A Walk Along The Rambla

 Yesterday was another hot day with a high of 28C. This morning it is 27C at 8 am. Today is going to be hot with a high of 34C. 

Yesterday was another day of trying to keep cool. We did more packing and have started to clean up the kitchen area. We are also trying to eat the food we have on hand which will lead us to snacking between meals. I knew it would happen so am prepared to eat a bag of chips in the afternoon. 

We did go across the street to the Kinko store. I bought a frozen bar that was strawberry juice and pieces of strawberries in it. It was delicious and I am going back for another one today. A treat to enjoy after cleaning up. 

Last night we walked over to where grandson has been training for the past 6 days with a trainer. I had wanted to see the big Montevideo sign that is a huge tourist attraction.

There were a lot of people milling around the sign and I had to wait to get a picture with only 1 person at the sign. It turned out great with the sun setting behind it. Daughter-in-law snapped this picture a few minutes later. 

That was the last item on my list to do. We walked further along to where grandson had to do his training. We watched him do just over 60% of his workout before we left. Son stayed with him. 

We walked along the rambla in the dusk and it was enjoyable. The wind off the water was cool and we didn't rush. We walked at a steady pace. We did stop a few times for me to rest but overall I was happy with what I did. My right leg didn't love me and it gave me some good cramping during the night. 

The beach was full yesterday and while we were walking. The beach closest to our apartment was busy with soccer and volleyball in the sand. People were in the water until it was dark. On the way back many people were sitting and looking out into the water. We even saw 4 people who brought their chairs and a small fold down table and sit in the grass drinking matte and enjoying the evening. 

At home, they had freezing rain. Pictures showed the roads thick with ice. I know our area had freezing rain for 3-4 hours and then it warmed up and rained. The temperature went up to 7C during the night and it has since cooled off. Snow is in the forecast this morning. The power didn't go out which was surprising. 

Today will be clean up and some resting during the hottest part of the day. We are ordering in pizza for dinner. Grandson leaves tomorrow for Montreal and we meet up with him there on Jan. 1. 

I am not sure if I will be posting again until after we get home. That remains to be seen.

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

Stuck

 The hot weather continues with yesterday's high of 31C being the normal. It is a repeat today. 

Instead of sitting around fighting a sugar low, I ate a good breakfast and got to work in the apartment. I decided to sweep the floors with the horrible broom we have. I got a lot of dust and crumbs off the floor. I then grabbed a micro fibre cloth, a swiffer with an almost worn out head on it and washed the floors. I did the living and kitchen areas and they were dirty. I think a lot of the dirt is from dust coming in as we have washed the floors since staying here. With that job done, I had to have a shower. I was dripping in sweat. 

After lunch, I started to pack my bags. I was surprised to see that I will have lots of room in my suitcase going home. I am a bit worried about the small gifts I bought getting broken due to lack of items in my suitcase. I am being careful of what I will put into the back pack as we will be staying overnight in Montreal. I have a bit of a plan on how much I will pack each day so I am ready to leave on Jan. 1 at 3 am. 

We decided to go out for dinner last night. We went to have asado in a more rustic restaurant. We sat near the parrilla (bbq) and got quite warm from the wood burning. We placed our order for appetizers: chorizo sausage, provolone cheese, and charred peppers. I really liked the charred peppers on the sausage. Grandson and I had sour lemonade with mint and ginger in it. It was good. 

For dinner we ordered different steaks. Son and I had the premium steak. 

It is a thin cut steak with the ribs on the edge. It was very good. There were 3 of these on the plate. 

Grandson had filet mignon and it was delicious and more my size of meat to eat. He got a big dish of fries to go with his steak. 

Daughter-in-law had a flank steak that was also very good. Yes we tasted all the steaks. 

I was full after all the steak, sausage, cheese, and peppers I had eaten. Daughter-in-law had cream brule which I had a taste of. Grandson had cheese cake with a three fruit topping which was too sweet for me. He said the cheese cake part was good. 

We came back in Ubers with son and daughter-in-law getting their's first. We got ours a couple of minutes later. We arrived at the apartment first with them a minute after us. We got into the apartment and took the elevator up to the 4th floor. The excitement began.

