Montevideo, Uruguay

Just finished up an entire weekend in Uruguay's capital city. It's not the most exciting country. It's been a good weekend, but nearly two days here is far too long. Montevideo is huge...well over a million people, but it doesn't have the wealth or feel of a city of comparable size, in say, the US. It also houses over half of the country's population, so Montevideo is very important to Uruguay.

The few happening things in Uruguay:
- the "meat market" down by the piers...there are many parrillas (open grill restaurants) set up inside the market. The food is all meat (steaks, chicken, chicken hearts! and sausages) and all delicious. I've been down there twice.

- there was a huge political gathering in the main square. There were over 1000 people there with several hundred large country flags waving and many, many samba drums playing. Uruguayans are quite a passionate people. It's even more amazing watching people get excited over a political party/candidate. I can think of one I would have gotten this excited about.

Montevideo in pitures - I took a three hour bus tour this morning that was helpful pulling these together...

Uruguay countryside...land of the gaucho (South American cowboy)



Uruguayans favorite drink, mate, made from a local crush holly leave plant and drank like coffee through a metal straw that has a filter...EVERYBODY has them





Any takers on this one?



My favorite building in Montevideo...right in their Independence Plaza