Say Hello to Montevideo Uruguay
It’s Day 2 on my Cruise to Antarctica aboard the NCL’s Norwegian Star.
It’s time to say hello to Montevideo, Uruguay.
Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay, located on the north shore of the Rio de la Plata estuary (the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream). Montevideo was founded in 1826 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, governor of Buenos Aires, to counteract the Portuguese advance into the area from Brazil. Montevideo’s merchants played an important part in securing Uruguayan independence. From 1807 to 1830, Montevideo was occupied by British, Spanish, Argentine, Portuguese, and Brazilian forces, and its trade population declined. The port in the city is the hub of international transport, and the international airport at Carrasco also serves it.
The tour I signed up for was City Landmarks, Wine, and Dance Performance.
We started in the town square.
Here are some sites in the Town Square and from the Town Square.
José Gervasio Artigas was born on June 19, 1764, and passed on September 23, 1850. Artigas was a revolutionary leader regarded as the father of Uruguayan independence. However, that goal was not attained until several years after he was forced into exile. Nonetheless, he occupies a central spot in the square protected by the military.
After touring the Town Center, we headed to Spinoglio, a fabulous vineyard. I’m not a wine drinker, but after tasting each of their wines, I was sold!
Here are some photos:
Aside from the amazing tastings, we dined on fabulous empanadas, meats, and desserts. They also put on a great tango show for us. It was truly a multi-sensory, enjoyable experience!
Check out the dancers at Spinoglio!
Some fun facts about Uruguay
Uruguay is an enchanting destination situated in South America, acknowledged for its captivating beaches, hospitable people, and mouthwatering cuisine. The country boasts fascinating trivia that visitors would love to know. For instance, did you know that Uruguay is one of the rare countries across the globe which utilizes 100% renewable energy sources, majorly from wind, to power their electricity grid? Uruguay is also the birthplace of the captivating tango and the exhilarating candombe drums, which still entertain people to this day.
Soccer fans can delight in knowing that Uruguay’s national soccer team, which is widely considered one of the best teams in South America, has won two World Cups! The dazzling Punta del Este is a popular beach resort renowned for its thrilling nightlife frequented by many celebrities during the summer season. Uruguay is also famed for its scrumptious meat, and the country has the highest consumption of beef per person worldwide. Notably, Spanish is the official language of Uruguay, and the country’s culture has strong European influences due to its colonial past. With a population of 3.5 million people, Uruguay is the second smallest South American country after Suriname.
Readers may also enjoy our reviews of The Streets of Buenos Aires, A Walk with the Penguins, Say Hello to Montevideo Uraguay, and Ushuaia Speaks for Itself.