We were almost at the first floor when the elevator stopped. It wouldn't move. We tried turning it off and then on again. Did not work. Son ran the bell and we could hear the service elevator running. The doorman came and told us not to panic and that he was calling the service people. We stood in that hot little elevator for 30 minutes before they got it to open. Everyone got out and grandson took off up the stairs. Daughter-in-law took the service elevator and son went downstairs to let them know we were okay. I decided to take the stairs and got confused as I didn't know what floor we got out onto. I finally got to our floor following daughter-in-law's voice. Son found out that the elevator decided all of us was too heavy for it. We have ridden in it before but I am sure it was how we were standing in it that caused it to stop. 

At home in Nova Scotia, people are preparing for freezing rain. It is supposed to fall from noon to about 8 pm and then turn to rain as the temperature rises to well above freezing. They are saying the power will be out so people will be scrambling to get things from the grocery stores. The weather has certainly been a challenge this month back home. 

Today I am hoping to sweep and wash some more floors in the apartment. I think we have to go grocery shopping for a few things. I would like to put a few things into the backpack as it is time to start packing it. I know we will be resting as it is going to be hot. 

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

Hotter Than Normal

 Yesterday was hot and sunny. The high got to 32C. This morning it is sunny and 25C. Today is going to be sunny with a high of 29C. 

We were hot from the minute we got up yesterday and it was really uncomfortable. We did manage to do two loads of laundry which seem to take forever to dry. There was no wind which is needed here to dry clothes. 

Uruguay is experiencing hotter than normal temperatures and less rainfall this month. There is concern for risk in the agriculture sector. This means loss of crops and higher food costs. It also impacts water supplies in the country. It was forecasted in October that this could happen. 

The beach continues to be very busy. People seem to last for hours in the sun though they do go into the water to cool off. The elderly don't seem to be on the beach until the evening. People leave at 7 - 8 pm to have dinner. 

Daughter-in-law and I went to the grocery store in the late afternoon. The wind kept us cool as we walked. We didn't rush either way. We also walked one block last night to get grandson some Korean chicken. It was a nice to walk then. While we waited for the chicken to be cooked, we walked up and down one street twice talking. I actually logged in quite a few steps. 

While at the grocery store, I noticed that the Christmas decorations have not been put away. Papa Noel is gone from the Christmas tree. Last night I noticed some of the people still have their outdoor lights up. I did a bit of googling and found out they keep them up until after Three Kings Day (Jan. 6) which is known as Children's Day. On Jan. 5, the children put out their shoes with hay and water for the camels. This is when the children receive their gifts though they do get some on Christmas Eve. 

I am still having issues with my allergies and have them somewhat under control with medication. It has been a big pain having them as they leave me coughing like crazy. I also am having issues from having a tooth extracted almost 2 months ago. I had a small tooth fragment work its way loose through my gum and now I have something larger poking through my gum. I will be calling the dentist on Jan 5 to see if she can see me before my appointment on Jan 20. I feel as uncomfortable as a baby who is teething. I am trying not to complain about them and keep on moving even if I don't want to. 

I am not sure what is happening today. I have started to sort my clothes to pack them. I do want to sweep the main floor area this morning and do know we need to grocery shop. With it being so hot until we leave, I know we will be not be out and about a lot. We will be spending more time inside keeping hydrated. With no a/c, we are trying to keep cool with 2 fans. 

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

Too Hot To Move

 Yesterday was warm and fairly humid. The high got to 28C.  This morning (9 am) it is 30C. Today is going to be mainly sunny with a high of 31C. 

We went to the grocery store fairly early and when we arrived I noticed all the Christmas decorations were taken down and the small amount of decorations for sale were put away. There was lots of their fruit cake for sale but I saw that in November so I think it is sold year round. 

We spent a lot of time resting yesterday. I, for one, was tired for being up late and around a lot of people. I did have a rest but couldn't sleep. I did sleep better last night even if I went to bed late. I had a bit more deep sleep than I have been getting for the past while. 

The weather for our last days is brutal. There has been warmer temperatures and less moisture than they usually have. You can tell as the leaves and flowers on the trees and bushes are wilting. There has been less wind to help cool everything off though when the breeze does come up, you enjoy it. 

People are on holidays at the moment. The beaches are full until well after dark (8:30 pm). The stores are open and business is as usual. It is like being at home in the summer. 

I am still fighting allergies and I worry that the congestion from the allergies will turn into an infection. Most of the allergies are from pollen and dust but I do think I am reacting to the blanket on the bed. 

I am looking forward to going home. I am craving cold weather and hot chicken noodle soup. You wouldn't think you would miss it but it creeps up on you slowly and boom, you want it badly.

