A Day Of Three Walks

 Yesterday was cooler and sunny with a high of 24C. This morning it is sunny and 19C. Today is supposed to be sunny with some wind and 21C. 

Yesterday was a day of three walks. Our first walk was to the grocery store. On the way we saw this elf/Santa on a balcony. The night before we thought it was a kid falling off the balcony.

When we got to the grocery store, I noticed they had finished decorating the Christmas tree and they had Santa coming down a rope to the top of the tree. 

We got our groceries and came home. I was able to find one more treat for the boys across the street from me. 

Our second walk was down to the lavadero to pick up grandson's clothes. On the way I saw this palm tree that wasn't as tall as some others but it was big around. 

We picked up the laundry and son packed it back for us. Though the lavadero looked like it was unorganized and full, it was empty compared to the day we took the laundry in. They wash, dry, and fold your laundry and put them into sealed bags. 

Considering the clothes were grey coloured due to the horrible washing machine at grandson's apartment, they came back very clean and the whites were pretty white. 

The third walk was in the late afternoon. Son was at a meeting with an IT group so daughter-in-law and went for a walk. We had a small ice cream. She had pistachio and I had strawberry. 

As we walked back we saw this tree that had two different colours of blooms on it. 

We are heading out this morning to Punta del Este. It is a good 2 hour drive from the apartment and is a resort town. We will do some snooping, have lunch and then head home another route through some rural areas. Son got some information from one of the IT people as he lives in that area. 

I got a picture from my neighbour and it has snowed a lot. They were out shovelling my driveway and it looked like 8+" of snow has fallen. 

It looks like they could have a white Christmas; the first in many years. This has been the snowiest December that we know of. 

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

An Intense Last Game

Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 22C. This morning it is cloudy and 22C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 23C.

Yesterday was cooler and we relished it like crazy. Daughter-in-law had to go over with an extra back pack to grandson's apartment to help get all his belongings here. They arrived in the early afternoon and we sat and talked for a couple of hours. 

Grandson had to be at the game with his team mates so he and son walked to the stadium. We took an Uber as it's too far for me to walk. I actually went in by myself and it was a bit daunting. Not like at home where you show your ticket, go in and sit down. Here there was lots of security, you can be searched with a wand, and you have to open your bags and purses to show you have no weapons. Once that is done, you can show your ticket to get in. Last night we were not asked for our passport numbers. 

Security was big last night with a lot of security guards and police. It was the last game of the season and a lot of fans were attending. Anything could have happened but it didn't. 

We had drummers on our side of the stadium and I will admit they were good. 

There were 3 drummers and they played almost non stop. They also had some fireworks and smoke flares. 

The official soccer ball and the trophy were displayed in the field before the game started. 

The teams came out and walked with the referees to the center of the field which hasn't happened at the other games we attended. It usually happens at the finals game. The referees are in red. 

The game was intense. They were well matched and both teams played hard. It was a tied game even after overtime. They ended up doing penalty kicks and the other team won by 1 point. That team moves up to division 3 and a division 3 team moves down to division 4. The team moving up has to work hard all year to maintain their spot in that division. 

The weather was the nicest ever. We sat until after 8 pm without a coat on. The sky was clear, the breeze was light and I have to say I enjoyed it immensely. 

I love the trees in this picture. They remind me of the top (emergent) layer of the rainforest. I also liked this tree as it was a different colour to most of the trees we see here. 

We hung around a bit after the game was over and then came back to the apartment. We had a very late dinner and I didn't get to bed until 11:30 pm. 

We are slow this morning and will be going out shortly to grocery shop. This afternoon I will be having a nap as I am tired. Family has things to do with grandson. He has moved in with us as he is done with the team. 

It continues to snow at home in Nova Scotia. I haven't seen any pictures of my place since the first storm but I have seen reports that the roads are not that good due to the amount of snow that has fallen. Highways will be busy but if the snow fall is heavy they can't keep up. We all know that from past years. 

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

A Walk Around A Block

 Yesterday was sunny and hot. The high got to 31C. It cooled off last night and rained about 1 am. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and 25C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with rain starting late this afternoon. The high is to get to 25C.

With yesterday being hot, we closed the apartment earlier than usual. We did laundry which dried in less than 2 hours. Even the clothes we put on the drying rack in the laundry room  dried quickly. 

Family went out in the heat of the afternoon for a walk and went to a new restaurant. I laid down to have a nap as I was tired from the heat. When I got up I looked at the beach and it was busy. 

The beach was busy in the morning but shortly after noon, it was quiet as most people had gone home. By 5 pm it was busy again with many people in the water. 

This morning, the beach is empty and the waves are coming in like surf. No on is on the beach. 

