Thatched houses sitting on the sand in Aguas Dulces, Uruguay

Thatched beach houses are iconic in Aguas Dulces - although I don't think you will be staying in this one

Throughout the summer, you will find little restaurants, boutiques and artisans lining the streets offering their wares.  The summer crowd is mainly families, who come to enjoy the beaches and laid back atmosphere, while not having to spend a fortune on accommodation and restaurants.  An average cabin in Aguas Dulces throughout the summer months would be around U$S50 per night, but don’t come expecting luxury and amenities.  The facilities in Aguas Dulces are basic, but fulfilling.  Here you will find everything you need, and is a great spot just to hang out and relax.  It is also one of the closest spots to the popular Cabo Polonio, so if you are thinking about going there, then Aguas Dulces is a great option to stay nearby.  From here, you can also explore the Monte de Ombues, Fortaleza Santa Teresa, Chuy, Punta del Diablo, Valizas and La Paloma.

El Gordo's restaurant on the main street of Aguas Dulces

Waiting for January - The main street of Aguas Dulces in December

Summer activities include trips to Cabo Polonio, Horseriding and Beach Activities.  There is often entertainment at night, and the main street is always full of people at night time wandering through the shops & markets, there are video games, bars and restaurants.  Good options for accommodation in Aguas Dulces include Cabanas Virazon (which is open throughout the whole year) and Hotel Terraza.  A great site for more information is www.aguasdulces.com.uy.

Hasta pronto!

The event is held as a tribute to the famous Tango performer, Carlos Gardel.  It is said that Gardel was born in Tacuarembo Uruguay (although this is disputed by the French), and then moved to Argentina at a young age and went on to become one of the most famous Tango performers of all time. Uruguay is proud of Gardel, and likes to celebrate his heritage with this annual festival.

Tango is music and dance, and what better way to enjoy some Uruguayan Tango, than get to watch a show or participate in a class or two.   Joventango are the main organizers of the event, and have a website where you can get information on the daily events.  Each page has been translated into English – the easiest way to find things, is on the Spanish site, click on Programa DiaXDia, and select the date that you are wanting to do something, then click on the English version link to take you to that page.

So if you are in Montevideo at the moment, try to make some time to check out some of these great events. There are many to choose from each day, and it is a great way of immersing yourself into some of the culture of Uruguay. To get a taste of the famous Gardel, I have put a little video below which I found on You Tube.

Hasta Pronto!

Check out this little video of Hugh Jackman in Montevideo during the filming of the ad.  This shot is at the “City Gate”, at the entrance to the Ciudad Vieja near the Plaza Independencia.

I hope Hugh enjoys it here as much as Uruguay enjoys having him here!

Hasta pronto!

So, what will you find here as far as shopping goes?  Well really, where do I start?  We found light fittings, ideas for staff uniforms, material, kitchenware and tools – just to name a few.  There is so much in clothes and shoes – I wouldn’t even begin to know where to look!  Close to Christmas and New Year, this is the place to go to get your supply of fireworks.  Also, around any “themed event” you will find all you need.  Now for example, the shops are full of Halloween supplies and decorations.  A lot of the shops advertise that they sell “por mayor” or “por menor” – so either wholesale or retail.  Some sell both, whereas some are purely wholesale.  Don’t be scared off by the “por mayor” shops, because we found that the quantities you need to buy to get the deals aren’t all that high.  One shop we bought a few things from, had a minimum purchase of $60 (Uruguayan pesos) per item, which is around U$S 3, so it really isn’t a big deal.

Now, don’t come here looking for designer clothes and shoes, or top quality items.  This is a place where you can find a true bargain.  Stock up on socks, sheets or towels, get your party supplies, footballs (soccer balls) or some bargain clothes or shoes.  Don’t come here if you are short on time in Montevideo, only if you have a spare day, and don’t mind hunting out a bargain.

And, while you are here, check out this little street of cutely painted houses.  It is like Montevideo’s own minature version of La Boca (Buenos Aires) without the tourists, fame and all that goes on over there.

