Plaza de Las Lavanderas

 Yesterday was windy and cool with a high of 19C. This morning it is raining and 17C. Today is supposed to be a mix of showers and sun with a high of 20C.

Yesterday morning we cleaned the apartment so it will be clean for the week. It doesn't get real dirty but we want to keep it clean so we don't have to do much before we leave. 

In the afternoon we went for a walk. We saw where son wants to buy chicken wings but it was closed. Then it was up further another block and then across three blocks. When we came down we stopped at Plaza de las Lavanderas. 

It is just a tiny space which pays homage to the washer women of African and Afro descent who were of the first residents of the area. They would travel from the "Old City" (city center) in to the clear waters of a now vanished stream that flowed into the sea. They would wash their master's clothes in this stream. They did it as the places they would wash the clothes became very busy. 

I found these pictures on the internet as I couldn't take pictures. 

From the plaza we walked up to the grocery store to look at items. We did some calculations and imported foods are very expensive. We did get a few snack items. 

Dinner last night was gnocchi with marinara sauce. It was good and I may buy it when we get home. I would add chicken to it as I do like my meat. 

We watched a soccer game on TV last night. It was an intense game that went 30 minutes into overtime. When the game was over, we could hear people cheering in the streets, flashing lights in an apartment, and fireworks. 

I did a lot of knitting yesterday and got the gusset done on the first sock. 

It keeps me from snacking which I am trying not to do. 

Today we are going to a different mall in the north part of the city. I will get myself something for dinner when family goes out to a soccer game. I will watch videos and knit. 

Until the next time.............................................................

Market Day

 Yesterday was cool and windy. The high got to 19C. This morning it is cloudy and 18C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with some rain and a high of 21C. 

Yesterday morning we left a bit late for the market. We walked up the street our apartment building is on as it takes us one block below the market. I walked half way without a rest and then rested twice after that. We waited for grandson to arrive as his bus was late. 

We wandered through the market looking at all the fruits and vegetables. We were late and some of the vendor's stalls had less than the week before. But it all looked good. When it was time to buy, son and I went and sat down by the meat and cheese trucks while daughter-in-law bought and grandson helped. He delivered the eggs to us to hold. We spent just over $25.00 CDN on what we needed including the eggs ($8.75 CDN for 30 eggs). 

Everyone buys eggs at the market and they pack them around while shopping, on the bus, walking home, etc. The wrap on them is heavy and there was about 4-5 layers on the eggs. 

We also got the biggest green onions I have seen in a long time. 

We also got strawberries, oranges, carrots, potatoes, ginger, and spices. 

From there, we went for lunch at the same restaurant we went to last week. It was time to find something smaller to eat on the menu. We laughed a lot about that. 

Son and grandson had milkshakes. Son's was strawberry and it tasted like the strawberry ice cream we bought. Not like what we know as milkshakes. It had bits of strawberries in it. 

Grandson's milkshake was chocolate and he said it tasted fabulous. I had water as I was hydrating. 

Next up was the food. We thought we made good choices size wise but they were still big. The server brought us out hot soup which was delicious. You get about 1/2 cup in a small cup with no handle. 

Grandson had a chivito which was loaded. He ate it all.

Daughter-in-law had a Caesar salad that came in a big clear glass bowl which is common here. She said it was very good and really liked the dressing. It is lighter than we use at home.

Son and I had a "grilled cheese" sandwich which had ham and cheese between the thin slices of bread which was topped with more cheese and tomatoes and put under a salamander. 

We ate it even though it was a lot. It was less than the chicken cutlet we had the week before. It was delicious and I may make it as a treat during the winter at home. A nice dinner but I'd only make on vs the two we had at the restaurant.

Grandson and I walked to a quiet street and ordered a uber drive. We had a great driver who drove us safely home. Son and daughter-in-law walked home looking in a few shops on the way. Daughter-in-law bought cookies and my favourite one was the shortbread cookie that looked like a pig (I ate none of them).

We had a quiet afternoon and evening. The weather was not nice enough for us to walk. It rained and the wind came up. The beach empty except for a couple of brave people who walked in the sand. Even the rambla was quiet due to the weather.

I have been waiting to the end of the month to order a free pattern from Pixie Faire. I decided to order the Bicycle Jacket to go with the Edwardian wardrobe I have planned. 

Next month I will order the Bicycle Skirt pattern and then the Edwardian wardrobe will be complete. Once home, I will start sewing all the clothing I have cut out plus these two pieces. 

