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........................................................