We went out last night when it cooled off. The wind was blowing and was cool. We took advantage of that to cool off. We walked up to Woori Chiken for wings and spring rolls. While we waited for them to cook we walked around the block to look at what was in that area. 

On our walk, we saw Papa Noel outside one store. He had almost a cowboy (gaucho) look to him. 

Papa Noel is the standard Spanish term for Santa Claus. He arrives on Christmas Eve when everyone is out at the beach or at street gatherings of which there is fireworks. The fireworks signal Papa Noel has arrived. I think the store was a restaurant and the red sign states that you can have your food delivered to your home via PedidosYa. 

We turned the corner at this place and walked down the block. We saw this banner hanging outside an apartment building. 

People are decorating for Christmas but they do less decorating than us. A small tree, some lights outside, and probably a few items like the nativity in the house. I an having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit due to it being summer here. 

We are in week 5 of being here. Today we are going to watch the soccer game. Grandson's team plays. The winner of this game will move up a division. It will be a tense game for everyone. 

We are hoping to rent a car for tomorrow and drive along the coast to Punta del Este. It is about a 2 hour drive from here. It is a resort town for the Latin and North American jet set. We plan to walk around a bit and then come home another way (interior) to see some of the rural area of Uruguay. 

Wednesday will be a quiet day as daughter-in-law and grandson are going to Buenos Aires for 24 hours. Grandson has to leave the country and then return. It gives them a chance to see the city and have some time together. Son and I will probably do very little as it is the start of the next hot spell. 

I am not sure what is happening today. We do go to the game which starts at 6 pm. 

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

Too Hot For Me

The last two days have been warm with highs of 28-30C. This morning it is clear and sunny and 26C. Today is going to be sunny with a high of 31C.  

With the weather being hot, I have been resting. We have been able to keep the apartment cool if we shut it up by 9 am. If we don't it gets quite warm.  

We have walked both mornings to the grocery store and bakery. It is 3 blocks each way and I can handle it in the morning. While we walk, I look around for pictures and yesterday I saw these beautiful yellow hibiscus flowers. 

Most times the most beautiful flowers are behind fences and I have to really work to get pictures. 

Last night I took grandson and his friend to dinner. We went to a hamburger place that we have been to before. They have the best hamburgers. It is 6 blocks from the apartment with 4 blocks going up hill. We had our delicious hamburgers and then came home. The temperature was 29C and I felt it. 

The beach will be busy today as it is warm outside. I noticed people going down early and I am sure families will be there all day. The water looks nice and fairly calm as there is very little wind. 

I am not sure what we will be doing today. I have a load of laundry on and will hang it out. It won't take too long to dry. I will probably rest due to the heat. I am not handling it well. Tomorrow will be cooler and wet. 

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

Discovering Old City

 Yesterday was warm and humid. The high got to 22C but the humidity was at 80%. This morning it is sunny and 23C. Today will be sunny with a high of 27C. 

Yesterday morning we caught the bus and headed to the Old City (city center). We were going exploring into an area closer to the water. When we got off the bus we were further away from Independencia Plaza and walking towards Mercardo De Puerto.

The streets we walked down were wide and for people only. There were people picking up orders on bicycles and one person was pushing his motorbike to pick up an order. 

Along the streets vendors had set up their tables with items to sell. This is a place where tourists go. We did look at some tables which had old licence plates and old house keys. While walking, we saw this lovely fountain. 

It was very interesting as there were flying dragons on it and water spouted out their mouths. 

Every time I went to take a picture, the water would stop. 

Not far from the fountain was this sign. 

The sign reads

    Around 1850, the square was popularly known as "vegetable square" because of the market that -- until the 1870's -- was held on its south side. 

We continued walking and saw this neat balcony. 

The man climbing up the balcony is wearing a Santa hat as the balcony is decorated for Christmas. 

The doors on the buildings were beautiful. Many doors are about 10 feet tall with European influence. 

We continued to walk and found this small square. 

On one side of the statue was a man with his horse and a flock of sheep. 

On the other side was a man, lady and child with a cow. 

There was a plaque to the side of the statue. 

It reads:
    The Patriotic Association of Uruguay 
    Of Field Marshall
    Don Bruno Mauraicio de Zabala
    Founder of Montevideo
    1726-1976

The square was full of magnolia trees and the blooms were huge. 

The petals turn a burnt orange and then they fall off the tree. Each petal was as large as my hand. 

We continued on to Mercado Del Puerto for lunch. I was hot and by the time we sat down I had turned beat red and then white. I ate some bread and had some water. We ordered baby beef for lunch. I think small but this is what we got. 