I have also been knitting on the socks and am decreasing the gusset on sock #1. This is the slowest pair of socks I have knit but I am fine with that. I sit and knit when I have time or am resting. Yesterday I did 10 rounds which is the most I have done since arriving here. 

Today is going to be a quiet day due to the weather. It has rained already and will rain off and on all day. We may go for a short walk but everything depends on the weather. I will knit on the socks and help where I can. 

Until the next time...................................................................

Delicious Pasta

 Yesterday was mainly cloudy and cooler. The temperature dropped from 21C to 18C. This morning it is cloudy and 18C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 20C. 

Yesterday morning we headed back to the mall to meet grandson. We took a bus that didn't follow the route on the app and we got off up from where the farmer's market is held. We walked to the mall and on our way we saw this gorgeous church. 

I was hot and may have been low on sugar as I was weaving a lot. At the mall we met grandson and both of us had fries. I did feel better after that. 

We did some grocery shopping at the large grocery store and found oyster sauce. After getting some groceries, we hurried home as son needed lunch and there was nothing at the apartment for him to eat. 

We had a quiet afternoon and I sat and watched the beach. In the morning there was a green flag up saying it was okay to swim. By 1 pm the flag was yellow saying to be cautious and by 5 pm the flag was red saying it wasn't safe to swim. The beach was virtually empty all day. The picture was taken at 3 pm and the waves were even larger a couple of hours later. 

There were two bikes on the beach and they were there most of the day. I am sure they belonged to the people sitting on the walkway as they were there for hours.

We decided to order in dinner last night. I ordered ravioli with a meat sauce. It took about an hour to be made and delivered. We use an app called PedidosYa. When you order you get a picture on your open app showing them tossing food in a pan which means it is being prepared. When you see a picture of the shop, it is ready for a driver to pick up. Then you get a picture of a helmet showing you the route the driver will take from the shop to your place. 

When the helmet gets close to your location, you go and meet the driver and get your order. The drivers use motorbikes with an insulated box on the back to hold your food. 

My dinner was delicious with the ravioli being freshly made. 

I would order from them again even if it took a long time to come. It was worth the wait. 

Family ordered pizza that had a sourdough crust. It was the best crust I have tasted. We certainly cannot get that in Canada or at least in our area. 

Today is market day and we are heading out to get some fresh fruit and vegetables. I am taking my walking sticks as I want to walk a lot today looking around at what is offered. 

It is hard to believe that we have been in Montevideo for 2 weeks. We have had busy days and days of rest. Every time we go out, we see something new. We try new foods and most have been good. 

Until the next time................................................................

A Hot Day and Great Food

 Yesterday was hot with a high of 30C. There was very little wind. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and 21C. Today is supposed to be cloudy and windy with a high of 23C. 

Yesterday morning daughter-in-law had to go over quickly to grandson's apartment with a cooler as they had no power and he needed to store is insulin in it. She got home in about an hour. 

After breakfast, we decided to go for a walk to El Clon which is 6 blocks from the apartment. We walked the shaded side of the street as it was hot out. At the store I picked up a Xmas gift and a set of measuring spoons which we will probably take home. On our way home we stopped at Tienda Inglesa (English Store) for some items we needed. We could not find some items as the store is small or we need to go to a speciality store. 

Once home, I had to start drinking cold water as I was over heated. As I drank, I did hang up the laundry so it would dry quickly due to the heat. I kept drinking for a few hours to cool off. 

Daughter-in-law made this for lunch and even though she had to substitute a couple of items it was delicious. I will make this at home as I really liked it. 

In the afternoon I rested and watched videos. Daughter-in-law and grandson went down to the beach which was full of people. 

It was even busier later in the afternoon. There were very small waves and people were out in the water enjoying it. 

We went out for dinner last night. I ordered the Uber drive which was exciting. The restaurant we went to was Garcia and well known for its parilla (barbecue). It is a more expensive restaurant but worth the experience. It is a big place with an upstairs seating area and probably a room for a large gathering. You can eat outside at tables or in a glassed in space that hold about 20 people. 

We were early and chose to sit close to where they cook the majority of food. Our server spoke good English so we were able to ask him lots of questions about the meat. We started the meal off with baked provolone cheese. We had two types; plain and one with chopped tomatoes and grilled mushrooms on it. They come in small cast iron frying pans which the server rolled up like an omelette. It is then cut and shared like most appetizers are. 

I liked the cheese with the tomatoes and mushrooms the best. Next we had a sausage which was cut up for us to share. 