We are taking it easy while it is hot. I am going to start packing my belongings and be ready to go. I am also going to try and rest up as New Year's Eve will be noisy and we leave for the airport around 3 am on Jan 1. Our first flight has pods so I am hoping to sleep some on the flight. Our 2nd flight is seats so I will be resting rather than sleeping. We arrive in Montreal at midnight and leave just after lunch on Jan. 2nd for home. 

While I am resting I am planning a few things here so I can be ready for 2026. 

    I have a quilt planned for son-in-law. It is laid out on the cutting table ready for me to starch and cut. 

    I have all the patterns for the Edwardian wardrobe for the dolls. I will be starting with a coat. 

    I am continuing on with Sewing With Cinnamon this year. I wasn't going to until Cinnamon announced that this year we will be doing the updated Design Academy course. 

    I am wanting to walk 3 times a week and do yoga 4 times a week. I will be doing most of my snow shovelling for extra exercise. 

    I want to cook more healthy and different foods using some websites I was introduced to. 

There could be more added to the list. 

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

Asado For Christmas

 Yesterday was a sunny day with a high of 26C. This morning it is sunny and 22C. Today is going to be sunny and hot with a high of 30C. 

Yesterday morning was quiet as family went with grandson while he did his training on the beach. While they were there quite a few black Mercedes vans were parked and tourists were walking about. They figure a cruise ship was docked and people were exploring the city. 

Once home, we opened our gifts which was fun. Family gave me a new iPad which is waiting for me at home. I will be giving them money so they can have a new bbq made which will burn wood. 

We were back to son's friend's apartment for lunch. The day time view off the roof top deck is amazing. 

Way off in the horizon is a line up of tankers. They are anchored waiting to load or unload or waiting for their next assignment. 

Shortly after we arrived, the host and his girlfriend's father started the fire in the parrilla (bbq). The sign on the parrilla is appropriate. 

The sign translates to "The best bbq is eaten here".

The fire was started using wood in the separate firebox and it wasn't a small fire. 

It is angled so only the red hot coals fall into the bottom of the box. They are scraped out for heating the grill. 

The first hot coals were used to cook provolone cheese. 

The cheese is cooked until it is melted and has a brown skin on it. 

The cheese is removed from the heat and then rolled in the pan twice before put onto a wooden cutting board and cut into bite size pieces. The grease runs off the cheese into the groove on the board. 

It was so delicious and it disappeared in about 5 minutes. Another batch was made the same way. 

As more coals were ready they were raked out under the grill and the first item to go on were chorizo sausages. They are cooked slow. 

When the sausage is cooked, it is cut into thin slices and put on a board. You can eat it as is or on a bun. 

Both the cheese and herb sausage were delicious. While we ate that, more sausages were put on the grill to cook. While they were cooking, more wood was added to the fire box. They also threw a whole bag of bbq briquettes into the fire (bag and all). 

You can see the first of the beef just being placed onto the grill. It is slowly moved towards the end of the grill with the coals under it. 

The sausages were cut up and served. There was a bbq sausage (a bit spicy) and blood sausage. 

We sat and visited while the steak cooked as it is cooked very slowly. When done, it was cut across the grain into bite size pieces. 

This board had a deeper grove (gutter) for the meat juices and a circle cut out in the end closer to me. It had parrilla salt in it. You dip your meat into the salt before eating it. One of the steaks was salted with a different flavour of parrilla salt before it was cooked. 

After eating, the ladies danced on the deck. They were having fun. There was also a lot of singing. Before you knew it, dessert was being served. First it was ice cream bars (the best we've eaten). Then it was dulce de leche mousse. Very sweet to eat. 

There was chocolate to go with it. 

And a dulce de leche sponge cake that I didn't get a picture of as it disappeared quickly. At this point I was full and feeling a sugar high. 

Grandson and I came home about 5 pm and son and daughter-in-law arrived home around 7:30 pm. 

Today will be a trip to the grocery store for food and then we will probably rest. We are tired from two full days of going and eating. It is also going to be hot today which slows us down a lot. 

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

Fireworks At Midnight

 Fireworks at midnight in Uruguay. The sky was lit up with them for about 15 minutes. 

This is just a clip of what it was like across the sky in Montevideo. 

