Our first stop was the tourist information center located just outside the port area. Provided with maps and a general idea of the surrounding area, we began our self guided tour.
It was still early morning around 8:30 a.m. so many shops and vendors were not yet open, or still just beginning to set up. The sweet smell of pastries being baked and readied "for the mat'e" filled the air.
Now, about this "for the mat'e"...in Montevideo we saw a lot of the ever present "mat'e moment". It seemed to be an addiction...no, a way of life...and it was a common sight. People carried around thermoses of hot water and hollow calabash gourds called guampas lined with ceramic or metal. With that accompanied a special metal straw called a bambilla that acted as both a sieve and straw. Mat'e is a traditional South American caffeine-rich, herb infused drink made from the holly of the Yerba tree that I was told tastes both rough and sour when not sweetened. The brewing of mat'e takes care and several processes are required for it to be done correctly. There is also social etiquette involved with drinking mat'e. We saw elaborate cases holding all the materials needed in making the brew. Even the gourds and straws looked elaborate, expensive and decorative. Mat'e breaks were witnessed often while we were in Montevideo. In social gatherings the same gourd and straw are used by everyone drinking. This entire process peaked my curiosity and I asked several people where I could go to try mat'e, but I was told it wasn't served in restaurants or cafes; it was something you made yourself and shared. I liked how mat'e seemed to bring people together and I first noticed it on the cruise ship after we left Buenos Aries. Apparently it was popular in Argentina as well. I saw groups of passengers gathered each day at the back of the ship by the pool preparing and sharing mat'e while passing around plates of pastries. So, while in Montevideo, and in the spirit of mat'e, I bought a brown leather bound gourd and a gorgeous silver straw to remind me of Uruguay.
Back to touring Montevideo...the name of this city reputedly came from a Portuguese sailor when he called out on first sighting it "Monte vejo eu" (I see a mountain). The only prominent natural feature seen from the sea during that time was the Cerro, a 450-foot knoll with an old fort on top (now a Military Museum). What we saw in this city was beautifully detailed stonework in architecture, well-tended streets, parks nicely landscaped and well-maintained and all things rather tidy.
Open markets are one of our favorite places to seek when we travel and we found one at Plaza Constitución. The vendors sold items ranging from antique trinkets to fresh fruits and t-shirts. The plaza was canopied in large trees with park benches, a grand fountain and old fashioned street lanterns. We even saw birds nesting high in the trees in hollow cocoons built from twigs and branches. I purchased a pounded silver charm depicting a lovely lady on the front that I found beautiful. This is also where we found our leather bound mate gourd and metal straw, that we brought home as a souvenir.
Rick found a quaint barbershop with lovely silver trimmed, soft white leather barber chairs offering old fashioned cuts and shaves. He stopped in and enjoyed a moment of pampering (minus the shave).
Afterwards we found a lovely corner cafe, had some lunch and some local beer and partook of some free WIFI which is a true luxury when traveling abroad.
Satiated, our explorations took us to an indoor market near the port (Mercado del Puerto). Smoke wafted from inside in plumes which was heavily scented with the smell of Uruguayan barbecue. Inside was a lively maze of walk up bars, cafes, small shops and open pits of snapping, crackling meats of all kinds. It was an inexpensive place to eat, drink and people watch. A man walked up and began to play his guitar.
By now the smoke of the grilling was burning my eyes so we abandoned the market and headed back to the ship. On the way, we saw crew members and passengers huddled around the outside of a museum building where a free WIFI signal was found. This became a common sight. Like I said before, free Internet is "gold" when you travel a lot or are out of the country for an extended period of time. Internet gets expensive and less reliable further from home.
Once we were back on board, it was late afternoon. That evening at 7:00 p.m. the Crown Princess dropped her moorings and we set sail once again for sea.
In three days (with weather permitting), our next port of call would be Stanley, Falkland Islands. Join us: South American Cruise 2014
Back to touring Montevideo...the name of this city reputedly came from a Portuguese sailor when he called out on first sighting it "Monte vejo eu" (I see a mountain). The only prominent natural feature seen from the sea during that time was the Cerro, a 450-foot knoll with an old fort on top (now a Military Museum). What we saw in this city was beautifully detailed stonework in architecture, well-tended streets, parks nicely landscaped and well-maintained and all things rather tidy.
Open markets are one of our favorite places to seek when we travel and we found one at Plaza Constitución. The vendors sold items ranging from antique trinkets to fresh fruits and t-shirts. The plaza was canopied in large trees with park benches, a grand fountain and old fashioned street lanterns. We even saw birds nesting high in the trees in hollow cocoons built from twigs and branches. I purchased a pounded silver charm depicting a lovely lady on the front that I found beautiful. This is also where we found our leather bound mate gourd and metal straw, that we brought home as a souvenir.
Rick found a quaint barbershop with lovely silver trimmed, soft white leather barber chairs offering old fashioned cuts and shaves. He stopped in and enjoyed a moment of pampering (minus the shave).
Afterwards we found a lovely corner cafe, had some lunch and some local beer and partook of some free WIFI which is a true luxury when traveling abroad.
Satiated, our explorations took us to an indoor market near the port (Mercado del Puerto). Smoke wafted from inside in plumes which was heavily scented with the smell of Uruguayan barbecue. Inside was a lively maze of walk up bars, cafes, small shops and open pits of snapping, crackling meats of all kinds. It was an inexpensive place to eat, drink and people watch. A man walked up and began to play his guitar.
By now the smoke of the grilling was burning my eyes so we abandoned the market and headed back to the ship. On the way, we saw crew members and passengers huddled around the outside of a museum building where a free WIFI signal was found. This became a common sight. Like I said before, free Internet is "gold" when you travel a lot or are out of the country for an extended period of time. Internet gets expensive and less reliable further from home.
Once we were back on board, it was late afternoon. That evening at 7:00 p.m. the Crown Princess dropped her moorings and we set sail once again for sea.
In three days (with weather permitting), our next port of call would be Stanley, Falkland Islands. Join us: South American Cruise 2014
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