Montevideo Uruguay Day Two March 8, 2014

First Happy International Women’s Day!  Second wow what a great way to wake up and open the drapes and look out and see the beautiful Montevideo.

the market located just outside the port

Mate Cup 

We are not in any big rush this morning and Bernie heads upstairs for some oatmeal (still on red alert so staff are still serving everything).  I shower and head up there and run into Bernie who is chatting with Jimmy. 

Today we are just going to go at our own speed and walk around and see some of the sights and have a nice meal, and that is exactly what we did.

Getting around Montevideo is easy and easy to walk to the city squares and sights.  The tourist bureau had tourist maps that they handed out on the pier and it has a detailed walking tour you can take.  Make note though that the streets are uneven and the sidewalks are even worse.  Watch out for dog souvenirs and broken steps, sidewalks, and crumbling bricks.  If you are uneasy on your feet you can get around but be doubly careful.

There is a tourist bus you can buy tickets for just across the street from the pier too, sorry didn’t get the cost but it is a double decker bus that is open above.

Bernie and grab a few items and we head ashore and start walking towards the Constitution Square and we find the same vendor from two years ago and buy some scarves for souvenirs for us and family. 

Our standard coffee at a local coffee shop is in order and we find a quiet spot that faces the theater and we enjoy our cappuchinos and juice.  Prices in the restaurants are similar to what we would find at home in Vancouver and we were able to use up our Brazilian Reals here too.  Oh the exchange rate for the Montevideo Peso is 22 to $1 US dollar currently.

We cross the street and check out the Theater and we see there are tours but the one we see is in another language.  We later find out they do offer tours in English and they were free (mind you that may be because it is Saturday, so not sure if it is free every day).

We wander around some more checking out the Independence Square and we spot the changing of the guards and lots of tourist wandering around as well.  We feel very safe and comfortable as well.

Bernie had spotted a barber shop along the pedestrian mall and so I grabbed a seat on a bench and people watched as Bernie got his hair cut.  Anthony from Vines noticed me there and we sat and chatted and got to know each other better.  What a lovely guy, and ladies – he is single!

Anthony decides to walk with us back to the ship and we show him the stall with the scarves and he buys some too for his family at home, gee we should be getting a commission I think.  As we get closer to the port Anthony meets up with friends and we say goodbye.

I wanted to buy this grapefruit soda beverage that I had tried yesterday while at the ranch, so we stop in  a small grocery store very close to the pier (just up from the market) and we get a few bottles and can’t wait to try it with Vodka on the balcony.

I will add here that even though we haven’t brought on more wine others have and it seems to be hit or miss with whether there is someone there at the gangway to check and pay corkage to.  Friends did check their wine and paid corkage on their bottles and had stickers placed on the bottles.  We still have lots of wine in the cabin and quite a few bottles left on the wine card too.

Today I really want to get a meal at the big market building, that use to be the old port building and is now filled with restaurants and little shops.  This building is located just across the street from the port and you can’t miss the great wood burning smells coming from it.

We pull up a seat at the bar of one of the many restaurants.  There are lots of places that have tables too but we want to be up close and see the action.  It is hard sitting on the stools and it is warm, and we end up smelling of smoke but the experience is priceless.

We can see everything being made and it all looks so good but we decide to order a large beer for Bernie, and red wine for me.  Oh my the entire bottle of wine is delivered to me and I wonder how am I going to drink all that!  The price is reasonable though and it works out to be around $15 for the bottle. 

For our entrée we order some sausage, cheese, peppers and fries and we will share. 

As we wait we see Beatriz from the International Coffee Bar at the other side and we insist she joins us.  We get another glass and we toast to another great day.  She orders some pork and we share all the food amongst each of us.  I have no problem finishing the bottle of wine with Beatriz’s help so we get another bottle.  At one point Carlos comes by and we pour him a glass too.

What a fun meal and I am a little drunk but boy was that an experience and I highly recommend it to everyone who visits Montevideo.

Walking back to the ship we stop at a small vendor that is selling jewelry and we buy three pairs of earring for a great price – I believe it was $20 for the three pairs (but don’t quote me as well I had a lot to drink).

Arrival back to the ship is around 3:45 and we grab a coffee and head back to the cabin and coordinate a gathering with our friends for sailaway.  But thankfully we have a short time to get in a quick nap of about 30 minutes.

Jan and Michael along with Barb and Craig join us on the balcony for sail away.  A lot of people are out on their decks and it is a party atmosphere.  Once again we go thru a few bottles and munch on some cheese and dried fruit from the International Café.

For dinner tonight we are heading to the Horizon Court, the theme is South American Buffet but it really was not a good representation but the food was still quite good.  We haven’t dined in the dining room for three nights now and I am a little worried how our first dinner there will be after such a bad time the last few visits.  We have a new table assignment so tomorrow we will check it out.

After dinner we go to Explorer’s to try our luck at the Yes/No game show hosted by Dan.  I managed to last the three minutes (prize was a bottle of champagne, but I didn’t want it) and there were quite a few other people who trumped Dan too. 

