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Published: February 18th 2023
“Easy Montevideo” Shore Excursion – Montevideo, Uruguay
Saturday Imparted a Later-Than-Usual Start for the CityWe arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay bright and early on Saturday, February 11, 2023 for a 10-hour port of call, the second day of our two-day visit to Uruguay. Montevideo, as well as our next port of call, Buenos Aires, Argentina, sits on the banks of Río de la Plata or "river of silver." Where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean, it forms a funnel-shaped indentation on the coastline. Depending on the geographer, the Río de la Plata may be considered a river, an estuary, a gulf or a marginal sea. If considered a river, it is the widest in the world with a maximum width of 140 miles. “Montevideo” is a word I just like to say. The same holds true for “Uruguay.” I even fleetingly considered Uruguay as a retirement locale. Uruguay is probably one of the easiest countries in the world to immigrate to and obtain residency. You need a clean criminal record and must be able to prove a monthly income of around 1500 USD per person. It has the most historically stable government in South America and boasts a climate that is much to my liking. As a foreign retirement destination, I thought I would have
“Easy Montevideo” Shore Excursion – Montevideo, Uruguay
A Very Nice Little Community Park Lent Itself to Numerous Vendors a head start in Uruguay with my intermittently used Spanish language background although, admittedly, a lot of cob webs would need to be removed.
During this cruise one of my main objectives has been to get a feel for a particular city so I can decide if I’d like to return for a longer visit in the future. In that vein, I signed up for the “Easy Montevideo” shore excursion. Where “easy” sightseeing opportunities are available, I tend to gravitate to those tours, especially when the mid-summer temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 80s. From the Holland America web site, “Your tour of Montevideo begins in the Old Town, where you will start the tour by passing the Graf Spee Monument located in the port. The Graf Spee was a German battleship that sank in the Rio de la Plata during World War II. See the Legislative Palace -- a beautiful, ornate marble structure, which has a place among the three most beautiful Parliament buildings in the world -- and visit the Mercado Agricola, a renovated old market hall that nowadays functions as a farmers’ market. You’ll gain an insight in the culinary customs of Uruguay as
“Easy Montevideo” Shore Excursion – Montevideo, Uruguay
One of the Tour Members Asked Unsuccessfully When the Water in the Fountain Would Be Turned on Again – Language Was an Obstacle on This Tour you mingle with the locals here. Keep an eye out for the Battle y Ordoñez Park with its famous soccer stadium and the Carrasco residential area. On your way back to the port, you will pass the city's many beautiful beaches and visit Independence Plaza, ringed by Government House and the historic Solis where the mighty and iconic Carlos Gardel used to tango.”
First, I didn’t expect there to be much in the way of tourist shopping at the farmers’ market noted in the tour description and was somewhat disheartened when I saw no promising shopping opportunities near the bus embarkation point. If none arose, I would have only the afternoon to get my hands on the elusive “Uruguay refrigerator magnet!” The tour began with a short drive through the city where important buildings and landmarks were noted, and we disembarked for a short walking tour of an older neighborhood where I spotted a couple of promising stores that were not yet open. The tour guide pointed out several interesting buildings before we reached a park-like square where vendors had set up tables with a significant number of Uruguayan mementos. I strayed from the group long enough to complete
“Easy Montevideo” Shore Excursion – Montevideo, Uruguay
Solís Theatre, or Opera House, Opened in 1856 and Is Uruguay's Most Important Theatre my shopping. “Montevideo” magnets were common, with “Uruguay” magnets less so, but I spotted one I liked. The smallest bill I had in my pocket was a five, but the vendor was ready and waiting for an American tourist. He gave me two U.S. dollars in change without hesitation!
We continued with the walking tour for a few more minutes and saw the opera house before reboarding the bus to go to the mercado, or market. I was glad I already had found my magnet as the farmers’ market was just that – a place for the locals to buy their everyday needs, most notably meats, fruits and vegetables. Back on the bus, we continued our tour of Montevideo, a clean and welcoming city from all appearances that is modernizing rapidly. Many traditional neighborhoods are quickly disappearing to make way for high-rise condos and offices, particularly along the riverfront. As our tour concluded, I pleasantly realized that my notions about Uruguay in general and Montevideo specifically were not ill-founded and a return trip would be welcomed. Montevideo is a nice cruise ship stop; however, it is not a glitzy tourist mecca. It seems to be a very blue-collar place
“Easy Montevideo” Shore Excursion – Montevideo, Uruguay
Modern Multi-Family Housing Units Have Replaced the Single-Family Homes Along the Riverfront to safely enjoy some peace and quiet.
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