Christmas Eve In Uruguay

Merry Christmas 

Yesterday was hot and somewhat humid. The high got to 30C. This morning it is windy and 24C. The humidity is much lower this morning. Today will be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 25C. A break before it turns hot again.

Yesterday was a day of resting and getting things ready for the evening at a friend of son's apartment. We did walk across the street to get pop and then a quick trip to the grocery store for bread. Everything closes early on Christmas Eve and opens late (if then) on Christmas Day. Life is back to normal on Dec. 26 as they do not celebrate Boxing Day. 

Lunch yesterday was hamburgers (smash burgers) and mine came with the order number blackened as it was near the fire. 

The burgers rate up there as the best I have eaten. It will be hard to eat burgers when we get home. 

We left the apartment for our evening out at 8:30 pm. I ordered an Uber and he dropped me. Daughter-in-law ordered one and we were successful. Son and grandson ordered one and were about 2 minutes behind us. 

Traffic was heavy; bumper to bumper all the way. The apartment we went to is in a quieter area but the street was busy. All the buildings are between 4 and 5 stories high and new. It is in an expensive area of Montevideo. We went up to the roof top deck which was beautiful. We met all the people and then more as they came. Language was a bit of a barrier but we managed. One of the ladies had lived in Toronto for 2 years and had enough English that we could communicate with my poor Spanish and Google Translate. 

Everyone brought food and it was good. I had to try most everything as it was their food. My favourite was the dates stuffed with a creamy goat cheese. 

There were little sandwiches, buns, sandwich meats, cheese, pork, devilled eggs, and this center piece which was full of cheese and olives or maraschino cherries.

Daughter-in-law made bruschetta and skewers with tomatoes, bocconcini, and basil. The people loved both of them and ate the bruschetta on the baguette, soft buns, and pork. They were "thumbs up" dishes. 

There were some firework displays during the evening and while it was slow, I took this picture. 

Each of us was given a small gift of a rosario de dedo which is a finger rosary. It has 10 beads (decade) on it. 

Just before midnight, champagne glasses came out along with some special wine. Everyone had a glass and at midnight they toasted and hugged each other wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. At midnight, the fireworks started and the sky was lit up with thousands of fireworks going off. 

Grandson and I left after the fireworks as we were both tired. The drive home was quiet; barely any traffic. When son and daughter-in-law came home at 2:30 am it was bumper to bumper. 

I will had a great time on Christmas Eve and we were saying it is the first Christmas we have had wearing t-shirts and capris. In most homes, the children opened their presents after the fireworks as Pappa Noel delivered them during the fireworks. 

Today we are getting ready to go back over to the same place for lunch which is probably going to be beef cooked on a wood fire. This lunch traditionally lasts 3-5 hours. It will be another experience for us. 

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

Oh The Humidity!

 Yesterday was sunny and humid. The high got to 27C and the humidity dropped from 90% to 74%. This morning it is sunny and 24C. Today is going to be sunny and humid with a high of 29C.

We had to stay in the apartment until the workers arrived to fix the window shutter in my room. The tape that you raise and lower it was worn out and shredded in half. The workers said it was old and caused by the shutter being big and heavy. You do get a work out lifting it up. Once they left, we swept the bedroom floor and I washed it on my hands and knees. The floor was dirty as were the baseboards. The floor is shiny and one shade lighter. It is probably because the house has sat empty for a month or two and that room may not have been used by the last people.

Daughter-in-law went out after that and walked about 6 blocks from here. On her way back she stopped at a small shop that carries fresh fruit and vegetables that are delivered locally. She bought the nicest looking grape tomatoes, cucumber, and lettuce for our dinner. When she got back, the sweat was running off her it was so humid. 

After a quick lunch, we headed out to the grocery store to get some things. We took the "old lady cart" with us. We walked along the street as far as we could to feel the coolish breeze off the water. Going up the street was okay about 3/4 of the way and then there was no breeze. The last half block was the worst. Inside the store, we wandered around getting items we needed and enjoyed the a/c. 

While shopping I noticed a lady had what looked like a small ham in her cart. It was topped with a pineapple and a cherry. It may have been a roast of beef as people here eat beef on Christmas Day. I didn't see anything like it in the meat department so wonder if the butcher dressed it up when she bought her meat. 

We walked slowly home along the street to catch the breeze. When we got to the apartment, the doorman signalled to us to go to the garage door so we could walk up a ramp rather than the stairs. We took the service elevator up to the apartment. We put everything away and daughter-in-law had a nap. 

