Colonia - Punta del Este - Punta del Diablo - Montevideo, Uruguay

Having lost half the group we board the ferry slightly jaded after the last nights celebrations and of course the sad farewells. Before leaving the hotel Geoff and I were packing our last few bits. I am normally in charge of the keys as I always complete a 'security check' as Geoff calls it before handing in them in. I am looking for the keys and can't find them. Geoff laughing his head off produces them from his pocket. After politely calling him a few new Aussie names I've learnt, he put them back in his pocket. The last thing I said to him was don't forget to hand them in at reception. " Yes, yes " he replies "you must think I'm stupid" ? I'm saying nothing. Anyway whilst standing in the queue having completed customs young Geoff puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out the hotel room key. Well I fell about almost in tears laughing, the look on his face was priceless. Hotel informed he took the keys on holiday to tour around Uruguay.
We arrive in Colonia, and what a surprise, thinking Uruguay for some reason would be run down, wasn't. Lovely clean streets, flash boutique hotels, restaurants this was looking good. The hotel was a good standard with hot showers, clean white bed linen, wifi, etc......not used to this, where's my tent.
Not wanting to do much apart from unwind most of the group split up and strolled around the beautiful tree lined cobbled streets of this fantastic location overlooking the Rio de la Plata. There's plenty to do but I think Uruguay for us is wind down and chill, catch up with the blogs and enjoy our last week.
However our second night here is special as its old man Thompsons 61st Birthday. Happy Birthday Geoff, I deliver a pressie from Vanessa and Steve and Karen which starts the day off well. I decide to take Geoff out for a meal, restaurant of his choice and the rest of the guys join us. It's an enjoyable evening with Francois leading the Birthday song bringing a candle to the table. Drink flowing, where can we go now, the Casino, yeahhhhhh ! In most of us pile, a few wiser souls went to bed. Scotches all round, a few bets are laid, a few slot machines played and the monies slowly disappearing. That is until Geoff plays the Egyptian slot machine next to me. He has a couple of small wins then hasn't a clue what's gone on, screen lights up and these little doors open when pressed, x3, x4, double this and that, free spins etc. cutting the story short Geoff wins 7000 pesos, nearly three hundred pounds. Of course the music "walk like an Egyptian springs to mind" and Geoff starts doing the sand shuffle around the casino, ha ha. They were pleased to see the back of him after about the tenth time of doing it and not putting anymore money in. So Geoffs birthday was a great day, a totally good laugh and as you would expect by now, memorable.
On along the coast of this very pretty country we arrived at Punta del Este. Another cracking hotel, more relaxing and just enjoying the facilities. Just about to leave this hotel when I had a bit of a stomach ache and needed the loo. Thankfully we were still in our room, but Geoff was rushing. Anyway having finished I walked back into the bedroom to find no Geoff, door wide open, and a voice shouting from down the corridor " I'm holding the lift mate" I collect my belongings and head off to the lift shouting to Geoff "you've left your toothbrush in the bathroom" :) Unbelievably he fell for it hook, line and sinker and went back to the bathroom to find no toothbrush. I waited just long enough to hear the expletives and Geoff doing his nut at the dreadful smell I'd left behind and I took the lift Geoff had very kindly called for me. Haha Schoolboy humour, it works every time !!!
Further up the coast to Punta del Diablo, a beautiful stretch of coastline, where all manner of different styles of beach shack, hostels and apartments littered the shoreline giving it quite a hippy feel. As seems to be the norm Robin, Geoff and I upgrade in Montevideo to a lovely little apartment right on the beach front. The next three days were so relaxing, log fires, beautiful views watching pods of dolphins, penguins, walking for miles along the beach and a bonus of eggs, bacon, sausage and tomatoes every morning for breakfast, you couldn't beat it. What a place to relax.
The journey coming to completion we head back to Montevideo, to another lovely hotel, complete with all the latest gadgetry and best of all a wonderful bed with crisp, clean white linen. Here we had a great afternoon wine tasting at two vineyards, after an amazing lunch at a parilla in the main market square. The racks of every different cut of meat slowly roasting was phenomenal, so yet again chorizo and blood sausage washed down with an ice cold beer hit the mark. The day ended with me taking the relaxing option and chilling in our room watching a movie whilst Geoff on the other hand went out with Robin and Rogan and didn't reappear until 4 am worse for wear having been to the casino. They were all losers and certainly looked it this morning as we wait for a ferry crossing back to Buenos Aires where the inevitable farewell awaits.

Adios mes amigos

Tony x


1-6. Some of the beautiful old cars that litter the streets of Colonia
7-10. Deserted beaches of Punta del Diablo. Sea life was incredible, pods of dolphins, the odd whale, sea lions and penguins, a lot dead on the shore as if something had been hunting them.
11-12. At the market grill (Parilla) in Montevideo with Geoff.
13-14. In the cellars of a local vineyard
15-17. Kirsten in a wine glass, nothing new there then, having a wee taste and with the owner having bought a couple of bottles.