A very dud day for pictures, but a fun day overall.
It had been our plan to visit the city of Montevideo, but the weather forecast said that tomorrow there would be lots of rain. Since for tomorrow we had planned to drive to the resort city of Punta del Este (the St. Tropez of Uruguay) for a day at the beach, we decided to invert our plans and head to Punta del Este today. But first we had to secure our PCR COVID test. As luck would have it, a couple of guests in the hotel had hired the services of a clinic to do just that, and while we were having breakfast, Diane spotted a lady that looked like a lab worker because of the uniform, the gown, and the gloves and the box she was carrying. I asked her if indeed she was, and she said yes, and said she would be glad to do the test for us, with results promised overnight. One less headache, and another $230 to add to the COVID test bill.
The drive to Punta took about 2 ½ hours each way. We were amazed at how clean the countryside is in Uruguay; basically, there is no trash. The quality of life is also obviously higher than in most Latin American countries. We did see a handful of shacks, but mostly all we saw were nice homes (some, exceptionally beautiful), and lots of open spaces. Nobody in Uruguay hassles you to purchase stuff, even the fruit stands along the road, that normally number in the hundreds in other countries of this continent, do not exist.
Punta del Este is a stunning place. Not picturesque or historical, but a happening spot with a great vibe. Beautiful condos, hotels and casinos, all perfectly landscaped make up the bulk of the town. Also great shops and restaurants of all kinds are everywhere. The town lies on a small peninsula, making this an ideal beach town.
We arrived in time for lunch, and picked a Basque restaurant that looked intriguing. Diane had a Paella-like dish, while I had a grilled fish. By far this was the best meal of the trip so far.
Lo and behold, no sooner had we finished lunch and preparing for the beach, the sky opened up and an amazing downpour ensued that lasted for hours. The town flooded and our beach day was not to be. When the rain stopped we took a long walk window-shopping and people-watching. We also had an amazing gelato. But the beach will have to wait. We had another 2 ½ hour drive to look forward to.
There are hardly any more pictures worth posting, but it was not a wasted day. Learning the ways of a new country and seeing new places is always fun, and we have many more days and places to look forward to. ‘Night y’all.
Comments