As we explored Montevideo (and Punta del Este) for two weeks, I jotted down notes and observations so that next time we can review them and not have to re-learn everything. If you’re heading to Uruguay, you might find these helpful. Buses: unless you’re staying in one area (Ciudad Vieja, Positos, etc.) the entire time, you’re going to want to take a...
Tiles, Tiles, Everywhere Tip #1: The weather changes quickly. Pack hats, a light jacket and scarves for those sudden showers or surprise gusts. Charm Alert: Watch out for the shifting tiles in the sidewalks, and don’t miss the occasional mosaic glimmer tiles. Everywhere you go in the city, whether you’re in a gritty barrio or an upscale suburb, the tiles...
Our final day in Uruguay. We didn’t fly out until 10:15pm, so had a full day, including trying a new (to us) café (the oldest café in Montevideo), and a new hotel. But wait until you hear about the in-flight meal from Montevideo to Miami. It’s a doozy. Back to La Sin Rival Apple torte at La Sin Rival We enjoyed La Sin Rival last night so much, we decided...
Our next-to-last day in Uruguay was spent mostly saying goodbye. A walk along La Rambla, one last morning pastry and espresso at Pausat (where we said goodbye to Antonella, our favorite barista), enjoying a panoramic view of Montevideo from the top of City Hall, and discovering a former pasta factory turned restaurant. Goodbye, Pausat Our favorite spot for morning...
Daniel is leaving for a few days to visit his cousin, so we won’t see him again until we’re all back in Sacramento. So, we had a farewell lunch at La Corte. They do a Prix Fixe menu that includes an entree, drink, and dessert. It’s a very nice restaurant, but the inside was booked so we sat outside (which worked out well because it was a lovely...
Punta del Este is a resort town about 2 hours from Montevideo. It’s been called a lot of things: “The Hamptons of South America”, “The Monaco of the South”, “The Miami Beach of South America”, “The Pearl of the Atlantic”, and “The St. Tropez of South America”. During peak summer season, you’ll...
Palacio Legislativo Light day today. We started by walking to the Legislative Palace (Palacio Legislativo). The next tour wasn’t until 45 minutes after we got there, so we decided to skip it. The outside of the building is impressive, though, and we saw some good street art on the way, so it wasn’t a wasted trip. I don’t recommend walking there...
The highlight of the day was the flamenco show at Teatro Solís, but first we went to Montevideo Shopping Center, which is a huge shopping mall in Pocitos. We, of course, started the day at Pausat (now that they were open again in the mornings), then took the bus to Montevideo Shopping Center in Pocitos. It’s a big, modern, 3-story shopping mall. I bought a nice...
Daniel and I went to the beach this morning at Playa Ramírez, which is in Barrio Parque Rodó. Teresa stayed back to relax at the hotel, not wanting to brave the wind. It turned out to be breezy, but not too bad. I got sand-blasted a couple times when it briefly picked up, but there are some places that will charge you for that privilege, and I got it for free! The...
Today we explored Parque Rodó, both the namesake park, and the barrio (neighborhood). We also scoped out the beach where we plan to return tomorrow. It’s now been one week since we arrived. Breakfast deal at La Pasiva Pausat, our favorite coffee house, doesn’t open until 4:00pm on Saturdays, so we went to La Pasiva instead. They had a good breakfast deal:...