Punta del Este - Waste Of Time

From Colonia, I took two buses to the seaside town of Punta del Este. It is said to be the Monaco of South America with a couple of big casinos and parties that draw in the crowds during the summer months. Since it was December (i.e. summer in Uruguay), I thought I'd give it a go for a couple of days, maybe get rich in a casino or relax on the beach and soak up the atmosphere.

However, it turned out that the crowds only really arrive in end-December/January, so the place was pretty dead. Even the casinos were empty. Imagine Benidorm in Spain without people - it was rather boring. There wasn't really a vibe in this place and it was just a collection of apartment blocks and hotels. There wasn't much to do/see here.

But, I had booked a place for three nights (two full days), so I thought I had no choice as to make the most of the situation. On the first day, I decided to take a walk along the beach/promenade and explore the place as much as there was. There wasn't much.

Fortunately, I picked an accommodation with a pool, so after walking around town/beach and paying a visit to the casino for much of the morning, I lounged by the pool, read my book and just contemplated life.

On the second day, I spend the morning by the pool, before heading for lunch and then to a bar to watch my favorite soccer team play its biggest rival. Again, the bar was pretty dead, despite it being a Saturday, but I had the occasional chat with the bar stuff. My team did not lose either, which was a relief as well.

That was pretty much it, already. I would love to say that I enjoyed my time here, but I had rather spent it somewhere else. I think even during the peak time, the place would not really appeal to me unless l'd go with a bunch of friends to party, gamble and chill on the beach.

Anyway, this is also travelling. Sometimes you are just curious about a place, check it out to then find out it wasn't worth your time. My next stop would also be on a beach but in a very tiny fishing village that I hoped would have a lot more charm than Punta del Este.Read more