Arriving in Montevideo

We got to Montevideo at about 12.30pm and drove into the centre to get to our hostel in the historic district.  We were amazed how quiet everywhere was on a Saturday lunchtime!  Many of the shops and restaurants were closed, and the streets were deserted!  It didn't feel like we were driving through a capital city!

Uruguay has a population of just over 3 million people.  Half of them live in Montevideo.

A Portuguese garrison was established in what is now Montevideo in November 1723.  The Portuguese were expelled in February 1724 by a Spanish soldier, Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst the Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region.  The complete independence from Buenos Aires as a real city was not reached until 1 January 1730.  It was also under brief British rule in 1807, but eventually the city was retaken by Spanish criollos who defeated the British invasions of the River Plate.

Today, Montevideo has preserved European architecture and is considered to be one of the cities with the most art deco influence in the world.  It is the hub of commerce and higher education in Uruguay as well as its chief port. The city is also the financial and cultural centre of Uruguay.

We drove on, wondering about the empty streets, until we reached our hostel.  We were too early to check in, so I left Mark with our luggage waiting for the key while I dashed out with Solenne to visit the Museo Andes 1972.  We had to hurry as it was closing at 3pm and will be closed all day tomorrow.Read more