needed to go the restrooms after lunch. The “banos” were upstairs. I glanced at the sign – and almost walked in, when instinctively looked the other way and realized something was amiss. Thinking “M” was for men and not “mujeres”, I almost created a scene. It does not help that the men and women sign for the bathroom has the man’s picture on the “M” side of the bathroom!

Wrapping up my trip to Uruguay. Waiting for my flight back to Atlanta via Panama. Absolutely loved the trip here. Here are some observations and tips:

1. It is a big country with very few people. Population is about half that of greater Atlanta. Of which, nearly half live in the capital city of Montevideo. But the people are very helpful and kind.

2. However, not too many people know English. Even in the large resorts, it was difficult to find somebody with passable English. Menus, instructions, directions – all are in Spanish. But people try to understand you and there is always Google translate.

3. This is a very safe country and traffic is incredibly disciplined. They will let the odd tourist cross the road nowhere near the pedestrian crossing without making much of a fuss. I took a bike and the cars would give me a wide latitude in the lanes. I would put this in the category of Costa Rica in terms of safety for tourists.

4. Uber is ubiquitous. My wait time was so little every time, it reminded me of Malta. Extremely efficient.

5. If you are a vegetarian, you might have a challenge. Like I experienced in Argentina and Brazil, this is totally a carnivorous country! There are grills everywhere. Getting vegetarian food is difficult. Even the Indian restaurant I went to had only one vegetable curry option!!

6. This I have never seen anywhere … it is very difficult to get salt shakers or ketchups at meals. Apparently, Uruguay has been going thru a concerted effort to reduce salt consumption for the population. Apparently, hypertension and obesity is something the government is trying to tackle to the ground!!

I hope you will visit Uruguay and absolutely make sure you keep Punta del Este in your schedule..

If you follow along the mouth of the river in the middle of the screen, then you might be able to vaguely spot a tall building right at the edge of that peninsula.

That is the JW Marriott in Marco Island. One of the most beautiful spots we have ever been to in the USA.

We flew over the island that Sharmila and I will be staying in – in less than 2 weeks! The last time we were in this island was in 1993 – a couple of months after we landed in the USA!!

At times, I had seen people drinking from a coffee cup but with a straw! The straw was made of metal and shaped more like a pipe. It looked more like a pipe-meet-coffee cup!

Found out in Uruguay – where lot of people were doing it – that is used to drink Yerba Mete – sort of like herbal tea except, caffeinated!

Got a few varieties of the Mate and two of those cups. Now, I need some excuse to drink it!!

Unfortunately, Uruguay does not produce any coffee beans. So, druring switching planes in Panama, picked up a pack of Colombian Coffee and one pack of Panamian Coffee. Close enough, I say!

2 locally produced fountain pens!

(Why am I not surprised?)