Montevideo, Uruguay. City tour and La Rabida Working Farm

 We arrived February 13th in Montevideo and will be staying overnight, as our port of call to Punta del Este was cancelled due to sea conditions not being favorable for tendering.  And, Punta del Este is a tender port. We were greeted with, while cool temperature, bright sunshine and fair winds.  We booked the 7 hour tour to the La Rabida Working Ranch for the first day.  The tour started with a brief glimpse of the city which did not impress me at all but then proceeded for an hour and half through the lovely Uruguayan countryside, which was absolutely gorgeous, even though generally flat.  The gentle rolling hills and its varied vegetation with blue skies and puffy white clouds just was such a pleasant site after many days at sea.  We arrived at the ranch and were greeting by some members of the family on horseback.  We were directed to a large pasture field with many huge shade trees and open-air buildings where we were given a brief history of the ranch and a welcome drink of your choice ( wine, beer, fruit juices and of course water).  This family was 3rd generation with the 4th generation already very much involved, two very lovely boys.  The whole family was so welcoming.  Then we all piled into either a hay wagers, a horse and buggy or and old antique car for a lovely tour of the ranch and heading towards the Plata River.  The Ranch was over 4,000 acres so one could have ridden for hours before every reaching its boundaries.  The weather could not have been more perfect.   We passed horse and cow pastures, all roaming freely.  The sounds and smells of the ranch and nature were so homogenous.  I could have stayed forever.  The final 10th of a mile to the river was downhill on foot over a cobblestone road.  What an amazing view.  The river is some 200 Km wide and looks more like an ocean than a river.  Because of the winds it was very choppy and muddy looking unlike its normal blue and glassy surface.  After admiring the view we walked back to continue our hayride and back to the compound for a barbecue meal.  First appetizers, which in themselves were a meal and then the main course again accompanied with beverage of choice.  I chose  a local red wine that was divine.  Afterwards we were treated to a cowhide-sled ride pulled by one of their many beautiful horses.  Not everyone partook in this activity, of course I had to try it.  And, honestly it was less hard on the butt  than my horse riding experience a few days ago.  We were also treated to a brief horse show and were shown how they saddle their horses, quite different from Chile and the USA.  They are concerned for both the horse’s and the human’s comfort.  After the meal and activities I took a brief nap just lying on the freshly cut grass staring up into the sky through palm trees.   All and all a wonderful and memorable day.  

Arriving at Montevideo

View from the stateroom balcony

Expansive water front and beaches 

The ultra modern 

One of the many statues and monuments.  This is Monumento a la caretaker

The old gateway into the city, only the arched entry remains from its original city wall.  There is to be a drawbridge

The ugliest building in town, what were they thinking.  AC’s hanging from many of the windows adds to its ugliness.

Street graffiti art

The Parliament Building

Independence Square with a statue of their Hero Senior Artigas

The cowhide sled ride at the La Rabida Working Ranch

The area at the Ranch where we enjoyed a wonderful barbecue luncheon

One of the many oddities.  A Stranger Fig Tree around a huge Palm tree 

The lovely Plata river that looks like more an ocean.  It is 200km wide and he can not see the other side of the river.  The two young boys from the farm were playing on the beach, they were such a delight to watch.

One of the many cow pastures on the 4,000 + acres farm.  These cows were watching our every move and as a group came closer and closer to us.  We were definitely being check out. 

One of the hayrides.  In front of us was one of the old  classic cars you could ride in as well.  Though on the way back the car stalled and they were not able to crank it up.  ( one of those old rank up ignitions). The passengers had to get out and we made room for them on our hayride wagon which was towed by a tractor.  

The young boy that lead the way to the compound after greeting us at the entrance, below are his mom and dad and older son.   What a gracious family.   There are 15 full time employees that help the family manage the Ranch.  There used to be 45 but now much of the work is contracted out and automated.   

Day 2, February 14th

We took a more in depth tour of the city and I will have to retract my original impression of the city.  Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay offering a unique blend of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, African and indigenous traditions.  It’s architecture is rather eclectic from rather impressive colonial-era buildings to modern, some ugly as sin others well, just modern.  It’s main redeeming feature is a park system that stretches through almost the entire length of the city.  It’s founders felt that all city dwellers regardless of where they lived and their economic standing should be able to enjoy a piece of nature.    The parks a well landscaped and adorned with many statues, some honoring people of the past other just whimsical.  It’s waterfront was also impressive with miles of beautiful and accessible beaches.  The city did have its charm and character and deserves another visit.  

We were allowed to venture out on our own, so in the early afternoon we strolled though a pedestrian zone    which was conveniently located across the street from the port.   There were numerous outdoor restaurants  and shops that could have kept you busy for hours.  We bought a few magnets and just enjoyed being free to roam at will.    Free, Free,  Free at Last!!!