Day #23…Sunday, February 22, 2015

Montevideo, Uruguay

The native Spanish Charrda Indians inhabited the region that is now Uruguay prior to European colonization.  In 1726, the Spanish constructed a citadel at Montevideo, led by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala.

Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay and stands tall as a contemporary metropolis and hub for commerce and higher education.  Half of Uruguay’s population lives in Montevideo (1.35 million persons).  The city boasts modern tree-lined boulevards, lush parks and well-preserved colonial architecture.  The Uruguayan Peso (UYU) if the national currency and the primary language is Spanish.

A free shuttle service to a local leather shop in the city square was our first place to visit.  The Montevideo Leather Factory offered a wide variety of coats, vests and purses for shoppers to buy.  We cancelled a Princess shore excursion earlier in the week and decided to take a hop-on-hop-off bus and then boarded near the city square.

The hop-on-hop-off bus was a disappointment because all the upper deck seats were filled.  We took a street level seat in the lower section that offered us a more restricted view of the city.  The tour narrative was excellent and the route took about two (2) hours to complete.  We chose to continue to ride without getting off and took photos from the bus windows.

We passed a picturesque seaside, which divides the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Rio de La Plata.  This area offers a stunning beach with a wide array of amusements and recreational activities for the traveler to sample.

We viewed the Plaza Independencia or Independence Square, known for its superb building design.  This central square separates the Ciudad Vieja or Old City, from the more modern downtown Montevideo.  The entrance to the trendy commercial Avienda 18 de Julio stands at one end and offers visitors the perfect place to shop or stroll.

Montevideo is known for its eclectic architecture.  The city’s diverse range of art deco and colonial style architecture clearly reflects its multicultural history, drawing on Portuguese, Spanish, British, French and Italian influences.  The Old City, Ciudad Vieja, is home to some of Montevideo’s most stunning colonial architecture and internationally recognized cathedrals, nightclubs, museums and theaters.

Two of Uruguay’s most iconic buildings, the World Trade Center Montevideo and Telecommunication Tower, have steadily improved Montevideo’s standing in the global marketplace. 

Montevideo also boasts two popular forms of music and dance, the tango and the milonga.  The national futbol (soccer) stadium, Estadio Centernario, opened in 1930 for the first World Cup. 

When our bus tour was finished, we returned to the port terminal area.  We headed to the lively Port Market food court, or Mercado del Puerto.  We had lunch in one of the outside cafés, enjoying an authentic meal of fresh local cuts of meat prepared on a large inside grill and kept warm on a Hibachi-like appliance at our table.  A pair of local tango dancers entertained us while we were dining.

We were disappointed that we docked on a Sunday in Montevideo.  Many businesses were closed and so opportunities for more site seeing were limited.  We found only a few private vendors selling souvenirs as most of the locals were enjoying a leisurely day at the beach or the parks.  We were lucky enough to have free Wi-Fi near the terminal area and received and sent messages to the folks back home.

When we returned to the ship, we ate a light supper and then attended a comedy performance by Lee Bayless.

We will be at sea for the next two days and then dock at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.  The temperature is starting to get a little chilly as we head further south.  We will be selecting warmer clothing and dress in layers for the next several ports we visit.