Son and grandson went shopping also. They walked to one mall and looked around in the stores. They said it was busy in there. The got an Uber and went to a new mall and shopped some more. They then came home using Uber. I don't blame them when walking 3 blocks is exhausting and 6 blocks dehydrates you. Son is like me and feels the heat. 

I am slowly getting my ideas together for 2026. I am going to have a bit of a life change which will include more walking indoors at the arena. My SI joint and hip have responded well to walking here. I may only walk 4-5 laps and do a few minutes on the stationary bike but I need to do that. On the days I don't walk, I want to start doing yoga again. And the days I can't do either, I know I will be out shovelling snow. 

I also want to do more cooking trying new recipes. I have new recipes I want to try. I need to try to cook every other day like I did when I got Chef's Plate. This will mean menu planning and shopping a couple of times a week. 

I want to sew a variety of things this year. Quilts, the doll's Edwardian wardrobe, and a couple of purses. I have decided to enrol back into Sewing With Cinnamon as the preview for 2026 looks interesting. They are taking a new approach of teaching Design Academy and there will be wide variety of projects to work on. I want to continue knitting socks and some doll clothes as I need to use up the yarn I have in the stash. I know I will buy some fabric this year but I am okay with that. I am not going to stress over sewing up the stash as I will just give it away. 

Today we have to make appetizers for dinner at a friend of family's. We will be celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with them. I will be napping both days as I know I will be short on sleep. I do not do late nights very well. It is part of my sleep disorder. 

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

Down Time and Reflecting

 It has been hot and humid here the past two days. Humid enough you can see moisture on the outside of the windows. The high yesterday was 24C with 80% humidity and it is already 24C this morning. High today is supposed to 28C. 

We have been doing less than normal due to the heat and humidity. Everyone is tired from lack of sleep and a few other things. I did go for a power walk last night as my hip and SI joint were having no pain. I took off and walked down the street letting the wind off the water cool me down. As soon as I went up a block it was humidity galore. I enjoyed a stop at intersections where the breeze was blowing up from the water. I was gone 22 minutes and my pace was vigorous according to FitBit. I am glad I did it as I really needed the exercise and some time alone. 

I have had issues with low glucose and dehydration. I have been eating less as it is hot. I have sweat more and am not drinking enough to keep up with the fluids I am loosing. I am trying to find a balance without resorting to eating sweets. 

I am still struggling with the language here. I have a small basic set of words I use and if I hear a word I know, I can at least spell it. I can figure out some phrases when I read them as I see words I know. If someone speaks quickly to me, I am lost. Hence, I use a lot of hand gestures to get me through some tricky situations. 

We are 9 days from leaving and I have enjoyed my visit to Montevideo. The architecture, culture, food, and lifestyle has given me an insight into a country that I had never on my radar. There are things here that I think should be in implemented in our society. Stores have security people at the entrance and they are hired to do a job which they take seriously. When you go into a store, you have to put your back pack and other purchases into a locker. You take the key with you while you shop. Less chance of shop lifting. You can take your recyclable bottles to the store and put them into a machine which will give you a credit slip to use when you buy groceries. This really impressed me in real life though I have seen it on videos. 

Bus service here is cheap. $1.75 and you can get on another bus free if you catch it within an hour. The buses have seats for people who meet certain requirements (age, pregnancy, disabilities) but if a bus is full, people will give their seats to the elderly. We have bus passes and we have really used them. There are a lot of taxis and uber drivers and we have used both when necessary. 

Food delivery is another thing that is used extensively in the city. You order what you want off an app and your food is delivered to your doorstep via a motorcycle. There are several companies that deliver with a few restaurants having their own delivery service. Restaurants like MacDonalds, Burger King, and Subway use these delivery companies. 

I have started to think about being home and facing winter. I know I am going to be wearing layers of clothes to keep warm. My magic bag will be my best friend. I am also looking forward to getting back to sewing as I am missing it. I haven't knit a lot down here as it has been too warm for me to handle the wool. I put it away and will continue knitting on the 2nd sock when I get home. The time away has given me a chance to wind down from sewing "in a rut" to having a fresh outlook on what I want to do. 

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

Am I Sick Or Is It Allergies?

 The past two days have been hot with yesterday reaching 34C. Several showers went through yesterday afternoon. This morning it is 26C and we will have a high of 30C. 