It was delicious and the chimichurri sauce was tasty but not spicy. This sauce originated in Uruguay and Argentina. 

Dinner arrived and I had a tenderloin kebob which had red peppers and ham in it. It was tender and the best beef I have ever eaten. It beat Alberta AAA beef by a mile. 

I ate almost all of the meat. We had small baby potatoes as a side dish and they were good. Having the garlic butter that came with the rolls would have made them delicious. At this point, I was full. 

I was able to get a picture of the area they cook the meat. They cook the meats using wood.

I ordered another uber car home. This time we got a BYD electric car which comes from China. It is a very comfortable car to ride in and if they were available in Canada and I needed a new car, this is the one I would buy. 

Once home, I sat for a bit and went to bed. I was tired from the heat (25C at 10 pm). 

Today we have to go get food for today and meat for tomorrow. I am not sure what else we will do today as we could suddenly choose an adventure and head out. It is cool enough today to do something like that. 

Until the next time.................................................................................

Another Adventure

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 26C. This morning it is sunny and 21C. Today is going to be sunny with a high of 31C. 

Yesterday was another day on the bus to China Market. We spent a some time looking around and I bought a large measuring cup and a potato peeler for the apartment. Daughter-in-law bought some Christmas gifts. 

We saw this gorgeous building while walking. The architecture here is beautiful with an Italian and Spanish influence. 

When we caught the bus home, it was a free ride as we had not been off the bus for an hour. We also found out that I can ride free due to my age. I just have to show my passport. We will find out how that will work. 

We rested in the afternoon as we were going out to watch grandson's soccer team play. I had a short nap and then spent time watching videos and knitting. I also noticed the beach was really busy with people due to how warm it was. 

The trip to the soccer game was a long one. The driver was great and we were comfortable. The driver let son ride in the front seat. We drove for about 40 - 45 minutes and left the city for a more rural/industrial area. There were some lovely houses and others showed families who are struggling. We also saw the military base which seemed to be huge. We were dropped off at the soccer field and then had to walk to another entrance to get in. You enter the field according to the team you are supporting. As we walked to the side we were to get into we saw this bird on a grassy area. 

We were the first people there for grandson's team but about 50 people showed up. There was about the same for the other team. The game started off great. Both teams were focused and playing well with a small scuffle about a minute into the game. Grandson's team scored the first goal and we were excited. A goal seems to get the players pumped to play harder and better. It did for a bit but then it deteriorated. The other team scored a goal. Then both teams played poorly with the other team getting a 2nd goal. In the midst of it all, grandson's coach got mouthy and after being given 2 yellow cards by the ref, he was red carded and had to leave the field. He can't coach the next game though he can watch as a spectator. 

What I got from the game is that neither team deserves to move up from the 4th division to the 3rd division. They did not play well as a team. They kicked the ball a lot and did not use foot work or plays that would have helped them score. I do hope that grandson's team gets their act together for the game on Tuesday. 

At the game, we had a torte frita. It is fried bread and quite bland. It could have had some cinnamon on it. 

Daughter-in-law did some research on the bird and found out it is a Southern Lapwing. It is also know as a Tero. It is common in Uruguay. It can be quite violent when protecting its young. It is a wader but can be found in dry pastures. It has a grating call and we heard 3 or 4 of them calling. Here is a better picture of one. 

After the game was over we got another car home. This time it was a taxi and we all had to squeeze into the back seat. It was the ride of a life time. The driver went fast and bottomed out on road bumps on the first part of the trip. As we got back into the city, he was behind a bus, passed it, nipped in front of a police vehicle and then in front of the bus. Another instance we were going down a one way street with cars parked on both sides. He decided to pass the car in front of us which was tight and a bit scary. There were a few more instances and we got out of the car at the apartment and laughed. You couldn't do any more than that. 

I am not sure what we are doing today. We need to get some groceries for lunch and I am going to look for Christmas presents. There are a few items at the grocery store I can look at. I am sure we will rest as we are sore from sitting on cement seats and being cramped in the car. It is also going to be hot and I don't want to be out in it. We might walk a bit tonight when it cools down. 

Until the next time.............................................................................

Another Day of Resting

 Yesterday was quite warm and sunny. The high got to 25C. This morning it is sunny and 19C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 28C. 

Yesterday morning we walked to the grocery store and bought a few items we needed. On the way back we stopped at the pharmacy and bought baking soda. I assume you would buy baking powder there also. 

