MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY


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South America » Uruguay
February 16th 2016
Published: February 17th 2016
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INTERNET IS USELESS ON BOARD SO THESE ARE GETING LATER AND LATER

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY
27th January
Montevideo is the capital and largest city of Uruguay . The southernmost capital city in the Americas, Montevideo is situated in the southern coast of the country, on the northeastern bank of the Rio De La Plata.

The city was established in 1724 by a Spanish soldier, Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst the Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region. It was also under brief British rule in 1807.

Montevideo has consistently been rated as having the highest quality of life of any city in Latin America: by 2015 has held this rank every year during the last decade. Described as a "vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life", and "a thriving tech centre it is the hub of commerce and higher education in Uruguay as well as its chief port. The city is also the financial and cultural hub of a larger metropolitan area, with a population of around 2 million.
Probably famous for the Battle of the River Plate when the German battleship Graf Spee was scuttled by her Captain during the Second World War.There are artefacts at the Port entrance notably one the Graf Spees anchors and the range finder for its huge guns which have recently been recovered. It was a lovely city to walk, so after leaving the port behind we quickly found the small square with the statue of Bruno Zabala, who established Montevideo. From there you can walk through a pedestrianised area to the Cathedral which looks very austere from the outside but beautiful inside. A lovely sunny day the walk took us from the Plaza Constitucion through the Puerta de la Ciudadela, the gate of the original Citadel of Montevideo. This opens up into Plaza Independencia (Independence Square) with its impressive statues and fountains. The museum just off the square Jose Artigas (the Presidents Uruguayan Museum) shows the historical evolution of the country. The walk back to the ship took us passed the very impressive Uruguayan bank built in the Italian Neoclassical style and then to the Mecardo del Puerto (Sea port market). Our next stop is the Falklands


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