Our tour began with a drive through the city heading towards the Tigre river which is named for the “tigres” or jaguars that once roamed there. Along the way, we saw this big metal lotus flower. The petals close at night and reopen in the morning.
Upon arriving at the boat dock, we boarded a boat that was to take us on a tour around the island. The river delta is one of the world’s largest and is laced with canals that form a network of forested islands. As you cruise through the green waterway our tour guide pointed out that many of the riverside homes have a British flair. There are mock Tudors, Victorian mansions and even British-style gardens that reflect England’s influence and ties with Buenos Aires. The Tigre River Delta is still a popular weekend getaway for affluent locals. There is a garbage barge and a supermarket barge that comes around for the people who live on the island.
Driving back to the pier we stopped and visited the San Isidro Cathedral. Our guide pointed out the cathedral’s distinct neo-Gothic architecture, most notably its clock tower, which rises more than 225 feet into the air. This cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Argentina, it has been declared a National Historic Site.
Tonight we had tickets to a Nighttime Tango show with dinner included. This was an amazing show. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take any pictures or video. We saw a tango show in Uruguay and one in Argentina and John and I both agree that the one in Argentina was the best one.
We went to Montevideo for two days flooding kept us from Punta Del Este. Before we arrived in Montevideo Terry Bishop the lecturer on the ship told us all about the saga of the famous WWII German warship, Graf Spee, whose sunken remains rest on the floor of the ocean a short distance outside the harbour. John and I decided to walk to the pier and get a cab to drive us around. We were lucky to meet this guy named Jaime he was such an excellent guide he was very knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. The first stop on our tour with Jaime was Battle Park named for Jose Battle y Ordonez, Uruguay’s president from 1911-1915. We also saw the monument dedicated to the Fallen Soldiers of the Navy.
We visited the nicest hotel in Carrasco called Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco, an imposing building which overlooks the coast and is full of Uruguayan tradition and history.
Jaime also took us to this neat building which was the Gaucho Museum. The inside of this house was fabulous. To end a great day we had lunch at the famous meat market. It’s this big building full of different restaurants that all have tons of meat being cooked on spinning grills.
December 21, 2016 – Second time to Montevideo (back to back cruise)
Today we drove north to the Carrau Winery, a major exporter of Uruguayan wines located in the Colon residential area. Situated in a park-like setting, this winery was constructed in 1894 and is the site of an ancient granite cave. We were treated to a tasting of fine Uruguayan wine and champagne, accompanied by a light snack of cheese and ham. The only problem we had with the winery was the room was too big, and it was full of people, and you couldn’t hear the sommelier explaining the wine even though he had a microphone.
After the wine tour, we took a steam train ride and took some photos of the landscaping of Uruguay.
Our tour ended with a visit to Casona Mauá for a Tango Show. Casona Mauá was built in the 1870s and has an outstanding architectural and heritage significance. The venue belonged to Baron and Viscount Mauá, an influential businessman, visionary, and entrepreneur who founded among other things, Mauá Bank, the first bank in Uruguay which opened its doors in 1857 and the first one to print currency within the country. Nowadays and after an excellent restoration process, Casona Mauá maintains its original beveled glass, Carrara marble, floors, ceilings, skylight, and moldings, making it a bastion of Montevideo’s historic Old Town.
John and I had such great lunch the last time we were in Montevideo at the meat market that we chose to grab a bite to eat there again today and once again it was great.
I found it amazing that they were turning this huge cargo boat with such ease that I posted this video.
The story we heard behind all these sunken ships was that the Asian fisherman would come to Uruguay and they fell in love with it so they sank their ships as an excuse to not have to go back.
Maria
Gaucho MuseumFront doors of the Gaucho MuseumGaucho Museum StaircaseGaucho Museum StaircaseGaucho Museum Staircase
Maria & JohnFallen Soldier TombGuards of the Fallen Soldier
Maria & John at Hotel Sofitel Casino CarrascoInside the Hotel Sofitel Casino CarrascoMaria & John Inside the Hotel Sofitel Casino CarrascoMaria Inside the Hotel Sofitel Casino CarrascoMen’s restroom in the Hotel Sofitel Casino CarrascoWomen’s restroom in the Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrascoinside the women’s restroom in the Hotel Sofitel Casino CarrascoIglesia de las Carmelitas in PradoInside of Iglesia de las CarmelitasInside of Iglesia de las CarmelitasInside of Iglesia de las CarmelitasJohnMaria & John with our tour guide JaimeMontevideo Meat Market (Mercado del Puerto)Montevideo Meat Market (Mercado del Puerto)Montevideo Meat Market (Mercado del Puerto)
Carra WineryCarrau Winery
Steam Train RideMaria
Maria & John – with our friends George and Richard