We had a slow day as we were tired and it was warm outside. We both have sore spots which needed to be rested. I watched people on the beach. It was busy down there. 

People were swimming and a group were playing in the water with some sort of ball. This was the 2nd time I have seen them in the water. I am wondering if they are a soccer team training in the water as they spend a lot of time at the beach and mainly in the water. 

I did knit yesterday and am half done the heel flap on the first sock. The house is cool enough that I can knit without my hands getting sweaty. 

This morning, I stood and watched a group of men training on the beach. They were talked to then sprinted into the water, out again, more talking, and repeat. There is a bus parked on the rambla which could be theirs. The beach is a great place to train early in the morning. 

When we went shopping on Friday, we saw this scooter where we sat and waited for grandson. 

It was quite the vehicle and I thought it wasn't a common thing here. I have since seen several more but not as fancy as this one. I have seen a few without cabs on them also. 

This morning we are going to the city center once again and then home to rest. Tonight we are out to watch grandson's team play their first game of the finals. It will be a later night for us. At this time I do not know if grandson will get playing minutes on the field. I do know that he is the either the youngest or 2nd youngest player in this division. 

Until the next time.................................................................

Looking For Yarn

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 24C. This morning it is sunny and 21C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 27C. 

Yesterday morning we took the bus back to the city center. The bus took us up 21 de Setiembre which is near the farmer's market we went to on Saturday. We got off the bus near the Independencia Plaza and walked away from it. We were going to find 3 yarn shops. 

Our first stop was in a shop that sells goods made my independent artists. We wandered around the store looking at the good they make. I did find a carrier that people pack their mate in. 

The red one is made of wood. They put their thermos in on part and their gourd in the other half. The handles are big so they can pack them easily. 

These are the straws they put into the gourd. The flat part is for stirring and it has small holes in it so the mate leaves don't go up the straw. 

We then walked to our first yarn shop. It had a great variety of yarn but most were acrylic. I did see some yarn imported from Turkey but they were in 25 gram balls. We bought nothing though I wish I had bought 2 balls of the yarn from Turkey for doll clothes. 

Our next yarn store was a huge disappointment. It had a tiny selection of acrylic yarn and a lot of crafting supplies. In and out in 5 minutes. 

Our last stop was at Manos de Uruguay. We spent a long time in that store. The yarn selection was very good. Downstairs was the current selection of yarn and we dug through it. I found some I really liked. Upstairs was yarn you buy by weight. They weren't seconds but they weren't neatly presented. There was bags of yarn you could buy by weight for big projects. I bought 4 skeins to make 3 pairs of socks.

The natural coloured yarn is 100% silk and the other two are merino wool. The price of the yarn is about 2/3rds of what I pay for the yarn I buy at home. 

All of the Manos de Uruguay stores carry items the ladies have made. Clothing, hand knit and woven items, purses, and shoes. 

On our walk about finding the wool shops, I found this circular fence that people have put padlocks onto. It was full all the way around. It is known as lovelocks the is a plaque but I couldn't read it. The fountain is not working. 

Next to it is a seating area where you can eat your lunch or have coffee. In it is a statue of a man with his coffee cup. 

We walked down the street until we came to a square where we sat and rested. There was a statue on a pole and I couldn't find anything about it. 

A lot of these are historical to the country. People know what they are about. Even the street names are about historical dates, famous people, and historical events. 

We walked between the two streets at this square and saw the Supreme Court of Justice building. 

We caught the bus to the shopping centre that is an old prison. We had been there the day I fell in the food court. We went to the Fresh Market (large grocery store) to get some groceries. The prices are good at this store but we know we will not be buying large bottles of pop there. It is too much to pack home. We asked about baking soda and found out we have to buy it at the pharmacy. I bought a sandwich and a drink as my blood sugar was dropping low. 

We got home late in the afternoon and rested. I sat and watched people in the water. A group were coming in on the waves and then were playing volleyball in the water. There was a kite surfer there but he left due to the number of people in the water. The beach was very busy as it was warm and the wind made for perfect waves to have fun in. 

Today is market day and I think we are catching the bus to go back and look around. I am not sure what else we are doing. I will be taking my walking poles as I struggle walking without them. Part is balance and part is walking on cement. The poles help me walk and my legs don't hurt as much. Though you would think Montevideo is flat, it isn't You walk up steep hills from the water. The cross streets are flatter but they still have areas with inclines. I keep saying it is uphill both ways. Bus rides are cheap so we are using them to get to an area,  walk around that area, and then bus ride home. 

Until the next time....................................................