14 to 17 November
The next stage of my retirement adventure kicked off on 13th November with joining flight to Montevideo via Buenos Aires. Not an auspicious start, got to Heathrow only for British Airways to try to bump me off the flight as they had oversold the seats (I had booked 6+ months in advance). After heated arguments a seat was found, my already less than optimal opinion of BA took several more steps down the scale – now rate their overall performance as 0 out of 10.
Despite BA’s best efforts I arrived in Buenos Aires on schedule and, although immigration processing was extremely slow, managed to get to the domestic terminal in time for my flight to Montevideo. Immigration processing in Montevideo very slick and efficient so was through in no time and connected with pre-booked taxi to get to hotel – first impressions of Uruguay favourable.
Montevideo and ‘Hotel Ideal’ to be ‘home’ for the next 3 nights. Hotel was basic but very clean and comfortable and good value for very little money.
Spent time exploring the historical part of the city and parts of the sea front pathway which is very extensive.
One very striking aspect of Montevideo was the quantity and quality of graffiti on the walls and interesting 2D steel sculptures set into the seafront walkway.
Around the old town there were a number of interesting sights including the Naval Museum and numerous sculptures of national heroes from the independence struggles with Argentina and Spain, a people proud of their tradition of independence.
Rather surprisingly there was also a holocaust memorial on the seafront
The following are a few street scenes that caught my eye, quite a green city.
