| s/v Nine of Cups Uruguay |
| May - October 2006 |
Republica Oriental del Uruguay
Capital City: Montevideo
Land area: 68,039 sq miles...about the size of Missouri
Population: ~3,400,000
Language: Spanish
Currency: Uruguayan Peso ($23.10 = $1 US)
Highest Point: Mt. Catedral 1,687 feet above sea level
Chief products: Beef, cattle, lamb, leather goods
Political Units: 19 departments
Everyone in Uruguay drinks mate (mah-tay), a hot herbal drink.
They carry their mate cups (usually made from carved gourds) and a
hot thermos of water with them everywhere...not so different from
Americans and their cups of coffee.
Uruguayan wine is excellent especially a varietal called Tannat, not
currently available in the U.S.
Capital City: Montevideo
Land area: 68,039 sq miles...about the size of Missouri
Population: ~3,400,000
Language: Spanish
Currency: Uruguayan Peso ($23.10 = $1 US)
Highest Point: Mt. Catedral 1,687 feet above sea level
Chief products: Beef, cattle, lamb, leather goods
Political Units: 19 departments
Everyone in Uruguay drinks mate (mah-tay), a hot herbal drink.
They carry their mate cups (usually made from carved gourds) and a
hot thermos of water with them everywhere...not so different from
Americans and their cups of coffee.
Uruguayan wine is excellent especially a varietal called Tannat, not
currently available in the U.S.
Montevideo
We got a kick out of artist Juan Torres
Garcia's view of South America.
Garcia's view of South America.
Jose Artigas is the national hero and
liberator of Uruguay.
liberator of Uruguay.
We couldn't resist a photo of David.
Montevideo was once a walled city, now
only the portal of the citadel remains and
separates the old city from the new.
only the portal of the citadel remains and
separates the old city from the new.
An opulent reminder of the city's
illustrious past, the Palacio Salvo was
once the tallest building in South America.
illustrious past, the Palacio Salvo was
once the tallest building in South America.
Uruguay's Statue of Liberty.
A mix of old and new, horse drawn carts are not uncommon
on the city's streets.
on the city's streets.
An appealing restaurant on the pedestrian mall in
downtown Montevideo.
downtown Montevideo.
Coastal Uruguay
Piriapolis
Piriapolis is our "home" for a few months while
Nine of Cups gets hauled and has her annual
maintenance. David also had to repair some keel
damage from "kissing" some rocks in the Chilean
canal.
Nine of Cups gets hauled and has her annual
maintenance. David also had to repair some keel
damage from "kissing" some rocks in the Chilean
canal.
Located on the coast, Piriapolis is actually on the
Rio del la Plata just off the Atlantic Ocean. The
word used to describe this summer resort in the
winter months is "tranquillo". Above, the
"ramblas", the coast road running through town.
You can see the masts at the marina in the
distance.
Rio del la Plata just off the Atlantic Ocean. The
word used to describe this summer resort in the
winter months is "tranquillo". Above, the
"ramblas", the coast road running through town.
You can see the masts at the marina in the
distance.
We rented a "casita" while here and had about 1 mile walk
each way to and from the marina each day. We managed
to spot several birds we hadn´t seen before including
grebes and red gartered coots (left) . We have bikes
now...no time for birdwatching. We spent a total of 5
months in Piriapolis completing maintenance and repairs on
the boat as well as using Piri as our base for exploring
central and northern Argentina. Above, the view from
Cerro San Antonio.
each way to and from the marina each day. We managed
to spot several birds we hadn´t seen before including
grebes and red gartered coots (left) . We have bikes
now...no time for birdwatching. We spent a total of 5
months in Piriapolis completing maintenance and repairs on
the boat as well as using Piri as our base for exploring
central and northern Argentina. Above, the view from
Cerro San Antonio.
Grebe in Rio de la Plata
In August 2006, our oldest son, Brennan and his fiance, Hannah Connor, visited for week. We
toured coastal Uruguay for a few days then headed to Buenos Aires. Punta del Este is a getaway
resort for Argentines and Uruguayans alike. "La Mano", a huge sculptured hand sticking out of the
sand provided amusement for all of us.
toured coastal Uruguay for a few days then headed to Buenos Aires. Punta del Este is a getaway
resort for Argentines and Uruguayans alike. "La Mano", a huge sculptured hand sticking out of the
sand provided amusement for all of us.
We also visited the world´s only "undulating"
bridge in La Barra and the ruins of a Spanish fort
in Maldonado (right).
bridge in La Barra and the ruins of a Spanish fort
in Maldonado (right).
Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO world heritage site, was quaint and charming as we wandered
the cobblestoned streets and admired the colonial architecture.
the cobblestoned streets and admired the colonial architecture.