Barrio de los Judios in Montevideo

Hasta pronto!

A friend of mine, Gustavo from infolapaloma.blogspot.com, took this beautiful video of whales at Anaconda Beach & Serena Beach (which are adjoining) here in La Paloma.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Hasta pronto!

Artigas's Statue in the Plaza Independencia Montevideo

Are you going to be in Uruguay this weekend?  If so, take advantage of what’s on offer for the Dia del Patrimonio

(Heritage Day).  Every year at the end of September, the majority of Uruguay’s heritage buildings, monuments and areas, open their doors to the public and offer guided tours.  This is a great way of discovering a little of the history of Uruguay.  Throughout the whole weekend, you will see people taking advantage of the different offerings – from tango shows to guided tours, photo displays to bus tours, there are so many things to see and do throughout Montevideo

and the whole of Uruguay.

I am going to be in La Paloma, and you can see what we’ll be up to here.  For those of you in Montevideo, I have narrowed down my top ten things to do (in no particular order).  This is what I would be doing, if I was in Montevideo

this weekend.

Museo Militar “18 de Mayo de 1811″ (Soriano 1090 Esq Paraguay)

On Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm, you can take advantage of the guided tours of the Museo Historico del Ejercito (Historical Army Museum). There will be an exposition of historical military vehicles and weapons. While this

one seems more for the boys, and I am not a particular fan of War, I thought it would be interesting to see the vehicles in the 1800′s.

Suprema Corte de Justicia (Pasaje de los Derechos Humanos 1310)

This one will be open on Saturday only, from 10am to 5pm. This building boasts some amazing architecture and really beautiful public spaces (well, so I’m told). This is a Historical National Monument.

Sala Verdi (Soriano 914)

On Saturday at 9pm there will be a show put on by the National Comedy Group “La Cabra o quien es Silvia”. There is free entry, so there will only be a limited number of seats – you will have to get in early.

Cultural Tour of Ciudad Vieja (from Plaza Independencia up to the Museo del Carnival)

Take a guided stroll through Ciudad Vieja and check out some of the great architecture

On Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm they will be offering guided walking tours of the Ciudad Vieja. I really love all the architecture in the Ciudad Vieja, so it would be great to get a guided tour where you can learn a little about the history of the buildings.

The Navy in the Montevideo Port (Rambla 25 de Agosto de 1825 s/n)

Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 8pm there will be an exposition of Naval photos. Also, from 10am to 6pm you can jump on board the Navy Ships, see practical demonstrations of Divers check out a Helicopter and other Navy equipment. If the weather permits, there will also be some tours of the Bay (depending also on the availability of the boats), plus a display by the Navy Band. We actually did get to check this one out a couple of years ago, and it was really quite interesting to get on board a Navy ship. There was also a display of Candombe dancers (although, this could have come from across the road at the Museo del Carnaval).

Cafe Brasilero (Ituzaingo 1447)

Saturday and Sunday from 11.30 to 12.30. Live music, singing and dancing, with a trip down Tango “memory lane” starting from the 1910′s. There will also be a display of photos.

Catedral de Montevideo – Iglesia Matriz (Ituzaingo esq Sarandi)

It will be open both Saturday and Sunday, but on Saturday, there will be guided tours of the Cathedral. I have included this one to my list because this is a well known Cathedral in Montevideo, and every church I have been to here (for weddings etc) has been absolutely beautiful inside.

Patrimonial Circuit – CUTCSA

Meet the CUTCSA bus here at the City Gate

On Saturday and Sunday, the bus service CUTCSA will be running tours around different places of interest from 10am to 7pm. There are quite a few spots where you can get on around Montevideo, but my suggestion would be to get on at the Puerta de la Ciudadela (City Gates) at the Plaza de Independencia. The buses will pass by every 12 minutes (or so, remembering you are in Uruguay), and give you a little tour of the city. There is a cost of $17 (pesos) for the bus ticket, but I think this would be well worth while (under US$1 – who can complain??).