We are tired and we are back in the cabin around 11:15 pm and so ready for two sea days.

Montevideo March 7, 2014

Debra and I at the Independence Square

Like I mentioned yesterday our arrival was changed to 10 am instead of 8.  Our original meeting time for our tour was set for 8:45 at Vines.  Today I am the tour coordinator and last night before going to bed I called all the cabins on the list that I had cabins listed for and left messages that we would meet at 9:45 instead and wait for the gangways to open.  

The clocks were moved forward an hour too last night so that is throwing a few people off too.

In the morning the Captain comes on and says that due to heavy traffic we are delayed getting into the port and our arrival time has been changed again to 11:30.   ARGH why does this happen when I am the one coordinating the tour. 

I shower and head down to Vines for around 10 am and sit there and as people come up I just say what I know, which is very little but that we will meet here for 11:15 and go off as a group.  As the time gets closer the group are all there and they are all very understanding and patient. 

We decide to make our way to the forward gangway as a group and we line up so that we can all get off.  This worked out great and we managed to be some of the first to get off. 

The pier is not that far away from the port building and after we passed all the buses we found Diego very easily.  He leads us to the waiting bus and we all get on and we are soon on our way.

Our first stop is Plaza Independence where we get off and Diego tells us a bit about the history of Uruguay and points out the Former National Government Office, the Solis Theater and we then cross the street to the Gate of the Original Citadel of Montevideo. 

beautiful beaches

We then walk into the old town and into the Constitution Square and Diego points out the sights and explains Mate to us.  Gayle bought a Matte cup and straw and tea for $11 US, (here is a picture, I cropped out Gayle because her eyes were closed in the pic and she would of killed me if I posted it)  a great souvenir I might add.  The beautiful Metropolitan Cathedral.

Back on the bus we head drive along the water and the city to see some beautiful beaches and we stop at the monument for the Holocaust.  The broken walls represents the injustices of what has happened to the Jewish people, very moving tribute I thought.

We make our way to the Football Stadium (or Soccer) Diego informs us that there are truly only three sports that are played in Uruguay, Football, Football and Football.  They love their football and every time there is a game the stadium is packed.  It is like a religion to the people. 

We are now making out way to a local ranch that is situated in Montevideo.  This farm use to raise chickens but has now been converted into more of a social house that is used for public functions.  Diego knows the owners and has celebrated here a few times, including his 40^th birthday party.  The ranch is called Garnja San Franciso and has been in Sergio Delpino’s family for many generations and he seems very proud of it.

The grounds are stunningly beautiful and as soon as we arrive we are offered a cold beverage and a snack of a fried fritter that has some kind of lettuce in it, and is very good.  Then they bring around some hot empanadas to eat. 

We are led around the grounds and we meet up with a goat and a calf and some horses and a few chickens wandering around.  We also are given a tour of a restored building that is filled with antiques from his family.  Beautiful.

barbecue

The group is taken to the barbecue where they show us how the food is cooked and how it is served.  They have these pans that they fill with hot charcoal and then they put a dish on top that serves the food.  A natural warming tray.

On this tray is sausage, potatoes, onions and peppers and then another dish of melted cheese and some homemade bread.  And this is just the appetizer!

our appetizer

We are lead inside where we sit and the food starts coming out.  A large plate of salads and some bread.  Then the skewers of meat come out, chicken, beef, and pork and it is all so darn good!  Red wine and soda is served too.  The food keeps coming and I can’t eat another thing, the wine glass keeps getting filled.  Oh they had beer too which Bernie really enjoyed.  They served a lovely dessert of ice cream, peaches and brownie.

Myriam the Director kept taking pictures of us and said that they would be in the local paper the La Prensa de la Zona Oeste, and gave us a copy of the paper so we can take down the wesite and check later. 

If you want to check out the Ranch’s website it is at www.granjasanfrancisco.com.uy

Diego

To contact Diego Kraidelman, who coordinated our tour you can learn more by visiting his website at www.discoveruruguay.com he also has tours to other places too www.discoveriguazufalls.com; www.buenosaires-tours.com; and www.riotoiguazu.com .  The tour was great, the ship offers a similar tour but it includes entertainment for a lot more.  Make sure you mention you found him by visiting my blog.

We are dropped off at the pier and Bernie and I decide to just head back on board.  We are staying overnight and we will head off and explore some more tomorrow.  Since we are so full from the great lunch we skip any food and head down to the coffee bar for a coffee.  We catch up with the staff down there and they are excited to be heading off tonight for some time off.  We laugh and say that tomorrow they should just have a self serve coffee bar so the staff can sleep in.  I hope they have fun.

Montevideo, Uruguay –February 21

Montevideo

It is early and we are coming into the harbor, we are docking at an industrial port and pull along side the pier at around 7:00.  The buses are all lined up beside the ship waiting for those passengers to get on.

