Greetings from Uruguay
- By Chuck
- November 26, 2014
- No Comments
7129- Well, I have been here a few days now and I am still getting acclimated. Probably the most difficult thing is getting to sleep at a decent hour. The time difference is 5 hours from Denver and even going to sleep here at 1am is like 8pm at home. The weather has been great and the people are even better. When you first meet someone, they give you a kiss and after that, it is like you have known them for years. Jerry’s Chacra (or small farm) is called El Oso Amistoso, which means the friendly bear. Out here where Jerry lives, everyone names their Chacra and your address is the name of your Chacra and the road you live on. I am staying in a casita behind the main house as Jerry’s sister is visiting as well. Jerry has cattle, chickens, ducks and geese and I have seen several three foot iguana’s as well as lots of green parrots that wake me up in the morning.
I have been doing some driving, both by myself and with others, and it is interesting. For the most part, lines in the road mean nothing. Most of the roads are two lane with a breakdown lane on either side of the street. Bicycles and motor scooters use the breakdown lane for the most part, but if someone comes up behind you going faster than you, you are expected to move over in that lane as well so they can pass. I have seen a car in that lane being passed by one car in the travel lane and by another car in the oncoming travel lane as well with scooters going the other way in the other breakdown lane. It helps to keep alert at all times. There are also lots of old cars here, both brands you would recognize and brands you would not. Another interesting thing is that if a vehicle is for sale, they put a water jug on top of the it so other people will know. Driving down the street, you will see cars, trucks, motor scooters, tractors and trailers with brightly colored water bottles on top offering them up.
Jerry did a pig roast last weekend at his Chacra and I met several ex pats and Uruguayans. He got a 60 kilo pig, dug a hole and cooked it in the ground. It came out delicious and a good time was had by all. There were about 60 people there and it went on late.
The summer season doesn’t start here till about the second week of December when school lets out for the summer, but the beach is fairly crowed on the weekends. During the week it is for the most part deserted. I took a walk on the beach yesterday and barely saw 6 people in a couple of miles. The water, however, was warm and inviting.
Well, I guess I will sign off for now, there may be a siesta in my future.