Which way is home?

We stopped in this country to visit my cousin Rodrigo, his wife Diana plus all the family and friends. And after two weeks here we´ve come to the conclusion that those three things are what life is about in this little South American country.
Everybody (no exceptions) talks, lives and breathes football here. As a result we went to see Uruguay draw against Chile in the legendary Estadio Centenario and Rodrigo even took me with his cousin to see the clasico, too. In particular at the clasico the fans were outstanding, never ceasing to sing, shout and swear with the teams run onto the pitch being a particular highlight. The match itself didn´t convince, but it did have all the things a good South American match should have: Goals, red cards and a beat-up.... Now you might be getting bored of my football comment...so was Monica!
But therewas something in this country for her, too: The food! After months of fruitless search in Asia & Pacific, we finally got something resembling a proper pizza between our teeth, and of course the meat here blew us away! We went to various places, the market (Mercado del Puerto), local restaurants and at home (Rodrigo´s aunty, whose sons Guagui and Caito took us out fro drinks on various occasions... :-) Muchas gracias boludos!! ) and everywhere the meat we had was mindblowingly good! We have a few meat-loving friends (Fat-boys in Lux & Rupi in Munich) who will have to come here and taste for themselves!
But we also threw in a bit of sightseeing between all that eating. Colonia del Sacramento to the West of Montevideo, right across Buenos Aires (which we will have to visit another time) on the Rio de Plata, is a nice colonial town and the only Unesco heritage sight here. And Punta del Este, the point where the Rio de Plata meets the Atlantic. We really enjoyed the beaches there. Our first sight of the Atlantic since we´ve come round the world... Anyway, to conclude my little gastronomical swerve here Colonia and Punta del Este are also known for their milk and therefore sweet-produce. Dulce de leche, loved by Uruguayans and Argentinians alike is everywhere and in everything! In an ice-cream parlour yesterday we counted 6 flavours that contained dulce de leche... out of maybe 20. The stuff is obviously delicious and addictive, so that Monica is keeping an eye on my belly so I don´t put on all the weight I´ve lost in the past few months... ;-)
Tomorrow we´re off to Chile (unfortunately only for a week), that should finish my little affair with the dangerous sweet...
Finally a big GRACIAS to Rodri & Diana for letting us squat in their place and showing us all the fantastic places we saw and people we met. And of course to Rodri´s family who went out of their way for making it all possible! MIL GRACIAS A TODOS!!!

Montevideo

Palacio Salvo (where Rodri and Diana are staying)

Tango demonstrations


Eric & Rodri at the CLASICO

The lighthouse at Colonia del Sacramento

Sealions at Punta del Este