January 4 - Montevideo, Uruguay

The rewards program for Royal Caribbean is called the Crown and Anchor Society. As a special reward for those of us doing the world cruise, they have added what they call ‘Escapes’. They are special FREE excursions for fun or to noteworthy places. And there is one per segment. On the American’s segment (which I’m on right now) we are going to “Wine Down in Montevideo, Uruguay. For some the excursion starts at 8:30, luckily mine didn't start till 10:00. 

We started with a tour around town. So far, this place is a lot cleaner and upscale from Brazil. And Brazil might want to hirer the Uruguayan electricians. Here are some of the streets. Don’t they look nice?

 


 

Uruguay has a large coast and Montevideo is situated on an estuary  

We went to Independence Square and in the center is a monument to General José Gervasio Artigas, and below it, his mausoleum.

  

Gateway of the Citadel

Salvo Palace, which supposedly is the most recognizable building when people think of Montevideo

 

Other buildings around the square

 

Then it was off to see the Parliament building 

 

And Iglesia de los Carmelitas, is a Roman Catholic parish church in the neighborhood of Prado, Montevideo, Uruguay. 


We then drove through the nice residential area

 

This is the last president’s house. He didn’t want to live in this mansion that most presidents do, including the current president. The residents do not harass the president, if he is seen in public. They allow him his private life whether it is eating in a restaurant or running on the beach.

 

Other interesting sights; the arch is the structure of a bridge, the building that looks like the hotel in Dubai is actually a telecommunications corporate headquarters. It was designed by Carlos Ott an Uruguayan-Canadian architect who was later commissioned to design the hotel in Dubai

   


  

On our way out of town we passed through the lower income area.

 

And finally it was off to the Sinoglio Winery. They are known for their Tannet. A viroidal I've never heard. It was very dry and is typically blended with Malbec
 

  

I'm in my happy place.
 

The wine was nice and they provided enough tapas and dessert to constitute lunch. 
And then the show began. 
 


 

 

 

Yup, definitely my HAPPY PLACE!!  
Fun was had by all!

One final note; It appears the port is the home for abandoned and derelict ships



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