christmas eve

I'd forgotten that people open their presents at midnight on xmas eve here, after a slap-up dinner which this year we ate round at Sonias house.

L-R: Tony, Alejandro, Graciela, Sonia, Santiago, Anamaria, Adri / me (depending on which version of the photo you're looking at)

Mimi enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper after the opening frenzy, if only it was so easy to please everyone ...

So all thats left to say is Merry Xmas everybody and thanks for all the crazy presents!

a wee video clip

It was roasty toasty last weekend, they have a thing here called the thermal temperature which is the temperature you actually feel rather than the real temperature, and everyone swears by it.

So anyway as the thermal temperature last Sunday was over 40c we went along the road and jumped in Juan's swimming pool ...

montevideo

After the wedding everyone bussed it back home via Montevideo where I had the fortune of getting off and not getting back on the coach, as I stopped off for a wee visit to Montevideo to see my mate Adam from Boston who's supposedly teaching English in the area.

First port of call was the fantastic beach at the southern end of town. I think it was called the playa de los pocitos.


They had some pretty good murals in places on the wall that cordons the beach from the street.


Drinking 40's of ice cool beer on the beach in 30 odd degree heat is an indescribably luxurious passtime, we took full advantage.

I must point out too that Montevideo seems to be a haven for the 80's - 90's classic boy racer 1st time rustbucket, the mighty Citroen AX GT! I couldn't believe it, I must have seen honestly about 6 nice tidy examples of this true motoring gem.



Their obelisk is sharper and more dangerous for sure but it just doesn't have the girth of its Argie equivalent.

The following photos were taken on my way back to the ferry, passing through the ciudad vieja and heading towards the puerto (via what I can only describe as a really appaling and treacherous looking slum that I was heading straight into until a guy that I asked for directions kindly advised me to not go near it).

Having said that there are some really charming views around the old town and port.





Adam told me this part of town was full of potential with sack loads of exquisite buildings, only most of them have been left to crumble. It seems like he was right.



I almost didn't notice this dog, blending as it was perfectly with its "natural" habitat.

It's a rusty old skip.

a wee walk to the river

Having just one afternoon at our disposal to explore Melo I figured the best thing was to walk to the river at the edge of town at the height of the blisteringly hot afternoon and go for a swim. Unfortunately the river ended up being below swimming standards, we all got sunburnt, and the women and children all suffered mild sunstroke.

Regardless, the scenery by the riverside was awesome.



Spot the birdie?

on the road to melo

We hired a private coach between about 30 of us to get to the remote town of Melo in the north of Uruguay to see Alex and Veronica get married. Here are a few views from the road and of the town itself.




You can see here a classic South American advertising technique: old man on old motorbike with megaphones precariously hanging off front and back of aforementioned old motorbike, with helmet in standard position ie perched on top of head and rendered useless.

The elegant opera house in Melo is beautifully detailed but I can't help wondering if it ever actually gets used as the town is notoriously sleepy and all the locals I asked told me that hardly anyone comes to visit from "outside". Strange ...


*upate Friday 28th Nov - its actually a workers union building, I understood bad*


Obligitary team pose at the fountain in the square next to our hotels - there was nobody else in sight!

costanera sur

First of all we had to walk to the south end of Puerto Madero. Its a very exclusive place, but at the moment they still let common people walk around in it. Oh, and they've painted up the cranes a treat!



After walking around San Telmo all afternoon and then walking through Puerto Madero, we were knackered and so had a wee siesta on the pavement next to the nature reserve, listening to these really good panpipe buskers. It was quite cosmic to kind of drift in and out of consciousness with that sound effect in the background.


This street dog came and accompanied us while we snoozed. I patted it and my hand stank for ages afterwards. I only realised where the stench was coming from half way through eating an ice-cream hours later.


Heres a close-up of the palo borracho, or drunken sticks, trunk. Don't ever lean against it - these nasty looking spikes stick out by about an inch and are rock hard!

san telmo market

We took a wee walk around the market in San Telmo on Sunday, seeing as some of the guys from the UK had arrived for Alex' wedding. It was hot and there were lots of strange things to be found in the streets.


Above you can see the aftermath of a live art/music display, where the artist painted portraits of rock stars using his bare hands whilst listening and (sort of) dancing around a bit to their songs. The paintings were pretty good, but the crazy mess the guy left on the floor was much more interesting to me.



Do you call this a harlequin?


Some typical selections of polished metal objects they flog in the main plaza in San Telmo, which is like a mini-labyrinth of stalls situated suffocatingly close to each other. Hence the close-ups.


While I was there I managed to get myself an Argentine national identity document, a membership to Racing football club, and an old black and white photo of some family, all for just $20 pesos. Bargain if you ask me.

blablabla

dale vieja!

constitucion train station

The main reception part in Constitucion train station, which is just off to the right in this photo, is exquisite but I'm too paranoid to take a photo there in case I get my camera nicked cause its always full to the brims with people!



So instead I just took a quick stealth shot of the sunlight beaming through the glass panels in the platform area, just like back in 2005.

*Update Friday 10th*



I think this is the train that goes to Mar Del Plata. I think.



Oh and I finally plucked up some courage and took a couple of photos in the main hall. Its pretty magnificent.

green spaces on 9 de julio

9 de julio for me has always been a terrifying road to cross. The truth is, its ridiculous. Fortunately they've recently finished some renovations to the walkways in the middle of it to create a more pedestrian-friendly feel. I think its worked a charm.



Can you spot the obelisk?



You know you're in the centre when you see these road-signs.



Here you can see the newly styled walkways and some funky concrete chairs that have been plonked in a grassy patch. It almost feels like you're nowhere near the concrete jungle, that is until some crazy madman on a scooter whizzes past at breakneck speed within spitting distance.



As its spring, the blossom is starting to come out on the trees.




This ones curious, it looks like its got cotton hanging from its branches.



It's called a palo borracho, or drunken stick! I suppose its because it seems to have a fat belly, like a good dedicated drunk would. These trees are actually quite evil if you get too close as they're covered in nasty tough prickles.



Unfortunately its looking like it'll be a while before they finish doing up the Teatro Colon. Nevertheless, it remains one of the highlights on this stretch of the avenue.

santiago at 7 months

Yesterday was a perfect day to sit out in the garden ...



... with "wee man" ...


... but who do you think looks more comfortable when left in charge of the wee chap? Adri ...



... or me?!