Dan and I don’t have the best luck when it comes to finding places in the evening. In Seoul last year, we located about four different dance socials all around town which were all closed before we found one open. Clearly not learning our lesson, tonight we followed my guide book’s recommended local secrets to find the best jazz club, Plaza Mateo and another place closed. While our expectations were largely dashed, Montevideo delivered in the things we didn’t expect, like a fountain loaded with locks. Not just lots of locks. Thousands, bulging like some rusty horror movie monster made of romantic optimism.
But let’s rewind. Here’s some views from the top of Colonia’s lighthouse, which I made a mad dash for before our bus to Montevideo:
Soon after arriving in Montevideo, we acquired rental bikes (the ones that brake when you back peddle!) and took to the city’s sprawling seaside esplanade, called the Rambla. The water is still Brisbane-brown, but it’s more active than further upstream, crashing against the sea wall and then folding back on itself. It reminds me of St Kilda in Melbourne, and the palm trees of Los Angeles. Yet the city can’t be described as a mix of the two because it’s so extremely Latin American – from the mate-sipping people inhabiting the seaside and the green spaces to the parrillas y las empanadas. And this city is also full of incredible street art.
We joined half a walking tour, then continued exploring the Rambla and the old town, including the exquisite Plaza Independencia with the majestic and unusual Palacio Salvo.
There’s so much more I want to share but I’m sure I’m exceeding my (soft) word limit. Highlights include an 11/10 falafel burger for dinner and all the incredible colonial architecture. Time to rest our weary legs.
VRPS
[Montevideo]
The Two Swords 