Photo Bloopers #2

A failed Titanic moment.

I never expected the photo blooper post to have so much success!  I guess it is time to get back at my lovely wife with this failed attempt at acrobatics aboard the ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia.  Apparently "somebody" doesn't know how to jump straight up in the air and leaped to the right!

Not your Average Office Building

I get lost pretty easily. I have to focus on the route to get from point A to point B.  During my first days in Buenos Aires, I walked on Avenida de Mayo many times, but if I looked up, it was usually looking for the street numeration.  Weeks later, looking for something else, I encountered Palacio Barolo’s website.  I called and reserved two spots for one of the tours that same afternoon.

 
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An Anniversary to Remember (Trip to Uruguay 4)

A few hours later, we were in Montevideo.  The first thing that caught our attention was the beautiful waterfront, where locals were walking and enjoying a peaceful afternoon.  Again, we have nowhere to stay, as this was not the original plan. Some walking was in order to find a place.  We were lucky to find a brand new hotel with fabulous introductory prices!  With the discount, we paid exactly the same amount than in Colonia.  Luxurious is the word that comes to mind after our previous hotel.  It was wonderful.



Sorry this is blurry....  I was taking pictures from the car while
driving/ walking around looking for a hotel.



The night was cold, and a there was a light rain over the city.  We decided to relax/celebrate over sandwiches and beer.  There was a nice bar a few blocks away.  A perfect way to end the day. However, about 10 minutes later, it was pouring. The rain was not stopping. We talked and laughed until we ran out of topics.  We were full. A couple has been waiting for our table.  I was tired.  It was time to go.  

We ran back to the hotel, stopping from time to time under a balcony to catch our breath.  This technique didn’t work.  We looked like we had been thrown in the shower with clothes and all.  A water trail was left in the hotel’s lobby when we made our way to the elevator.



This is Jose Luis and I anniversary celebration, remember? The rain didn’t spoil the fun.  I was with my family, we were traveling, and there was hot water, with good pressure!  What else can I ask for?





PS:  For those of you wondering what else went wrong with this trip, let me tell you:  We got lost on our way back to Colonia, but I will save that story for another occasion.  J

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Things we liked about Uruguay:

1.      Palacio Salvo in the plaza was impressive.  Built in 1928, it was at the time the tallest building in South America.

2.      La Rambla de Montevideo

3.      Teatro Solís

4.      Walking and taking pictures in ciudad vieja.

5.      We saw so many women, that we wondered about the gender radio in Uruguay.  We have not been able to find anything current on this topic.

A Three Stars Hotel (Trip to Uruguay 3)

After the excitement faded of, it was time to rest.  Remember our hostel situation? Our last minute booked hotel, offered the following:

1.      Internet connection only in certain corners of the room.

2.      “Vintage” accommodations, with a strong 70’s vibe. Complete with flowery, bright pink covers, and “retro” furniture.

3.      Missing buttons remote control, which I solved pushing inside the holes with a pen or bobby pin. Other buttons didn’t work.  To change the channel you could only go down.

4.      The bathrooms have had some fixing done, and it showed….  Just not in a positive way.

5.      Water had no pressure. What came out of the shower was a coooold drizzle. Taking a shower was a torture. 

This was supposed to be a 3 stars hotel?  Hostels seemed better, and were half price!  We were annoyed.  Our pockets were sore…..*sigh*



Our room.  No internet on this corner.



To be fair, I have seen worse. There were some positives:

1. Hotel was conveniently located, close to shops, restaurants, and historic quarter.
2. Our room had a great view.
3. The heater was working! The remote had to be held directly in front of the unit, but we slept in a warm room.
4. Breakfast was included.

Nope, it just does not balance things out.  It was too expensive for what they offered.

We were the only ones in the dinning area next morning.  I was wondering what we were going to do that day and the next one. After all, we had seen most of the town main attractions.  While silently eating our barely average breakfast, Jose Luis proposed to… leave. We cancelled our reservation for the second night, and turned in the remote control, the keys, and an electrical converter to the person at the front desk. No questions asked.  That small, white rental car we got immediately after was an instant mood fixer.  No more silence, just laughter and excitement. See you later Colonia!

Mood Fixer

The Town (Trip to Uruguay 2)

Window

Immediately after dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we walked around town.

By the river. 

We walked by the river.

It was a typical winter day, cold and cloudy.  The water was gray as the sky, but it was still a nice view.  This is a must do during summer months.

There are small stores, coffee shops and restaurants in the historic quarter.

We wandered the streets.  

