Pursuing pingu the penguin

[love_the_life]

The hotel is in Carrasco, a suburb of Montevideo about 30 mins by car from the Ciudad Vieja (Old Town). Rather a quirky place, at first it felt a bit Fawlty Towersesque but it has grown on us. Supposedly 5 star but like much of Montevideo a bit like a grand lady that’s a little faded. The room size and bed are great though so can’t complain.
Not often you see this in a hotel room though.


And the room


Unfortunately I managed to kick the footstool the first night, luckily not broken but my middle toe is sporting a bruise.

The garden and pool are quite pretty though it’s been a bit cool to lie out much. Today the wind was really cold.

 

[Pushka]

It looks rather charming! And a great large room.

 

[love_the_life]

Yesterday was a bit of a ‘do nothing’ day. We walked down to the beach (maybe 20 mins) then along the beach for a while before turning inland again. The good citizens of Montevideo certainty are doggy people - so many people taking their pooches of all sizes for walks in the street or along the beach. Most of the canines we saw seemed well behaved and well socialised, no barking or growling or snapping. Stopped for a coffee at Carrasco shopping area then continued just to walk and look around. The area immediately surrounding the hotel and near the beach seems to be very desirable but as we moved further in, things started to look more unkempt and a rundown. Anyway we looped back to the hotel for a cup of tea and a rest. We were the early diners at 8pm but don’t think we would’ve lasted much later, especially as we remembered we hadn’t eaten since breakfast. MtLtL had a nice steak and I prawn risotto with a couple of Uruguayan wines, red and white. Oops didn’t take pics - must’ve been too hungry.
Some random photos from the day.

Firewood seller on the street. Quite taken by the street name.


View into a garden

The beach

 

[craven morehead]

Playing catch up

 

[Pushka]

Playing catch up

Just in time. No penguins seen yet.

 

[kermatu]

I'm signing up too.

 

[VPS]

There should be more ceiling fans in hotel rooms. You don't always want aircon you just need some air circulating

 

[kermatu]

There should be more ceiling fans in hotel rooms. You don't always want aircon you just need some air circulating

I find them quite soothing too. Much better than aircon that switches on and off.

 

[Pushka]

I’m waiting for Dame to wake up and get on the boat.

 

[Flying mermaid]

There should be more ceiling fans in hotel rooms. You don't always want aircon you just need some air circulating

First thing I do when I get into a hotel room is switch off the aircon - fan would be very nice.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I’m waiting for Dame to wake up and get on the boat.

i am waiting for her report on the Drake Passage, although she doesn’t get sea sick....

 

[tgh]

We had a really wild ride back across the Drake , and I loved every second….

 

[Flying mermaid]

We had a really wild ride back across the Drake , and I loved every second….

where’s a dislike button when you need it

 

[Pushka]

I’d love the wild ride.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I’d love the wild ride.

Two dislikes

 

[tgh]

The dining room in the Explorer is across the stern and is a "room with a view".
Crossing the Drake the dining room was almost deserted , as the "view" of massive white water waves came and went, or rather rose and fell…. (with appropriate sound effects)
The crew did a great job of feeding the few hardy souls dining that evening.
A few years earlier I had huge problems with an incurably infected ear along with a busted eardrum.
Beyond conventional medical help , I fixed it myself (true story) and in the process cured a lifelong sensitivity to motion.
I went from throwing up in a teacup of motion to being bulletproof...

 

[drron]

I agree tgh.Have been in the dining room of the Explorer in 2 Force 12 gales.What an experience.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The dining room in the Explorer is across the stern and is a "room with a view".
Crossing the Drake the dining room was almost deserted , as the "view" of massive white water waves came and went, or rather rose and fell…. (with appropriate sound effects)
The crew did a great job of feeding the few hardy souls dining that evening.
A few years earlier I had huge problems with an incurably infected ear along with a busted eardrum.
Beyond conventional medical help , I fixed it myself (true story) and in the process cured a lifelong sensitivity to motion.
I went from throwing up in a teacup of motion to being bulletproof...

now I need an envy button.

 

[love_the_life]

Yesterday was still cool and breezy so the hotel ordered a car for us to visit the old city area. It was a beautiful drive along the coast into town (as I said about 30 mins). We decided to jump on the Bus Turistico (HOHO bus) and just do the 2 hour loop. If the weather had been better we probably would’ve got off at some of the stops. After that we had lunch at a restaurant in the Mercado del Puerto, a large building originally designed as a train station but now housing parillas and other restaurants. Taxi back to the hotel by about 4 pm and no dinner!

 

[JohnM]

I’d love the wild ride.

I remember my wild ride over (very smooth ride back) in a smallish ship (100 pax). I don't get seasick.

My enduring memory is a few mornings of being one of the very few pax up at the bar in the lounge while one of the lovely female leaders of the Canadian company that charters that ship, and who had the most unbelievably gorgeous grey eyes, made her excellent signature morning smoothie. God, I was in love .

Coming back, my love was slightly dissipated by the crowding-out....

The story of my life....