Museo Figari (Juan Carlos Gomez 1427)

On Saturday and Sounday from 10am to 5pm there will be theatre performances based on the narrations of Pedro Figari. There will be an exposition – “Del Mar a Figari – Homenaje de Mirta Olivera al pintor de Candombes:” (from the Ocean to Figari – a Tribute to Mirta Olivera painter of Candombe).

Museo de Carnaval (Rambla 25 de Agosto 1825)

This will be open both Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. I really just love this museum, which features a lot of the history of Carnaval in Uruguay including costumes and masks, so I had to include it!

I hope that list helped you out a little. There is a website (www.patrimoniouruguay.net which is in Spanish) you can go to for ALL the details (now I mean, there really is a lot open, so narrowing it down to 10 really wasn’t fair). Also, if you aren’t in Montevideo, there is something in every department of Uruguay, so don’t miss out!

Hasta pronto!

This video is in Spanish, but there isn’t a lot of talking, and really, the pictures say it all. There is a bit in there on La Pataia, the beaches, the port and more – it is a great taste of one of Uruguay’s Top Spots.

Hasta pronto!

Unlike Buenos Aires, Montevideo doesn’t charge an arrival fee to US Citizens. American passport holders flying into Buenos Aires get charged an entrance fee of around US$130 per person (for US passport holders this is valid for 10 years). To avoid this fee, you could fly into Montevideo, where you could enjoy a different experience before travelling on to Buenos Aires. Flying into Aeroparque (in Buenos Aires) from Montevideo doesn’t attract a charge (at the moment). It is only when you fly into Ezeiza that you have to pay.

Anyway, that was just a little thought that I had.  I see a lot of people asking about the entrance fee into Buenos Aires, and this is one way to avoid it.  With what you save on your flights and the saving of the entrance fee, you could experience a different country and add an extra stamp to your passport.

Hasta Pronto!

Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay

A visit to Montevideo really wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Teatro Solis.  Teatro Solis is a real gem, a credit to Uruguay, and a fine example of Uruguayan history.  The official inauguration of the Teatro Solis was on the 25th of August, 1856 – over 150 years ago – and today it continues to be an important feature of the Montevideo landscape, close to the heart of the Ciudad Vieja and Plaza Independencia.

The face of Teatro Solis - Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo

To explore  the Teatro Solis, you can take in one of the many shows.  There are regular performances at the Teatro Solis, including theatre, ballet, orchestra and comedy.  You can check out their website for program information and details (at the moment, it is all in Spanish).

There are also guided tours which are a great opportunity to see the behind the scenes, and to get a taste of the history of this Montevideo icon.  The tours are operated Tuesdays through to Sundays.  The timetable below was extracted from the website (hopefully it is current).  They do tours in Spanish, English, French and Portugese.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 4pm
Wednesdays: 11am, 12pm & 4pm (free).

Friday and Sunday: 11am, 12pm and 4pm.
Saturday: 11am, 12pm, 1pm & 4pm.

The 4pm time slot is subject to modifications according to what is happening in the Theatre.

Wednesdays are free in Spanish, the other days have a cost of $20 for the Spanish tours  & $ 40 for English & Portugese (consult for availabililty of French tour).  (Prices are displayed in pesos).

We visited the Teatro out of hours one day and were still able to explore the area which is like a museum dedicated to old costumes.  They were all really beautiful, and to think of all the work that goes into creating a costume for theatre, is really quite amazing.

Checking out the old costumes in the Teatro Solis

There is also a Gift Shop there where you can find yourself a momento of your trip – a T Shirt, DVD, Magazine or Book.  Plus there is a Coffee Shop where you will find some delicious cakes, cheeses, local and imported drinks and coffee.

Below is a little video of Jaime Roos – a Uruguayan Folklore performer – performing live at Teatro Solis.

Hasta Pronto!

