Montevideo Uruguay Travel Pictures

Ferry Rio De La Plata Buenos Aires to Montevideo Uruguay

The morning sun turns the Rio De La Plata into a silver plate. From Buenos Aires, it's 220 km (137 miles) to Montevideo.

The high speed ferry makes the trip in just under three hours. The Rio is flat, it's very wide, and there is not a whole lot to keep you amused during the trip.

This is why I had planned to take the hydrofoil from Buenos Aires to Colonia, then travel three hours by bus into Montevideo to see the countryside.

But somehow.my plans went awry, and I found myself on the ferry instead, in one of several dozen theatre style seats in the glass enclosed bow, idly wondering if I was the only person on board NOT sipping endless cups of yerba mate. (see Argentine gauchos, Recoleta page for yerba mate pictures).

There is a nice cafeteria towards the rear, and a very well stocked duty free shop on a lower level, and both helped pass the time just fine.

Riverfront Promenade in Montevideo

This inviting, wonderful promenade runs around much of Montevideo, rendering it part gardens, part parkland, to showcase the sandy beach on the riverbank.

The immense expanse of the Rio de la Plata makes it impoosible to see southwest to Argentina, and so reinforces the feeling of being at the seashore.

Old Town area of Montevideo ~ Ciudad Vieja

The Old Town is the historic heart of Montevideo. Here in the Plaza Independencia stands the statue of Jose Artigas, the 'Father of Uruguay'.

There are a few ideas about the origin of the name Montevideo.

I favor the one that credits a Portuguese sailor, upon seeing a hill on the coast, saying," Monte vide eu."

View from Balmoral Hotel ~ City park and Montevideo

The tree canopy of this city park outside the Balmoral Plaza Hotel (info, rates) shields the many visitors and vendors from view.

On a Friday night, after a great dinner in the hotel, I returned to my room after sunset. I could hear strains of symphony music drifting through the opened window. A lyrical, haunting piece whose title escapes me.

I looked out the window, and, 11 floors down, on the street that borders this park, 4 young girls wearing long tulle skirts were performing an interpretive ballet for a crowd of about 50.

There was a soft breeze blowing, and the air was fresh and sweet. Out on a condo balcony to my left and down a few floors, there were several couples having dinner, talking softly, wine glasses tinkiling.

I sat there at the window and watched this perfect scene in the plaza below -- more dancers, more musicians -- for over an hour. I have never been so thoroughly charmed by any place in my life.

Artists' Walk ~ Art College Display in Old Town

This pedestrian street in the Old Town was set with displays from local college art students.

On this Saturday morning, families shared thermoses of yerba mate and strolled along the displays.

These old buildings were in various stages of repair -- good, poor, none -- but all were as interesting as the art on display.

Wood Sculpture Old Town Artists' Walk Montevideo

The center of the street was filled with these large art pieces. Note the tile facade of the building at right.

My notes show that this day, I walked 20 blocks by my map, and still had not seen it all.

I had hoped to make my way to the Port area, where I'd been told had several good restaurants, but I will have to save that experience for when I return.

Large origami at pedestrian mall - Montevideo Old Town

This origami piece is made from a giant sheet of 'paper' with the text of the Declaracion de Los Derechos del Nino.

My Spanish isn't as good as I'd like, but this was the Kid's Fair, and I believe that translates as Declaration of Children's Rights.

Saturday Market in Montevideo Old Town Park

Much of the entire park -- a few blocks square -- was given over to vendors selling all manner of goods.

One lady, a knitter, was selling her children's sweaters, and I bought one knit from a very soft, pale yellow silk yarn for my toddler niece. A girl can never have too many silk cardigans!

The day had turned very warm, and I had been out for some hours. Wanting to buy a snack, I popped into a McDonald's not far from here.

After placing my order, the server said something to a co-worker, and she handed me a glass of ice cold sparkling mineral water, to tide me over until my order was ready.

She must have noticed that I seemed very hot and thirsty. These small acts of kindness happened all the time in Uruguay.

Either I lead a charmed life, or the Uruguayans are exceptionally nice.

Punta Carretas shopping mall ready for Christmas in Uruguay

After Montevideo's  historic buildings, the hotel staff arranged a cab to take me to upscale Punta Carretas shopping mall.

I also made sure I had one of the hotel's business cards to show the cab driver my destination for the return trip. Cab fare was about $3 each way.

The Sheraton Montevideo Hotel (rates, pic, reviews) overlooks the promenade and beaches, and is adjacent to and connects directly to the mall.

While most malls do not permit photos for security reasons, most do not have any problems with your taking pictures of general features, as I did of this atrium area on the third (top) level.

The views from top level showed nearby beaches filled with sun worshippers and strolling couples.

The light-filled mall buzzed with happy looking shoppers. Restaurants were packed, the stores (Limite, Urban Outfitters, and many other North American chains) were decorated for the Christmas season.

I was most impressed, and felt right at home.

Back at the Balmoral, I found the restaurant did not open on weekends, so I had pizza and a beer at the lobby bar. After checking my email in the hotel's business center, then headed up to my room to pack and watch a lively thunderstorm cross the city.
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