I have been staying in most of the time due to the heat. I am not doing well with it and may have caught a cold though my first thought is allergies. 

Daughter-in-law and grandson's trip to Bueno Aries was hot but they enjoyed every minute of it. They went to a book store in an old theatre, into a church, and looked at the architecture. They even watched people dance in the streets. 

On Friday night, we had firefly come into the apartment. We watched it for quite a while before it left. When it flies it was a blue colour and when it rested there was no light. I have never seen a firefly before so another first for me. 

On Thursday I walked up to the grocery store and snooped around. This store (as many do) has security at the front door. The security person was helping a lady leave and then her husband. Something went wrong with their attitude in the store. I had a good snoop, bought what we needed, and walked home. I took my time. 

Yesterday morning, daughter-in-law and I had a talk. We were both very tired from the lack of sleep. We miss these things:

    Our beds. They are sleeping in a double bed here which is downsized from a king sized bed. The bed I am sleeping in is hard and the room gets hot. 

    Our washing machines. The washing machine in our unit does not do a good job of cleaning our clothes. We have tried different settings, smaller loads, and more soap but nothing is working. 

    The broom. We hate the broom here. You have to push it which is okay until you have put the dirt into dust pan. 

    The heat. We love the apartment but hate that it doesn't have a/c or fans. By day 3 of the heat wave, we are suffering a lot. When the wind comes up, we rush around to open the windows to cool the place off. 

We went to the grocery store and it was 34C when we came home. We almost crawled down the street it was so hot. The flowers on the trees and shrubs are wilting as are some of the leaves on the shrubs. 

I did rest yesterday as I wasn't feeling well. I went to bed early though I didn't sleep for 2 hours after I went. I have a dry cough that is annoying me. I do feel more rested today but am going to rest. 

At home, there was quite the storm go through. The winds howled, the temperature went up to 14C (Greenwood NS was Canada's hot spot on Thursday) and it rained. The power was out for hours in our area though it was worse in other parts of the province. My friend said I gave shingles on my lawn that looks like my neighbour's. I am hoping that my roof fared well as I had it looked at and repaired in late summer. It is now going to cool off and snow once again. 

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

A Day of Reflection

 Yesterday was hot and calm with a high of 32C. This morning it is sunny, windy and 22C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 27C. 

Yesterday grandson had to go to Buenos Aires for 24 hours. His time in Uruguay is almost up and he has to exit the country for 24 hours. People do it on a regular basis here. Daughter-in-law went with him so son and I had a day alone. It was so hot, that we spent the day inside where it was cool. 

We are starting week 6 of our trip and I have been reflecting on it. It has been a lot of fun but 7 weeks away is a long time for me. It was one of my concerns when we decided to come here. 

I am still struggling with the language but can hear more words that I have learned. I can say a few more sentences than when I arrived. The people here speak rapidly and you can get lost trying to translate in your head. More of the middle and upper class people speak English. If they have a family member that has moved to North America, they learn to speak more fluent English. 

I am getting through the hot days but do struggle if the heat lasts for three or more days. If I came back in the summer I would want a place that has air conditioning. I would be more inclined to visit in April/May when they are having fall. I do better in cooler weather. The morning it was 13C (Wednesday), I was ready to be outside and explore. People were complaining how cold it was. 

The food here is very good. The beef is amazing but they do know how to cook chicken to perfection. The food is not spicy. When you go to a restaurant, there is no salt on the table but they do bring it with your meal. When you shop for foods, those foods that are high in salt, sugar, and fats are labeled. There is a good selection of sugar free foods available. Shopping for food is done frequently and the larger the grocery store, the more selection you have. What I like but haven't tried is the selection of prepared foods you can buy for lunch or dinner. You can get both hot and cold. There is always a butcher counter where the butcher will weight out your meat and you can get exactly what piece you want. You can also buy meat in packages but you never see "family packs" here. 

Bread has been a disappointment. The loaves are small and the bread is sliced thinner than what we are use to. The best place to buy rolls, croissants, etc. is at a bakery. They also sell a large selection of sweets in the bakeries along with some savoury items. 

You can get around the city easily. The bus passes are easy to get and you can ride free for an hour. We have gone to get something and paid for our trip to the store and rode home for free. You can get a taxi or an uber driver to take you to your destination. We have used uber drivers a lot. Our favourite car is the BYD electric car from China. It is comfortable and about the size of our cars at home. Some of the uber cars are tiny which has us ordering 2 cars. That gets a bit expensive. 

