We started the day very relaxed. After sleeping long and having breakfast, we went to visit what is called „the old city“ of Montevideo.
Walking along the main street „18th of july – 18 de julio“ we stopped at the big square that´s called „Plaza independencia“. Here you can find the mausoleum that contains the mortal remains of General Jose Gervasio Artigas, the national hero in the fight for Uruguay´s independence.
At the end of the square you pass a gate and enter the old city.
We must admit, that we were relatively disappointed. We expected to find more of this colonial atmosphere that we already knew from Mexico or Panama but here – nothing that felt like it. Old buildings yes, but most of them pretty run down and in bad conditions. Nothing colourful, everything grey.
The so called highlight of the old city, the „Port Market – Mercado del Puerto“ turned out to be a big place with all kind of restaurantes and some handicraft stores that sold the usual things you can find everywhere in the streets. If you expect a market here like in Asia or the Middle East you are absolutely wrong here.
We got back to our hotel in the late afternoon and there they told us that at night there would be the opening event of the carnival in Uruguay with a large carnival procession. Cool.
So we went there and it was fun. All people getting crazy with these foam-spraying-cans and lots of kids wearing typical masks (a lot of alcohol and people drinking wine from Tetrapacks, too) and a lot of music. The event is so important here, that they show it live on TV. Cool that we were there.
