This was our last formal night. The evening international dance show was good, although the USA part was hokey.
On Friday February 27th, we arrived in Punta del Este, Uruguay. After a long tender ride, we walked around a bit, before finding a shopping mall, off the tourist track. After a brief stop, we caught a taxi to the Ralli museum, which was closed, so Marianne had the taxi driver take us to Casa Pueblo, the house/studio/hotel of Carlos Paez. The view was beautiful, as was his art; we bought one of two colorful cats. Paez is the national artist of Uruguay, a kind of renaissance man. He built his house and studio with local workers. Richard thought that his house reminded him of Gaudi, and his wide range of interests remind him of Richard's friend, Bruce F, a poet/artist/housebuilder.
We called our taxi driver to come back and pick us up, and take us back to the dock. We sat in a beachside restaurant to peoplewatch and drink wine.
On Saturday, we arrived in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. We hopped a free shuttle to the Montevideo leather factory. Marianne decided that she wanted a leather jacket that really fit her, so they said that they could make a jacket to fit to pick up the same day! The lady who helped us was the daugher of an Austrian Jew who escaped to Uruguay in 1938.
Sergio Leites approached us to offer a tour, sounding like the New York City cab driver that he was. We ended up going on a city tour with him, Bill, and Betty. We saw government buildings and all the usual sights, including the house of Reverend Moon. We had a good but expensive lunch, superb lamb. Montevideo has beautiful buildings, ethnic neighborhoods, but the streets, sidewalks, and buildings are in disrepair.
The jacket fit, so Marianne bought it. It looks good.
We said goodbye to our friends at dinner, and packed up our suitcases to leave.
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