Carmelo

We arrive in Carmelo just after 3 in the afternoon, and as i step off the bus it is apparent that this isnt a big touristy area. Two guys in the street jeer us and the place is so small we can definitely get this done in one day. A couple of blocks later and we arrive at the Carmelo hostel. We are greeted by a really nice guy who speaks good english and makes us feel at home straight away. He ugrades us to a double room for no extra charge and just goes out of his way to make us feel at home. The hostel is actually an extension on his home , with the quaintest garden housing lemon , fig and orange trees , with a large marijuana garden to the rear of that. Marijuana is totally legal in Uruguay and by god do they make the most of it. Our first night here comprises of us chilling out and having a few beers with the owner. Its really easy to take so many things for granted out here , just another museum , another beutiful beach, but I am adamant that i wont let this happen to us, but today i do just need to relax. We get up the next morning and its late, Mark and i ended up drinking till 3 in the morning and to say imfeeling a little bit worse for wear would be an understatement , so we agrre it will be a good idea to stay another night. Bomba asks us if we would like to join him and have something to eat and to be honest i think its just what i need . He serves up an absolute feast of a big pork shoulder cooked with onions and potatoes and chimmichurri sauce , just like a roast dinner without the veg, but absolutely delicious. Once again the rain has scuered our plans so i send time catching u with the family until that plan is scuppered by a power cut. This is really disappointing as there is a pool chapionship planned for tonight, and Mark and I fancy showing them how the gringos can play, but without light tha might prove a little difficult. We sit by candlelight(mark and i have never had so many romantic nights) and exchange stories. Bomba has been quite a charachter in his day ( a bit like catch me if you can) and then as if by a miracle at2130h the lights come back on and we head over to the bar. The lotteries are drawn and we are assigned our players, it is the best of 3 and sadly I am knocked out in the first round. Mark however makes it through to the semi final and lots of money is exchanged with most people in the bar, waging money on who they think will win. Theprize however is a pool cue, and somehow i cant see how we will fit this in our luggage. Mark is a little worse for wear by now and sadly gets knocked out , so we head back home as tomorrow we really must see Carmelo (even if it is by candlelight).Read more