"I see a Hill"...... Montevideo, Uruguay

We did "see a hill". The hill itself was not very impressive, yet the town it was named after was.

Fresh off the tours of Rio de Janeiro, we sailed
into the Rio de Plata and moored in Montevideo.

It was like a breath of fresh air. We had heard how safe a city this was, so that morning, we were the first ones off the ship, skipping Viking's included tour to see the city on our own.

Upon entering the old part of the city, we talked to Tanya and Cecilia, two young women who were there to welcome cruise tourists, and then set out to see the sites. The streets were still fairly quiet. Here, as in other places in Latin America, people get off to a later start.

In the old town we passed open markets. The houses with their second-floor balconies
were reminiscent of our trips to Europe.

Colorful, Quaint Old Town

Old Town Markets

Montevideoans are friendly and many made eye contact with a genuine smile, and would respond quickly if greeted with a simple "Ola". This could be one reason why many Expats want to retire to this city. (Uruguay is now giving work permits to 1000 Venezuelans/week leaving their country due to unrest.)

People were walking the pedestrian-friendly streets, a fair number were sipping their mate, using a metal straw that's spoon-shaped distal end is a strainer and a stirrer.

Mate, looking like green sludge, is a hot tea-like herb drink, with caffeine added...a drink for the rich and the poor. In social situations, the calabash gourd would be passed around refilling its water up to 10 times before throwing the used leaves away.

Local Man Offering Mark His Favorite Drink...Mate

Mark in his broken Spanish asked this man who had been chatting with the owner of the newsstand if we could take a picture of him with his mate. He gladly agreed, and then with a big smile, handed Mark the mate to hold for another shot.

Sycamore Trees Lined the Residential Streets

The tree-lined streets had a welcome coolness to them, with the slight ocean breeze. Besides looking green, Montevideo was green in another way with 90% of its electricity coming from renewable energy.

In this square, preparations were being made with banners and stands for an upcoming gay pride parade. Uruguay is ranked high for inclusion and personal freedoms. It was the first country to legalize marijuana. It is also #1 in South America for democracy, peace, press freedom, and low perception of corruption.

A single person pays 1.5% and a family about 2.5% of their salaries for healthcare and a $5 copay for office visits, but all hospital care and tests are covered.

In their secondary schools, they study general courses three years, and then three years either college bound or vocational track. After graduating they go right into their field of study, for example directly to law school or med school. Public Universities are all free and superior to private ones. Once working, one is expected to help those going into the same field by giving to a "solidarity fund".

We continued our walk to Independence Square where we found the preserved entrance of the old walled fort. On the other side of the plaza was a Tango Museum where dancers were trying to entice us in.  Around them were statues creatively made of scrap metal.

Tango Museum by Independence Square

Gate Into Independence Square

Fountain of Locks By Independence Square

There were beautiful churches, but only 40% of Uruguay is religious, unlike Argentina with Spain's strong Catholic influence.
Several of the streets were pedestrian only, and people had
laid out their wares...but no pressure was ever given to buy them there or in the markets at the squares.

Stand Selling Mate Supplies

Old Governor's House...
Now a Presidential Museum 

Legislative Council

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On the way back to the ship we briefly walked the Rambla, the paved walkway stretching for miles along the ocean front. The sun was unrelenting, and the soothing breeze of the city was a gale force. We had thought of renting bikes for this trip but were glad we had not.

Before boarding the ship we stopped by the Port Market to see the parrilladas (barbeque) where we learned that cooking meat on a gas grill "is a sin". It must be cooked over charcoal or wood fire which is, of course, the way we ate it that night on board.