On what was due to be our last day in Montevideo, we went to a local park for what we thought would be a quick play on the swings and slides, followed by a gentle kick around on the grass. When we arrived however, there was a football training session beginning for young boys. As our youngest Diego is football-mad, we approached the coach, and asked whether he could join in. The response was an unequivocal yes and invited Diego to join them straight away. During the next hour, we marveled as our once shy little lad ran, tackled, chatted, joked and generally revelled with his peers on a Montevideo football pitch, overlooking the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The coaches long blast of his whistle did not signify the end of the experience however. Diego was invited back two days later for another training session with his new pals. Our planned itinerary was thus delayed further, but we were delighted to accept this kind offer. The session went great, more sweat, goals and memories created. The session was completed with a club jersey presentation to Diego, a really wonderful surprise and a classy touch by the club. Despite our attempted insistence, the management would not even accept any payment for the sessions or the jersey, a really nice gesture that would certainly not be done in many parts of the world.
Leaving Montevideo with heavy hearts, we travelled inland to a small rural town called Minas. There we found a museum full of miniature vehicles, machinery and other such buildings, all working thanks to the creativeness and inventiveness of the museum’s owner and curator Horacio. Our children (and the adults if we are being honest) marveled as small steam trains, vintage cars and classic windmills were brought to life before our eyes. Never has three hours passed so quickly, and probably never has more been learned in such a sort space of time either! Having retired as an engineer a few years earlier, Horacio made the brave choice to follow his passion and open the museum in his own home. He now enjoys making models of tractors to turbines, airplanes to Aston Martins, supplementing his retirement income and meeting new people every day. An example for us all to follow.
After a brief stop in the well-known and tourist-filled Punta del Este, we continued north-east to the isolated coastal town of Cabo Colonia. Cabo Polonio is a hamlet with no roads leading to it and is located about 7 km from the main highway. It is accessible by walking through the dunes or by 4×4 vehicles. The region has no electricity or running water, and wind power is mostly used to power the local homes and businesses.
We set off for a day-trip to this exotic location, and what a paradise it was! Beautiful little shops, cafes and restaurants blended into the beaches, grasslands and sea. Without a single high-rise in sight (actually barely a two-stores building to be seen), the town offers a sharp contrast to its more famous neighbour. A beautiful coastal walk around the lighthouse, filled with sea lions young and old, brought both pleasure and hunger. The latter was resolved with a beautiful lunch overlooking the waves and resting in hammocks. An afternoon on one of the seemingly endless virgin beaches was then enjoyed by us all, again with long-jump competitions galore!
Our penultimate stop in Uruguay was the Santa Teresa National Park to the north-east of the country. A sight of key battles in the country’s fight for independence from Brazil, the park is a real gem. Beautiful beaches, an abundance of wildlife, flora and fauna, and a general laid-back warm welcome from the locals. We enjoyed three great days there, reveling in all that this wonderful part of the world had to offer.
Last stop was an unplanned one in La Coronilla, the site of the Karubme Turtle Rescue Centre. This is a fantastic project, helping dozens of these beautiful animals return to the ocean in full health each month. Our kids could not have been more entertained, engrossed and in awe of all they saw, heard and learned at the rescue centre. The volunteer staff were so knowledgeable, helpful and genuinely at-one with what they were doing. A lesson for us all perhaps.
Crossing the border into Brazil in Chuy/Chui (amazingly a South American border-city without an actual physical border), brought memories of our initial entry three weeks earlier. Having held very little expectations, we were now leaving with wonderful memories, experiences and relationships. Everywhere we went we saw things of great interest and met people showing real welcome and friendliness.
So when the football World Cup next rolls around in a couple of years, I will certainly have a soft spot for this proud nation, regardless of how many Anfield-based players they have playing for them at the time!
Click here to read the “A Very Special Visitor” blog post
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