Montevideo. Monday, February 4

Montevideo — took hop on hop off bus which gave us a good overview of the city.  It drove through some pretty non-descript neighborhoods to get to the parks, monuments, etc.  Nicest part of city was the Rambla along the beach.  Very pretty.

Block party — meet your neighbors in the hallways with passed champagne cocktails.  A really good idea!

Dinner in the Restaurant with Rick and Joan from Chicago.  Food was good and we had enough selection. 

·        We had planned on Hop on Hop off tour which starts walking distance from port exit.  It worked in BA and works here as an excellent way to see the city.  Infrastructure here is falling apart and less “french” than BA. Also some grafitti, but not dirty or smelly like Paris.  In both cities you get a sense of them having had better times.

·        Get a sense of MV.  Not as densely populated as BA.  Things are better controlled.  Not the same police presence.  But the infrastructure has even further fallen.

·        MJP has room service breakfast which shows on time at 8 (bus starts 930 and we want to be on first bus).

·        Dumb loud family seated behind us on bus (for example they were surprised that soccer stadium has lighting) Turns out later that they were Ron (Peoplesoft CFO, wife, mother, sister).  Tuesday we end up having lunch with Ron & wife. After tour some shopping.  MV seems less crowded than BA.  Unfortunately it’s near the end of season (?) and they don’t have XL of first shirt I want.  Back on the ship by 1pm

·        Scop patches and no real affects other than dry mouth.

·        Block party.  Guy across the hall Dennis Hofstaeder??? had beer supply store in Seattle.

·        Dinner in main dining room. Elegant casual.  We share with couple from NJ, Rick and Joan.  He’d played football at UPenn undergrad.  Nice to talk to.  Pleased that they’d both read multiple books about Antarctica like I had.  As it turns out, they later never acknowledge having met us!

·        People have talked well about Thomas Keller restaurant so we try to get reservations but no 7pm for remainder of cruise available.