Food delivery is the best I have seen. Your order on an app and then it is delivered via a motorbike. You can order from restaurants, small shops, and grocery stores and it will be delivered to your door. People use it all the time. I will have to say it is very efficient. 

The apartment we have is large and comfortable. It is an older apartment that has had some updates. We met the owner's daughters who were brought up in it. They and their mom live in the US so it has become an Airbnb. As it has no a/c, we are happy it is close to the water as the winds help keep it cool inside. Most of the windows have metal shutters on them which we close up on hot days. It is very Mediterranean that way. 

I am looking forward to going home though I will remember this trip for a long time. I am not sure where I will go next but I am hoping I can go on one more trip.

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

I Got Lost (Briefly)

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 27C. This morning it is sunny and 27C. Today is supposed to be sunny and hot with a high of 31C. 

Yesterday morning we did some house cleaning. I picked up all the dishes and did them and then cleaned up more in the kitchen and dining area. Daughter-in-law cleaned bathrooms and washed the floors. We also hung out 2 loads of laundry. 

We decided around noon to go over to the Montevideo Shopping Center for lunch and some snoop shopping. We had lunch at El Club de la Milanesa. It was very busy and after we ordered our food, it took a while to come. Milanesa is a dish of meat that is pounded thin, dredged in flour, eggs, and seasoned bread crumbs before being fried. I ordered a Caesar salad which was one of the best I have had. 

We ordered this plate for us to have as an appetizer and it came with our meal. 

The chicken fingers were the best though it was all good. Then came the Milanese sliders which we all tasted. 

We also had some freshly squeezed lemonade that I enjoyed. We were full and needed to walk off the meal. 

We went into the Montevideo Shopping Center. It was the first shopping mall in Montevideo and it is bigger than you think. When you walk up to it, MacDonald's hides its size on the one side. And you don't pay attention to the mall as you are watching for cars going coming into the drive thru. It goes right in front of the entrance to the mall. 

Our first stop was to have grandson try on some Levi jeans to get his size. We will order them from Amazon as they are very pricey here. You need to be very careful of imported items as some are way more expensive than we can get at home and others are really cheap. 

As we walked around looking for sporting goods stores, we spotted a rabbit's house. 

The one end has a rabbit's head on it. 

I took pictures of the room and some had a lot of glare due to the glass roof. Here are the best ones. 

The bathroom.

The kitchen

The bedroom.

There was a living room and a workroom which has a lot of glare.

We wandered around looking for sporting goods stores as grandson needs practice shirts. We actually found none. I needed to go to the bathroom and I had some excitement. 

I followed the signs showing bathroom and came to an elevator. I went in it and pushed a button. No bathroom. I pushed another button and a man and his mother joined me. He spoke English so we chatted. They got off and I went down one floor and who did I meet but the same man and his mother. I said I was lost and they took me back to the floor I had been on. I texted daughter-in-law and they found me. I now know how to find location on the What's app so if it happens again I can turn it on so family can find me. 

At another spot in the mall we saw the nativity scene. 

Once we were done at the shopping center we went home. It was time to rest as we were going out to the Night Market. 

The night market was really interesting. We wandered around the markets looking for items. This one display had my teacher self emerge. The food is made from felt and the box was included. 

We stopped at a shop that sells wooden items as family wanted to get a large board for a friend. I saw this gnocchi maker. 

You flour the board and roll a pillow of potato dough down it to get the ridges on it. 

These little dishes are very popular. This one had a candle in it but others had nothing. They use them for jewelry holders or for tiny items. 

I bought two small items for gifts. As we wandered looking at the booths, we saw this display on a hillside. 

It is flowers tumbling down the hill with a couple of birds on sticks. It is all made out of foam board and painted. 

It was amazing to look at. 

We continued walking around until it was after 10 pm. This market is huge and runs from 6 pm until 2 am. It is all outdoors with a couple of hundred vendors selling their goods. 

We tried to get an uber car to get home and couldn't as they were so busy. We finally flagged down a taxi. It was cheaper than an uber car and our driver was very good. I have him a tip as he stopped in a busy intersection for us. 

Today is a quiet day as daughter-in-law, grandson and his girlfriend have gone to Buenos Aries. Grandson has to be out of Uruguay for 24 hours due to regulations on foreigners. They will be home sometime tomorrow. As it is going to be very hot, son and I plan on doing very little. I may have a nap this afternoon as I am tired. 