Although smaller than what we had expected, the historic quarter has cobblestone streets and short, pretty houses. There are remains of the wall that once surrounded the city, which tells of its military past.  An old lighthouse is located where the wall ends.  I later learned the lighthouse was built on top of San Francisco’s Convent ruins, which are the oldest ones in Uruguay.  

La Calle de los Suspiros

We found La Calle de los Suspiros (The Sighs Street)

It is one of the most picturesque places in the small town of Colonia.  Legend says the street was full of brothels.  When sailors walked on it, they sighed at the view of the beautiful women…

Parrillada includes several cuts of meat. 

We ate a very tasty parrillada uruguaya!

(To be continued...)

Where Are We Staying? (Trip to Uruguay 1)

Our first weekend in Argentina, we crossed the border in order to visit Colonia, Uruguay.  Our expectations were high.  Founded in 1860 by Portuguese conquistadors, Colonia del Sacramento is a place rich in history. 




Photo:  Flavio Vargas GC

 

Jose Luis, Flavio -my brother, and I took the ferry from Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires, and planned to spend the weekend in Colonia.  It was also my wedding anniversary.  What a better place to celebrate, than a small colonial town overlooking Río de la Plata?



Leaving Buenos Aires



We enjoyed the view. It was cloudy, but the sun made the water look silver sometimes.  I am pretty sure that is how the river got its name. Once in town, we walked a few streets to get to our hostel.  Short houses and narrow cobblestone streets make up part of this charming town!



Colonia del Sacramento



A feeling of discomfort invaded us when the person at the hostel's front desk informed us that they were completely booked. Our reservation was not showing on their availability book! To make the story short, there was a misunderstanding and our reservation was never completed.  Our discomfort turned to anxiety when we realized it was a holiday in Argentina, and many people will be coming over to Colonia during the long weekend.  We knew finding a place to stay was going to be a difficult task.



Colonia del Sacramento



Well, I stayed in the hostel watching the luggage, while Jose Luis and my brother rushed through the streets trying to find a place to spend the night.  After a good number of tries, they found a hotel. The two next nights were booked…. For more than double we had planned to spend.  (To be continued...)

A Small House for a Big Star

     In 1935, Carlos Gardel found a tragic death in Medellín, Colombia.  This event scarred the city and its people forever.  I think Colombians always appreciated Tango, but the sadness of having a star die on your land has significant consequences.  Tango grew on us and gained a place in our culture.  I remember, growing up in Colombia, seeing tango dancers during Festivals and Ferias. That is how I know that paisas share with Argentineans a deep passion for this music.  Therefore, my trip to Buenos Aires would be truly incomplete without a visit to what it was the home of one of the greatest Tango singers of all times.     

     Carlos Gardel grew up in Abasto, which at the time was known as an Italian immigrants’ neighborhood.  As soon as I arrived, I noticed the house is not as big or as fancy as other houses from the time.  It looked rather simple. I was hoping for a guided tour.  My understanding was that they had one once a day.  The receptionist, however, politely declined my request.  She indicated where to start, and told me everything was well explained. If I still had questions, she would call the guide for me.  Ok… negative points for them there.  On the other hand, the museum was free that day, and I was eager to start.

     I learned the house differs from others because it has been divided to make two homes.  It seems this transformation was not uncommon at the time due to the need to accommodate Buenos Aires’ growing population.  The tour starts where the rooms used to be.  There are three different rooms to explain Gardel’s life and death, his influence on radio and later on cinema.  My visit was pleasant, and the absence of great architecture and fancy furniture was enticing.  This exhibit does not talk about money and fame.  Instead, it talks about a family’s humble origins.  It tells about the struggles of a single mother raising a son in a country that was not her own.  It is a story we are all familiar with:  The story of a talented child who, despite the difficulties, grows up to go as far….. As far as the stars!

Random/ Interesting Things I Learned During My Visit

-          Gardel was born in France, and he spent part of his life in Uruguay.

-          He was a singer, but he also knew how to play the guitar.

-          At the beginning of his career, Gardel sang on a duet with one of his friends.

-          On October 6^th, 1933, Gardel sang for the first, and last time, in the Uruguayan radio.  The repertoire included the Pasillo Colombiano Flores Negras.

-          Gardel did not like flying.

-          The second airplane involved in the accident was called “El Manizales”.

A change in plans.

Looks like the whole visa thing for Spain did not pan out.  We ran out of time & there is no way we'll get it in time to make the trip.  So Argentina it is!  The upside is that it will be less expensive than traveling to Europe, and we can visit Uruguay (which was one of our original choices) while we are down there.

Dates are still set for June 10 through June 24.  Then it's Alaska in July on the motorcycle! Follow me ad Howler on our journey here:

Irregulars

Natalia will stay in South America, more than likely in beautiful Colombia!