It was cooked over a wood fire and was seasoned only with salt and pepper. It was delicious and very tender. After lunch we walked to Mercardo de los Artesanos to look around. I did buy a gift for a friend. Once we were done, we walked a few blocks and caught the bus home. I was hot and tired when we got home. 

I did go out around 5 pm last night to look for candy for the boys across the street from me. I found 3 of the 6 recommended. It was cool outside and I enjoyed the brief walk across the street. 

This morning, we have been to the grocery store and the 6 blocks walk was enough for me. I am going to rest today and we will see what comes after that. We are to have 3 very warm days which I do not do well in. 

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

Found - An Expensive Fabric Shop

 Yesterday was warm, windy, and humid. The high got to 22C. This morning it is mostly cloudy and 22C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 24C. 

Yesterday morning we cleaned the apartment and then packed up grandson's clothes to take to the lavadero. We walked a couple of blocks to it and went inside. It was hot and humid in there. We left the clothes there to be picked up tomorrow. His clothes weren't dirty but the washing machine in his apartment wasn't doing a good job getting his clothes clean. 

We decided to go and walk to a fabric store. On the way we saw a fountain in a front yard. It was the first I have seen. 

The water wasn't running in it and it needed a good weeding. But otherwise it was lovely with all the tiles and the cement fountain piece. 

We continued our walk to the fabric store and it was a small shop with this window display. 

The door was locked and the lady let us in. I can see why as it was full of very expensive fabric for formal gowns. We looked around the store and I bought 2 pieces of linen and some trim. 

I looked at some trim for daughter and loved these two. 

I did end up buying her this piece of fabric which was very expensive. 

I am sure the lady was thrilled with the amount I spent in her shop as there were no other customers. 

On the walk back to the apartment we both got really warm. The humidity was 84%. The one bush I looked at is a magnolia but the bloom I was wanting to take a picture of was gone. The other blooms were facing away from me and the yard it was in was gated and locked. 

I did take pictures of the hibiscus blooms at the apartment. They were not picked off and wide open. The wind was blowing so it was hard to get a shot but I tired. Here is the best one. 

I had an exciting time after we got home. Daughter sent me a text with a message I didn't quite understand. While she was on Facebook, she hooked up with a lady who knew about my parents. Her mom is my first cousin. She is 95 years old and still living in Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick. Her daughter was the person who contacted my daughter. I have now talked to her and she lives about 20 minutes from where I live. Hopefully we can connect when I get home. She is 5 years younger than me. She has 2 sisters and I am excited to learn about them. 

I have also emailed my cousin. I had written to her years ago and we lost contact. I have met her brother several times and use to talk to him a lot. He got mad about something and quit talking to me. I want to know more about him. 

Today we are going to go shopping for gifts in the Old City. I will need to find a few things for a friend plus some candy for the boys across the street. I am looking for items made by people in Uruguay. We decided to do it today as it turns hot tomorrow. 

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

A Blustery Day

 Yesterday was cool and windy with a high of 23C. This morning it is windy and 22C. Today will be windy with rain this afternoon. The high will get to 23C. 

I am fighting a cold so am feeling dull and tired. I think I am getting the upper hand but I could be wrong. Daughter-in-law has it and it has settled into her chest. 

We had to shop yesterday and after much discussion we chose to walk to the shop 3 blocks from the apartment. We took the granny cart and off we went. The shop was busy as it was almost noon and people were picking up lunch from the prepared food area. We walked around the store and got what we needed. We also did some snoop shopping. I bought sugar free mix to take home for summer. They are very good. 

I like the orange mango flavoured one the best but the orange ones are also good. I will buy the apple flavoured ones the next time we shop.

I bought these for grandson as he really likes them. They go in his stocking. 

I had a small taste and they are like a Reese's peanut butter cup but less sweet (still too sweet for me). I will buy more of them so I can give them to him for his birthday in February and put some in daughter-in-law's stocking. 

As we were walking to the grocery store, I noticed that more shrubs are coming into bloom. I saw two which will have red and orange flowers out in a couple of days. On our walk home, I saw another shrub that was coming out into bloom and I think it is magnolia. They do grow down here. I will be looking at that bush again to see if I am right. 

I had a nap yesterday afternoon to see if it would help the cold and went to bed fairly early. I am hoping that it will help me beat the cold though I am certain it will hit me hard no matter what. 

Today we are going to the lavadero which will do some laundry for us. They wash, dry, and fold it and we will pick it up tomorrow. From there we will walk to a fabric store and I will see what they have. I would like to get a couple of pieces of fabric. Once home, I will do a few things in the apartment and try to knit some on the socks. I have the leg half done and would like to finish the sock before we leave. 

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