Still Pan de Azucar

We went to Pan de Azúcar for three days.  Of course one day we went to see the nature conservation center which was created in 1980 to protect the national flora and fauna.

There are the ñandu, that are like ostriches but smaller, armadillos, capibara’s (world’s largest rodent), and horneros, which are birds that builds it nest like a mud oven, usually over poles.

We also have iguanas and many different types of birds and other animals that I don’t remember their names. What I remember is my granddaughter having a great time. she loves animals of any kind, so it was great!

Another day we went with one of her cousins to the Pan de Azúcar Park and walked through the trees and wet our feet on the river, then back to my cousin’s house for a nice barbecue.

The next day was the 29, so we had gnocchi.

My granddaughter is here!!!

My granddaughter come to spend the holidays with me, she needed to change planes in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For the 25 minutes flight to Montevideo, she sat in the pilot’s cabin; the captain even let her sit at his chair while he explained about the geography of the country and the river they were crossing. He also explained the control panel. She had a great time, however, I am jealous, I never was allowed to do that.

She was very happy to celebrate Christmas and New Year during the summer; it was great for her to celebrate by going to the beach.

How she loved the beaches. One day we were in Piriapolis and the water was full of big purple jelly fishes, just like in Sponge Bob!!! Every day I took her to a different beach, of course, we did not see them all, there are too many and she only had a three weeks’ vacation.

She got to meet my family and spend time with them and to see the country where I grew up, so it was nice. Besides it gave me the opportunity to see her, I miss her so much.

Casa Pueblo

Casa Pueblo is located in Punta Ballena (Whale Point), a beautiful beach right before Punta del Este.
It is a resort/museum created by Carlos Páez Vilaró, one of Uruguay most famous sculpture/painter/writer.
The place is formed by big white adobe buildings, hanging over the cliff overlooking the sea. Everything in there is white. It started as a house where Páez Vilaró could live and work, and little by little it grew into a hotel where all the rooms face the water. now, remember, this is not a regular hotel, this is the work of art of an artist, and as such, the hotel is different, it’s like if you are staying in a piece of artwork. There are also apartments with all the amenities.
The architecture is a beautiful work of art to some and a monstrosity to others. There is no middle ground, people either love it or hate it.
Carlos Páez Vilaró is mainly a painter, however he had composed numerous musical pieces and conducted an orchestra, written books, done ceramic work, sculptures, movies, cartoons and just about everything related to art.
Carlos Páez Vilaró still lives in Casa Pueblo and still work in his atelier.

Punta del Este= Easter Point

Punta del Este= Easter Point, is a narrow peninsula between the Rio de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a very chic beach resort area with beautiful beaches, gardens and sun rise and sunset over the water.

On the west coast you have “la playa mansa”= the calm beach and on the east side “la playa brava”= uncalm, meaning it is windy,  great for surfing, but not so much for swimming.

You have “La Playa de los Dedos”= the finger beach, which is a sculpture of finger emerging from the sand, as in the last thing you see out of a drowning person.

Punta de Este is famous for its beauty, casino, yachting, and for the famous people that summer there every year.

A little to the east, going over an undulating bridge, you have “La Barra”, a very chic beach, very popular with the younger generation, with many discos which are open till sun rise.

Across from Punta del Este, you have “Isla de los Lobos”= Seals Island, being one of the largest seal colonies. There are tours that go the island and they are very nice.

Now, this is Punta and it is very expensive there. You will be expending about triple of the prices on any other part of the country.

Piriápolis

As I stated on the previous blog, many summer I went to Pan de Azúcar and from there every day we went to the beach in Piriápolis.

Piriápolis was the original vacation spot before Punta del Este became so trendy. Piriápolis is more relax, even that you still have a large night life and casino. Still the beach is very nice and tranquil and on the background you can see the hill making it picture perfect.

Of course first thing I did now after going to Pan de Azúcar was go to Piriápolis, bathe on the beach and after worth go for a drink and the famous mussels with chimichurry, delicious. They were as good as I remember. Besides it is so nice to seat on the outside cafes having a drink and looking at the sea.

One of the customs in Uruguay is seating at the boardwalk or an outside café overlooking the sea and watching the twilight. You will never see more beautiful colors in any other country, all hues of red, yellow, orange, just gorgeous.