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Published: November 3rd 2009
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We arrived in Montevideo about 12 days ago via a boat trough the Delta from Tigre in Argentina to Carmelo in Uruguay. On the journey we noticed Tigre actually had a theme park (we hadn't done much as it had been raining) and saw lots of little houses dotted through the bush including little old rotting boat-houses with people putting out their washing and drinking mate. oh the simple life!
We found our host family pretty soon after arriving as it had a giant Couch Surfer logo on the wall outside it and were greeted by our host Ramón who had prepared a lovely cheesy fish bake with rice and black beans. I was so relieved to not have to eat red meat for once! He told us a little about Uruguay and his family and how the elections were on in Uruguay this weekend - and that all the flags we had seen when we got off the boat we NOT in fact the national flag but the flag of the left political party. The political party did not stop at flags though they also had an abundance of songs, graffiti and supported who enthusiastically stuck flags in their
car or on their house wherever they could! We were told this election and democracy in general was important for the people as Uruguay was a virtual dictatorship 15 years ago.
Ramón then took us out to the house where we were staying out in the country - a little private beach house! it had a nice, was right on the beach, a little isolated but all ours! What's more is Ramón would pick us up each day for home cooked lunch with the family which also included his wife, 16 year old daughter and 17 year old host daughter from Estonia. We also took a salsa lesson with the wife who put us to shame with her natural ability to dance and listened to the 16 year old tell us about Uruguayan musica.
After 4 days in Carmelo, we bused into Montevideo the capital of the country with about 1 million people. Our new host Santiago met us and showed us a little around the city in his car - including the Rambla - the seaside walkway where apparently EVERYTHING happens. Then we when to his band practice - the Blueberries - british style rock from the
Colonia del Sacremento
the old wall that divided the Portuguese half and the Spanish and the lighthouse 1960s. Was pretty funny to see a Uruguyan rock band singing in English with a heavy Brtish accent. We stayed at his place for one week while we attended classes every day 9.30-1.30 - classes in Spanish that is. The classes are pretty intense but also good to get in habit of speaking Spanish all the time and meeting fellow classmates.
Through Couch Surfers and Santiago we came to know that his cousin had a spare room to rent in a nice part of town. We had a look at the place - an apartment in Pocitos - much closer to town than the last place and it was pretty nice - with one other couple and only $300 US a month so we took it!
It also has a rabbit and a dog which is half husky ang half fox terrier which is pretty funny - especially when they chase each other round the house! So yeah planing to live here for 3 more weeks while studying and have already met some of the other oouch surfers at a dinner last week and drinks. We then had a Uruguyan couple cook us dinner last night while we
left party supporter
guy in Montevideo with the flag of the left poltical party on hs back, typically riding a motorbike made the dessert. People seem really frendly - almost like a Spanish Wellington I think. Well we are both on the coast, have a large neighbor country, have about 4 million people, export agricultural stuff and are easy - going people....
I also enjoy the Spanish classes and getting to know the other students and exploring the city together with excursions to vineyards, Candombe gigs (drumming) and lunches at the port. One thing that surprises me is that the poor people here all want to work, unlike in Buenos Aires. Many of them pull horse-drawn carriages full of rubbish across town and go round hopping into bins, sorting stuff and taking stuff away. It's they only way they can earn a living. Others watch your cars when you park and make sure nothing happens to them - you are then supposed to tip them about U.S 50 cent when you return. The first time I saw a guy doing this it was quite strange and we thought he was pretty dodge standing in the street all night but then just the other day after a few cocktails when I asked one for directions - he pointed me in the right direction and then asked for a little money for food. I tipped him about 50 cents US for being helpful as I was running in the wrong direction before, but yeah it's just nice they ask for money instead of stealing!
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