We ordered room service this morning and Bernie is feeling much better after a good night’s sleep.  I on the other hand know I have a bladder infection, I am prone to them and silly me I do have a supply of antibiotics at home just in case but didn’t bring them on this voyage for some silly reason.  It has been four days that it has been bothering me but this morning it is much worst and I know I have no choice but to head to the medical office – this will be my first visit to the medical clinic in 28 cruises so I am curious to see it in action (although I have seen it when I have done the Ultimate Ship’s Tour).

It opens at 8 am and I arrive and I am greeted by a nurse who tells me it is $60 for a doctors’ consult – no problem right now I would pay anything to get rid of this.  There are a few other people waiting, a woman with a nasty cough, another lady with a tic bite (she has no idea when or where she got bitten) and a husband who is waiting for his wife she is not feeling well either.  I wait maybe five minutes and the doctor confirms the bladder infection and gives me my prescriptions and the nurses fill them out and I am on my way with two prescriptions and a huge relief.  In total the bill came to $182 but our insurance will cover it all.  And I am happy to report I am very very impressed with the medical service I received on board the Star.

market that has tons of food stalls, and some shops right across from the pier

Once I am back Bernie and I make our way ashore, it is 10 am and we don’t have any formal plans in Motevideo, the skies are a little overcast but nice and it is rather windy.  We head out and follow the path to the street and cross the street to the market that was suppose to be a train station but was never used for that, now it houses mainly barbecue restaurants and since it is early the cooks are busy getting their grills fired up with food and getting the coals just right to start cooking all that meat.  We will stop by later.

We walk down the streets checking out the little shops along the way, lots of places are closed since it is Carnival.  We walk all the way to Rambla Gran Bretana and the water at Rio de la Plata and the wind has created strong waves that are hitting the walkway.  We head back in land for shelter.  We walk thru the lovely Zabola Square and are amazed at all the parrots!

parrots everywhere in this square, so neat

We head down Avida 18 de Julio towards the Plaza Independencia and visit the beautiful Metropolitan cathedral.  The square is beautiful, lots of little café and people selling stuff, the wind has picked up I think it might rain, but we keep walking.  Bernie buys a beautiful local scarf from one of the street vendors for his niece and just then the skies open up and we take shelter in Torres Garcia Art Gallery.  The rain stops and we are back out exploring and walk thru the Gate of the original Citadel of Montevideo.  For some reason they built the new gate attached to the back of the old gate which really takes away from the structure of the old gate.  When we walk thru the gate we arrive in Constitution Square which is a large square surrounded by beautiful buildings with one being the former National Government Office but is now a museum. 

beautiful architechture

Bernie bought two scarfs

the old gate you see in front and the new gate is the ugly wall right behind it

We are now walking down the 18^th of July street and this is the main shopping area, lots of different stores but lots of familiar ones too – Urban Outfitters, Levis etc.  We take refuge in a café and order an espresso and a sandwich.  The sandwich is large and it includes a large roll with ham, steak, cheese, tomato, olives, lettuce and leek, it is served with French fries but these are homemade French fries – oh my god they are soooo good!  The bill comes to about $17 total – the exchange rate currently in Uruguay is around 19 Uruguay Pesos to $1 US.  We paid with our credit card.

We decide to start walking back towards the ship since we have been walking away from it for such a long time. We stop at a small convenience store to pick up some sprite and local soda to try, this time we pay in US dollar cause Bernie wants some pesos back for his collection.

When we get back to the port the market restaurants are busy, not many seats to be had and people are crowding around trying to get seats or take pictures. The cooks are busy turning meat on the open fires while patrons are sipping wine and chowing down on huge plates of food. We are not hungry but looking at the servings one serving could easily serve three people!

Bernie had bought two postcards and was wanting to mail them.  There is a place right at the dock that sells postcards and stamps…. It was pricy to mail from there I am sure it was a rip off but I am not going to fret over $3 for two international stamps and lets cross our fingers they get the cards.

We are back on board the ship just before 3 pm, I feel we could of seen more but we are both tired and feel we could easily come back here again.  We enjoyed exploring on our own and it was quite easy to do, it appeared easy to hire a tour guide too but every place we went by foot there seem to be guides showing people the same place.  Note it is easy to pick up a walking tour map right at the tourist stand right at the gate that you exit to leave the pier.

We haven’t been up to the Platinum Elite lounge on this voyage yet and today it is the mojito as the drink special (note the price for some reason is now $5 per drink, up a dollar since December).  It is held in skywalkers and the place is full but we find a spot on one of the couches and we meet old and new friends and watch the very interesting sail away from Montevideo.

Tonight we are having dinner with Sue and Tony from Toronto from the roll call, lovely couple and a great meal.  I had the eggplant in puff pastry as my appetizer a nice salad then the turkey scaloppini for my main entrée with the crème Brule for dessert.

Back to the room to change and up to the deck party to dance a few calories away.  It is cool and windy and  a bit of light rain, certainly the coolest deck party we have been too but still quite a bit of fun.

Tomorrow is Buenos Aries and we have a very early start.