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

A Day Sight Seeing

 Yesterday was cool, windy, and mix of sun and clouds. The high got to 21C. This morning it is sunny and cool. It was 13C at 6 am and 18C at 8 am. Today is going to be sunny and warm with a high of 28C.

Yesterday we rented a car and went exploring outside of Montevideo. We started off challenged trying to get son's phone hooked up to the car so we could punch in our route. After 3 failed cords, we found one that worked. 

We started off going through a part of the city to see son's friend's apartment block. It was on the way out of the city. We took the freeway out as it seems to be the only way out. They get you with tolls this way. 

We were out of the city and roll along looking at things when the screen said there was a police check up ahead. We thought we might get through without being stopped but oh no we didn't. The fun began as son speaks little Spanish and the police officer spoke little English. Thank goodness we had someone with us who could speak Spanish. It was slow as the police officer had never seen a Canadian driver's licence. He asked questions, they were answered. We were on our way laughing our heads off. Son had rented a car twice and both times he has been stopped by the police. 

We drove until we got to a town called Atlantida. We drove to a beach and stopped for a stretch break. 

It was my first look at the Atlantic Ocean as Montevideo is at the mouth of the Rio de Plata. It was the perfect day as the wind was blowing and the waves were coming in. 

After leaving Atlantida, we drove along the coast looking at the water and enjoying the scenery. 

From there we went to Piriapolis. It is a beach town with a hotel built in the 1890's. It looks worn dirty due to the weather but it is being restored. 

We walked along the rambla and looked at the ocean. It was coming up hard enough to spray onto the sidewalk. 

On our way through the town, we came to a traffic circle and saw this Christmas tree. 

We drove on to Esta del Punta. This town is where the rich fly into in their private jets to holiday. We did stop on the way to enjoy the scenery and for daughter-in-law to look for shells. At one spot we could see the sandy beach. 

I am sure the beaches in this area are stunning when the ocean is calm and the tide is out. 

We also saw clumps of cactus and aloe vera plants. They are huge compared to what we see at home. Some of the aloe vera plants are 4 feet wide and 5 feet tall. The cactus are 6-7 feet tall. 

The waves were spectacular all the way along the coast. 

We arrived in Esta del Punta and did walk about on one street. We looked into one of the restaurants and there was cutest grey and white kitten in there. We should have eaten at that place as the restaurant we chose served the worst food we have eaten. We figured out it is a pop up restaurant that opens only during tourist season. We now say we have eaten the best and worst food. 

We left after eating lunch and started our drive back to Montevideo. We decided to go home through the country. On the way out I saw trees that were shedding their bark. A quick google search and they are Eucalyptus trees. 

The drive was interesting as we saw two cows and some horses staked to eat grass along the roadway. No pictures due to surprise and going too fast. The road was two lane and in good shape.  The lines on the roads impressed me as they have a dotted line in white and then yellow lines on each side. 

They seem to be kept well painted. The country is very much like around the Kamloops area except for the type of trees. Take that away and you would think you were there. There are even rock crops which you see in Kamloops. 

We drove around a town called Minas and it was a bustling community. We stopped outside of the town so we could get out and stretch. Everyone was feeling cramped. 

We drove by the area where Salus water is bottled. It is a long standing natural mineral water that is very popular here. You can stop and drink water from a lion's head but it is well off the road. We were running out of time on the car rental so we kept going. 

As we drove, the traffic got busier and soon we were on a 4 lane highway into Montevideo. Son missed our turn off and he earned his Uruguay driver's licence. He crossed 2 lanes of traffic that had not light. The traffic on the rombla was heavy due to rush hour traffic and a main street past us was closed. We got home in good time. Everyone was tired from a long day in the car. 

I did burst into tears when we got in. I had an emotional moment as I knew the Spousal Unit would have loved the drive in the rural area. It was his thing. We did laugh about it when I recovered as he would have said there wasn't enough Hereford cattle, why sheep, and the donkeys. He would have absorbed everything from the landscape to the working facilities and we might have gotten home around midnight. 

I did take Tylenol and went to bed early. I slept for 8 hours straight and then logged another 2 hours after that. I am weary but will be okay. We are going to have a few warmer days as it is that time of year. 

I may join daughter-in-law and grandson and go to the mall this afternoon. It will keep me from falling asleep on the couch and give me some exercise which I will need. 

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