Uruguay (Population 3.5 million)

At 10.25 on the Sauturday we are at Punta del Este on the southern coast, playground for International Jetsetters, but it does look lovely. We are International Bussetters. God alone knows what time we will arrive in Montevideo. The countryside is very neat and tidy and farmed. Not at all like Brasil. You could be in Europe. The bus eventually arrived at 12.30 by which time we had been travelling for 26 hours.

Soldiering manfully on, we booked ferry tickets on the Buquebus Ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires for Monday 14th March. This is only a three hour crossing but the price of USD85 is bloody expensive. Not sure if Buquebus have a monopoly from Montevideo. Temperature 32 hot. We took the taxi to Che Lagarto ( remember him from Brasil, but this time we had our US Dollars! Ha, Ha!) located 5 buildings from the 5 star Hotel Raddison on Placa Independencia. That´s the only similarity. Our hostel was huge, unclean and the receptionist spoke no English or Spanish ( English mandatory for Hostel World). Had a wander round until the heavens opened again. What is it about us and rain. I don´t think it has stopped since we entered Brasil. We took a little siesta then wandered down to a little Italian Restaurant in the Cuidad Vieja area. The book says do not go further down to the Port at night, always take a taxi! Been there, done that!

On Sunday 13th we had the worst breakfast in all of our travels. This hostel is chronically under invested,  understaffed and over populated. 1 fridge for 30+ guests. Ensuite for USD38 is cheap though! In the evening a gin and tonic was requested. No ice! Give me strength! We walked down through Cuidad Vieja to the port and the Buquebus Terminal. A cruise ship ( full of our cousins from across the pond (USA) as we were to find out when we went to the market for lunch. At least they are not loud and this lot were part of a very Senior Tour. If they have their cameras out in front of them in Buenos Aries they will not last 5 minutes, someone should tell them!). We found out where we were to leave from and looked at Rio de la Plata. Incredibly wide and you cannot see the other side and brown/grey. There is some restoration along the Rambla and the container port is very busy with Maersk and Hamburg Sud containers(what else). Temperature down at 22. Lunch taken in the market. British Built from 1800´s . Parillas,sea food and fish. Not cheap but a good setting. Similar to the fish market in Santiago but no fish market A must if you come to Montevideo ( there is not much else to grab your attention here).I had lomo and Ianne had rack of lamb. Both very good.

We bought some more presents but are still missing two people. We are now quite tired of the road and the sight seeing is half hearted. The weather, which always makes a difference, is supposed to be better tomorrow. We change rooms to en suite and are now overlooking Plaza Independencia. Double Glazing, no. Noise, yes. Intrepid still, yes! For some reason, and I suspect the two computers at this hostel, we cannot get into our Yahoo email accounts on the computer. Ianne got back in but my security question was "Who let the dogs out" and I have no idea what the answer is. Blocked for another 12 hours.

On Monday 14th we had the same shite breakfast and still cannot remember who let the dogs out. We walked North up the main street and bought some more presents. We tried to find the Chinese Restaurant mentioned in our Bradt guide book - Tio Chef . "If you love real Chinese food enough to ignore the dire decor and the doubts about kitchen cleanliness , this place serves great dim sum and chop suey at a great price" With this 10 star recommendation it was a must do. Bugger! It had closed down. However a man across the road told us that his restaurant was the oldest in Montevideo and there would be a little Tango Show outside a bit later. We walked further, found City Hall, an absolute monstrosity of a place, designed by a blind architect, I think and.bought some more presents. Enjoying a burger at the cafe, the Tango show duly appeared and was jolly good. A further walk back down to the market provided more presents. At the hostel I got a free G&T (large size) to make up for the missing ice yesterday.

On Tuesday 15th a further shite breakfast and we caught the taxi just across the square to go to the Buquebus Ferry Terminal. When we had to remind the driver where we were headed, only about 5 blocks wrong, he said oh yes! They are at it all the time! At the Terminal we were told of a 90 minutes delay and after a considerable anount of card playing the ferry left at 13.30. No outside capability and all seats inside with a half decent if expensive cafeteria. After the 3 hour crossing we arrived at the Buquebus Ferry Terminal in Buenos Aires and ordered a taxi for the maximum 2km drive to the Retiro bus station . ARS$48. Disgustingly high price for what is a max ARS$20 maximum on the meter. Booked tickets for a Cama with Chevallier Bus, departing 16.50  (new but not Marcopolo Satndard) to Cordoba and bought a very nice jamon and cheese baguette to eat on the bus. We were given a plastic tray with cold food and no drinks on the bus but a nice blanket and pillow. On Wednesday 16th March we arrived 30 minutes late in Cordoba at 04.50 and took the taxi to Obispo Trejo and the flat and Hanne where we slept for another 5 hours. When I tried to log into my Yahoo account I went straight in. It was those bloody dodgy Uruguayan computers. I still don´t know who let the dogs out but the answer was not Manolo!

Summary of Uruguay

Unremarkable.