 Hexepatty's Montevideo Travelogues | | | | Title [Click to view] | Travel Year | Pictures | | Orlando - Montevideo - Buenos Aires - Orlando | June, 2003 |  3 | | The Amazing Family! | July, 2003 | 7 |
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| Page Views: 708 Last Visit to Montevideo: June, 2003 | Orlando - Montevideo - Buenos Aires - Orlando by Hexepatty - last update: Jul 5, 2003 |
Another Quickie Trip Courtesy of (discounted) UAL! When Quentin Calls, my dear friend for many years who works at United Airline Lines, my back spine TINGLES! I get all nervous... I start to grin! When Quentin Calls, it's typically about a TRIP that must be made long-distance, short preparation time frame, and for not a long time. Such was the Call I got in January to go to Rio in February... And such was the phone call I got in Mid-June to leave June 28th for MVD and EZE.
Naturally, my first reaction to these quick impromptu trips is NO!. I can't. I work, or something like. I have no money! I can't, not enough time to plan.
Again, this is my FIRST reaction. We hang up. And then a few minutes later... I buzz him up. And say, "OF course I'll go. I'll figure out HOW later..."
And I go...
This trip was like the others in the amount of time to prep and the few days involved... but it did start a little different...
For example, this trip involved leaving by myself. Now I've traveled by myself before, so that isn't that big a deal. But i found out one hour before departure I'd be by myself. (Quentin's mom was to travel with us, and one hour before departure she lost her wallet, passport, etc...)
In fact, Quentin Called to tell me: we must leave SATURDAY, and not tonight.
I told him... okay.
And then I called him back! "I can leave tonight, you gave me the buddy passes!!!"
He was cool with it, so off i left, MCO to MIA... and then MIA to MVD.
One minor (not so minor!) detail I was leaving behind: Quentin, my Spanish Speaking Guide. I don't speak Spanish, and I didn't even bring a Lonely Planet Guide on the cities. I'd be pushing my limits. And I've done that before too, but I wasn't prepared, shall we say.
But I left.. and I got to Montevideo and it was Saturday morning. I got my cash by using the cambio exchange (hadn't quite figured out the Spanish in the ATMs to successfully get cash! smile...) and shortly after was in a cab heading to my hotel, the Ibis Montevideo, that was besides the sea! |
| Another View From the Hotel... |
|  | Now that I'm here, what shall I do?! Once I arrived, I checked in, checked out my room, my view, and then proceeded to shower and nap. Needed a little rest and recouperation to deal with my solo adventure. I went on line, to see where my on line VT friends were and let them know I was alive and well in Montevideo, and even used VT to find out where I'd eat that evening. Thank goodness for Andal13's GREAT tips: I decided on Panini's...
I took a cab to Panini's merely just to locate it... It was located in Ciudad Vieja, the Old City, and from there I walked around a bit. It was still pretty early.
I had the one and only map on me: a leather shop advertisement map that was free from the Airport. Tacky, not comprehensive, but it got the job done: it highlighted major streets and major attractions. The freebie map got me from A to B to C and back home by 1 am, I'd say!
Leaving the Old City, I strolled around some small quaint city streets, ended up at the Plaza Independence, and continued up a major downtown thoroughfare: 18 De Julio Blvd. (Many streets I found in MVD and EZE where named after important dates!).
I came upon a theater, SODRE, which basically is a cultural center and concert hall. I checked out the schedule and there appeared to be a syphony performing Wagner, Liszt and Dvorak. I bought the Priciest Seats I could purchase: orchestra center cost $2.70USD per seat.
But the performance was still 2 hours away. What to do in this country that is, I'm beginning to realize, VERY VERY inexpensive!? |
I found a small Day Spa / Salon and got a pedicure and manicure. Set me back $15USD. And I had a woman at my hands and a woman at my feet working VERY hard!
I was beginning to LIKE Montevideo VERY much.
I left immediately for my concert... which was only 2 doors down. The concert was amazing... I got my $3.00USD worth, for sure!
After the concert I strolled over to Panini's where I had a great dinner.
Then I strolled up 18 de Julio for about a mile or so. At this point, it was late on a Saturday nite and everyone was out! It was fun to see lots of folks on the street, sipping Mate! Eating, laughing, talking.. and eventually I headed back to my room around 1am or so. | | |
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| Hexepatty's Montevideo Travelogues | | | | Title [Click to view] | Travel Year | Pictures | | Orlando - Montevideo - Buenos Aires - Orlando | June, 2003 | 3 | | The Amazing Family! | July, 2003 | 7 |
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 Comments for Hexepatty about Montevideo | | | | |
ThiagoRamos Tue Jul 14, 2009 18:00 UTC
Beautiful intro photo!!! | docmeyer Sat Jun 27, 2009 18:34 UTC
Great tips and photos! | BillNJ Sat Mar 21, 2009 03:09 UTC
Looks like you saw a lot in Montevideo during your short stay. Nice tips and photos. | kyoub Tue Jan 22, 2008 13:29 UTC
Thanks for the great tips and info. Going there soon. |
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