Uruguay - Montevideo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 10^th March 2017

Montevideo City Tour.  Quite a small city with a mixture of futuristic architecture, with Spanish, Portuguese and some English, Armenian etc stately homes.  A large number of masonic signs around the city which seemed to stem from the British introducing Freemasonery in 1806 – most of the Presidents since have also been Freemasons.  They idolise Rivera, first President in 1830 after freedom in 1825 – lots of statutes.  Other notable history event was the sinking of the Graf Spee in WW2 on the River Plate.    Weirdly, the Uruguayans have three flags – liberty or death, Masonic, and the 5x strips blue/white flag.

 Graffitti on wall of church - prayers/pleas for help.

Uruguay quite a liberal country in most respects – abortion, same sex marriage, marijuana available. However when asked about equality for women, then not quite there.

 

Photo - original signed constitution

Public sector workers are still paid differently although female pay is ‘getting closer’ to mens.  At the recent 8^th March  International Women’s Day 150,000 people marched, which is not bad for a country with about 4 million people.  However, education is important, with all schoolchildren getting a free tablet, as do any poorer people with income less than 20,000 pesos (about £700). Fray Bentos, the meat producer is based here and seems to be a major benefactor (also name of a Uruguayan town). The population is aging and suffering from migration of the younger generation.

Drank the local ‘Mate’ drink – a thermos cup full of tea-like leaf, which add hot water (cold water in other countries), and sup through a solid filtering straw. Quite a pleasant tea/smokey flavour. The Gauchos drink the same cup all through the day, adding hot water when empty – a very sociable drink to pass the time.

 

 

Lots of photos of statutes – good one of oxen pulling cart, plus pictures of team under a Balsa wood tree (enormous elephantitis trunk) and coral tree (Uruguayan national tree) with bright red flowers.

The photo of wallet, is that of our guide, Hans. So many notes required for Iruguay Pesos, Argentine Pesos or US Dollars, plus various euro and sterling.


Then Lunch.... indoor market.,  Really funky. loads of crafts, food etc to buy. But the smell of wood-smoked barbeque with the best meats slowly cooking was just fabulous (sorry veggies!).  We indulged.  Big style. Huge steaks (best ask for rare, then if too bloody, they are happy to cook again. Better than overcooking).