Che Lagarto Hostel – Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo

This place is perfectly located on Plaza Independencia in Montevideo.
Mixed Dorm rooms from US$14, plus there are private rooms available

El Viajero – Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo

Well positioned right in the heart of the Ciudad Vieja, within walking distance to the Mercado del Puerto, Museums, Nightclubs and Plazas
Dorm Room from US$15

Red Hostel – El Centro, Montevideo

Situated a block away from the main street of Montevideo, 18 de Julio, although I wouldn’t consider it well located (it would be around a 15 minute walk to the Ciudad Vieja), it is highly ranked amongst other Hostels in Montevideo for their services and facilities.
Dorm Room from US$16

Posada al Sur – Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo

Situated a couple of blocks from the Mercado del Puerto in the Ciudad Vieja, this is a small, consciencous property who use the proceeds from the Hostel to promote sustainable tourism throughout Uruguay.
Dorm Room from US$18

Boulevard Sarandi Hostel – Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo

Situated right on Sarandi, the heart of Ciudad Vieja, you will be walking distance to a lot of the great attractions in Montevideo. This is an old home, converted into a Hostel, so it has a comfortable, homely appeal.
Dorm Room from US$14

Planet Montevideo Hostel – El Centro, Montevideo

Set three blocks back from the main street, 18 de Julio, should have the benefit of being a little quieter than a more centrally located hostel. There are heaps of comfy common areas and an airconditioner in each room.
Dorm Room from US$14 per night

The Green Hostel – Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo

Only a short distance from the Mercado del Puerto in Montevideo, the main feature of this place is their awareness of the environment. These guys do what they can to minimize their impact on the environment including recycling, solar hot water and energy efficient lighting
Dorm Room from US$14 per night

Unplugged Hostel – Pocitos, Montevideo

Situated in the safe, leafy suburb of Montevideo, Pocitos, you can enjoy the tranquility of the area, and yet still be fairly close to shops, restaurants and bars. The buses are nearby to take you into the City Centre & Ciudad Vieja
Dorm Room from US$14 per night

Montevideo Hostel – El Centro, Montevideo

Everything is just a few blocks away from here – La Rambla, 18 de Julio & Plaza Independencia are all around 3 blocks walk from the Hostel.
Dorm Room from US$15 per night

Punta Berro Hostel – Pocitos, Montevideo

Located in the leafy, safe suburb of Montevideo, here you are only a couple of blocks from La Rambla. Enjoy the tranquility, while being close to some of the best eateries in Montevideo. This is a clean and cosy place to call home while in Montevideo.
Dorm Room from US$15 per night

El Viajero Downtown Hostel – El Centro Montevideo

Located just a few blocks from 18 de Julio, the Hostel has 12 private ensuite rooms so you can enjoy the atmosphere of a hostel with the comfort of a hotel. Great living spaces both inside and out.
Dorm Room from US$16 per night

Piedras de Afilar Art Hostel – El Centro Montevideo

A colonial style house converted into a Hostel, here you are only a few blocks from 18 de Julio. This is one of the cheaper spots in Montevideo.
Dorm Room from US$11 per night

Palermo Art Hostel – Palermo, Montevideo

This is a really trendy looking place with a bar, pool, terrace and art display. Although not very well located in comparison to other hostels in Montevideo, this looks to be a destination in its own right.
Dorm Room from US$14 per night

Palacio Hotel – Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo

This is a basic Hotel with a prime location in Montevideo, right near the Peatonal Sarandi in Ciudad Vieja, you are within walking distance to a lot of the attractions of Montevideo. This is a Hotel, rather than a Hostel, but the prices are so reasonable, if you are looking for private rooms with ensuite at a budget price, this could be a good option.
Single and Double Hotel Room from US$30 – 35 per night

Una Noche Mas B&B – Punta Carretas, Montevideo

This is a very beautiful home away from home located in the leafy suburb of Punta Carretas in Montevideo. Very cosy with exception service. This is not a party style location, but more of a homely style location where you can relax and feel at home.
Single share from US$38 per night, Double Share from US$20 per night

If you know of anywhere that I have missed from the list, that meats the criteria of under US$40 per night (double share), please let me know in the comments below. I would also like to do reviews on individual spots, so if you have stayed in any of these places, and would like to offer your opinion, please let me know – I would love to hear from you.

Hasta pronto!