While Sam’s three friends headed to southern Argentina to see glaciers, John, Sam and I took to the beaches of Uruguay. (Why anyone from Minnesota would want to go where there’s snow in November over beaches is unknown to me, but to each his own.) The trip started a bit abruptly as John and I waited for Sam to recuperate from his night’s (…or morning’s) festivities, but we made it onto the Buquebus and relaxed for the three hour ride across the Río de la Plata to Uruguay.
Buenos Aires from the Rio Plata
by the look of John's mop-head, you may think that he was the one out till 6 am and didn't wake up to leave by 8:30 am...but really it was the one in the background, pondering how exactly he got on the Buquebus, but he made it!
10 am naptime atop the Buquebus
we rented a car in the coastal town of Colonia and were on our way
I played navigator/guide/mother
Montevideo
We only stopped for lunch in Montevideo, but it seemed to be a very nice little city.
We only stopped for lunch in Montevideo, but it seemed to be a very nice little city.
Sam forgot to grab his toothbrush when packing
first of many delectable seafood meals
Montevideo
Piriápolis
Our first night was in Piriápolis, a beach town, where we were able to get all provisions for Sam that he happened to forget in his frenzy of packing. We stayed at Hotel Colón.
Our first night was in Piriápolis, a beach town, where we were able to get all provisions for Sam that he happened to forget in his frenzy of packing. We stayed at Hotel Colón.
we stayed in the turret!
bromance
sunset
the next morning: a couple already staking out their spot at 9am on a Monday
Punta del Este
Punta del Este is known as the South Beach of South America, but being there on a Monday of off-season, it was quite tranquil and rather agreeable. The potential for cheto-ness (snobbiness) was quite apparent with the high-end stores and expensive restaurants, but all we experienced was the preparation for the onslaught of bronzing bodies and luxury cars.
the bridge didn't go very far
drivin' through the back country
La Paloma
La Paloma had its heyday, but has since become a bit quiet, which was just fine for our first quick stop at the beach in the mid-afternoon.
the center of La Paloma
Cabo Polonio
We parked our car in a makeshift parking lot and waited for the rickshaw 4x4 to take us through the sand dunes to the off-the-map community of Cabo Polonio where most houses don’t have electricity or telephones. We stayed at Hostal del Cabo.
riding down the beach
the 4x4 rickshaw that brought us to Cabo Polonio
Hostal del Cabo
some of the international folk that we met at our bonfire: German, Dutch & Swiss
seals
craft stands that are open during high season
buñuelos de algas (seaweed balls)
cazón (shark)
driving back to civilization through the sand dunes
sheep & palm trees
Punta del Diablo
With a bit of tugging and pulling, I dragged the boys to the next destination, Punta del Diablo, a surfing town just a ways from the Brazilian border. Sam had his first real international hostel experience and found a beer-buddy with an Irish mate while John and I wandered the beach. We stayed at Hostal Diablo el Tranquilo.the town of Punta del Diablo
Hostal Diablo el Tranquilo
Wayne, Sam's new Irish friend
walk along the beach
beers with Wayne
John on our balcony with the hammock
morning walk along the beach
the trek back to Colonia
the boys took turns napping while I continued to navigate
Colonia
Our last stop before returning the rental car was Colonia. We had some lunch and boarded the Buquebus to return to the quilombo (craziness) and not such clean air of Buenos Aires.
Our last stop before returning the rental car was Colonia. We had some lunch and boarded the Buquebus to return to the quilombo (craziness) and not such clean air of Buenos Aires.
Post-Uruguay
a little sunkissed
The beach vacation was a bit draining, so we had to take full advantage of the terrazas of my house and the apartment that the Minnesotans had rented.
John chillin' on my terrace
Sam's terrace
John y su helado
la pileta
beautiful sky...just like Uruguay!
the snow trekkers had returned too
